The horse racing broadcaster picks out his selections from Saturday’s racing at York, Ascot and Lingfield, plus his usual list of jockeys to watch.
Once again, King George weekend could play a pivotal role in identifying the best middle-distance horse in training, but, unusually, that horse could be running at York rather than Ascot this year. Passenger’s reappearance at Chester in the Huxley Stakes was visually one of the best performances of the season. He breezed away from Israr, lowering the course record in the process. At that stage, Israr had looked a bit of a nearly horse but then went on to win at Royal Ascot, and while Passenger’s only previous foray into top-level company was his comprehensive defeat in the Derby behind Auguste Rodin, it is worth remembering how much he had been fast-tracked to make it to Epsom in the first place. He had only made his racing debut in the Wood Ditton at Newmarket in April, yet six weeks later was at Epsom, hardly the usual Sir Michael Stoute timeline. An infection on the buildup to the Royal meeting kept him out of the Prince Of Wales’s and the Coral Eclipse, and so it is the Group 2 stakes in which PASSENGER (13:00 York) lines up. Hopefully, with clear passage both in the race and on the injury front, he can stake his claim to be one of the stars between now and the end of the season.
The King George has a short-priced favourite in Auguste Rodin, but does he appeal as a horse to take a short price about with a couple of blowouts on his resume? At a bigger price, I am far happier to rely on a stable tracker horse in MIDDLE EARTH
10/1
(15:40 Ascot) who had run very good final fractions when winning at Newbury in May and then found the slow pace in the Hardwicke no help. Luxembourg dictated a steady gallop when winning the Coronation Cup, and it will be fascinating to see the role of Hans Andersen unfold. If he is there as a pacemaker for Auguste Rodin, it will help Middle Earth, but if he is ridden more passively, then it would be Luxembourg who would have the race run to suit. Luxembourg and Middle Earth both appeal at double-figure prices more than Auguste Rodin, whilst Rebel’s Romance has so far achieved all his major wins abroad and I am not convinced Bluestocking is up to this on fast ground.
ITV is covering seven races mixed between Ascot and York, the first of which can see another tracker horse, SIMMERING
5/4
(13:50 Ascot), gain due recognition for an excellent Ascot run that rather got overshadowed by Fairy Godmother’s remarkable late surge. She herself had put in a big move to chase down Heaven’s Gate only to herself get collared near the line in the Albany. She had shown plenty of pace on her debut at York in a race which has worked out well, and this time Ryan Moore is on her back rather than trying to run her down. After a quiet spell, the stable had a welcome winner this week, and she will take a lot of beating.
If Simmering may be a white-knuckle ride, she is nothing compared to ALBASHEER (17:25 Ascot) who flew home after meeting trouble when second at the track last time. When he finishes like that, it is always tempting to think ‘what if,’ but in fact, if he gets ridden closer to the pace, he doesn’t seem to produce anything like the same burst. Stall 9 should ensure plenty of options, and if he gets the gaps this time, he will be rattling home.
Working out a horse’s main target during the season can be helpful, and I would be surprised if the Jump Jockeys Nunthorpe was not top of the list for dual winner SOUL SEEKER
8/1
(14:05 York), who lines up for the fourth year in a row. He held his form well after this race last season, so does line up off a slightly higher mark (68 vs 66), but his first win in 2021 was off 83, so he should again be competitive under last year’s winning rider Michael Nolan.
Away from the main action, SPANISH MANE (18:45 Lingfield) looks well drawn to bag the favoured stands rail in the 7f handicap. He raced up the centre on his last run over course and distance, but this time from stall 10, he can make a beeline for the fence and make all.
Jockeys for Courses
Quite a few jockeys plying their trade at courses where they historically have a good record. (A/E where par = 1:00)
Ascot – Saffie Osborne (13/92, A/E 1/84)
Chester – Jason Hart (27/169, A/E 1/33)
Newcastle – Tommie Jakes (13/50, A/E 2/10)
York – Connor Beasley (25/187, A/E 1/57)
Stable Tracker Update
Five runners in the last seven days: Brightwalton (0, 7/1), Glamour Show (second, 10/1), Crossing The Bar (third 10/1), We’re Reunited (second 15/2), and God Of War (first 6/4).
Crossing The Bar has had three runs since being added and comes off the list, as does the winner, God Of War. The other trio all have two runs left unless they win.
Brightwalton (18:30 Sandown) is one of three runners on Friday, along with Epicurian Lad (14:35 Thirsk) and Boadicia (16:45 Ascot).
Simmering (13:50 Ascot) and Middle Earth (15:40 Ascot) are both in action on Saturday (see above).
Additions for the week are Point of Contact, who looked a little burly before his debut at Newbury last week but ran well for a long way and clearly has plenty of ability. Likely to strip fitter next time, he is one to watch out for.
Ridgeway Redwing is another to monitor. He looked a likely nursery type after a keeping-on sixth at Windsor. His three runs have all shown promise, and he could get a handy mark.
Released: Crossing The Bar, God Of War
Added: Point of Contact, Ridgeway Redwing
A full list of the stable tracker horses can be found here.
Column Performance 2024
Selections: 37/37.66, A/E 0.98
Jockeys For Courses: 36/39.70, A/E 0.91
Stable Tracker 19/20.64, A/E 0.92
Overall: 92/98.00, A/E 0.94
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