A bonus from Will with a full preview of Saturday 3 September with analysis and the best horse racing tips for Haydock, Ascot and Kempton. JP
They say that it’s a good idea to save for a rainy day and connections of Limato will have anything like that in mind as their charge attempts to stamp his class across the 6 furlong sprinting division once again in the Haydock Sprint Cup (4.30). A hugely impressive winner of the July Cup when dropped down to 6 furlongs, only the crack 5 furlong specialist Mecca’s Angel could get the better of him in the Nunthorpe (and he himself was clear of a strong field). He is clearly the best horse in the field, but at 2/1 we can look elsewhere with three places given the potential for serious rainfall (upto 12mm) and also the fact that there are some worries about a relatively quick turnaround.
Quiet Reflection couldn’t hold a candle to Limato in the July Cup but that was her first defeat since her juvenile days and it came on some of the quickest ground she’s raced on. That was Limato’s home court but if there’s anything like the give in the ground that can be expected at Haydock then Karl Burke’s filly will be racing on a far more even playing field and she’s worth a small wager to reverse the form.
Magical Memory did too much work to try to get into the heat of the action at Ascot and is feared after not getting the perfect run when seventh in the July Cup. If things fall more right for him here then he ought to be right in the thick of things. The Tin Man disappointed in the Diamond Jubilee but either side of that he has been an impressive winner of his two starts this season, having more in hand than a neck when he won the Hackwood at Newbury last time out. He ought to go well too, and looks improved from when he was fourth in the Champions Day Sprint.
Suedois was second to Limato in the July Cup, his best effort since moving to the yard of David O’Meara. A close fifth in the Diamond Jubilee, before that he was second to Magical Memory at York and then fourth in the Maurice De Gheest at Deauville. Rain would be particularly idea for him and he looks an each/way player. Dounjan Triumphant, second in the Maurice De Gheest, is another in the each/way player camp whilst Strath Burn, and unlucky second in this last year, has lost his way. The repaid improver is Dancing Star, who won a strong renewal of the Sprint Cup in the style of a group winner. This is a major upping in class but she must be respected.
In the 32Red Casino Handicap (3.30, also known as the Old Borough Cup), York form appears to hold the upper hand here. That Magic Circle’s connection decided to miss the Ebor to wait for this is a sign of confidence and intent and he ought to take the beating here but if over his Ebor second then Shrewd has to take a big amount of beating. He had no answer to Heartbreak City but he thundered home to be a convincing second in a strong renewal and whilst he has gone up in the weights, there’s another claimer on board in the shape of Donagh O’Conor to take the burden and he ought to go nicely.
Shakopee, only just beaten by Barsanti at the Ebor meeting, can go well too, having moved through the field in the style of the winner before being outbattled. He should stay this trip and likes conventional courses, having flopped at Goodwood. Of the Koukash pairing, Sueigoo, in handicap company with George Chaloner aboard, is of interest.
The Superior Mile (3.00) is a trappy race but without a penalty maybe it’s time for Custom Cut to start winning again without the penalty on his back and his third at York was a solid effort which might just be the best form here. Convey backs up from having run just a week ago but is most likely the one to beat whilst Mitchum Swagger is still improving. A lot of rain is very good news for Breton Rock, who goes well with cut in the ground, although he has a penalty to shoulder.
With nothing appealing in the Be Friendly Handicap (4.00) Kempton, it’s hardly the time of year for an Arab Spring but the horse of the same name has a big chance of taking the September Stakes (3.45). He was outclassed in the Juddmonte but returns to a distance that suits him more and on the form of his third in the Rose of Lancaster Stakes, which the winner and second have boosted since, there’s a lot to recommend him. Sky Hunter Is coming back from a break but has the form to go very close, and Robin of Navan is of interest if over a poor run in the Prix Du Jockey Club is overcome.
If the extremely consistent juvenile The Last Lion shows up with his best form then he ought to take the Sirenia Stakes (3.15) unless there’s something special lurking in the ranks, which looks unlikely unless Unabated finds his best form and Koproick turns out to be as good as his maiden looks. He lost out to two of the crack sprinting juveniles in the shape of Blue Point and Mokarris at York and a repeat of that will make him very tough to beat.
Over at Ascot, there are two valuable handicaps which make Channel 5’s coverage. In the Albert Bartlett Handicap (2.40) Von Bulcher appears a worthy favourite, as John Gosden’s colt is still a progressive one despite defeat at Newbury in a race where many are exposed already. York winner Firmament should benefit from a drop in trip but perhaps of more interest would be Squats, second in the International handicap on King George Day who appeared to back up too quickly next time out before then finishing fourth of five at Newmarket. A big field and strong pace should help his chances with Ryan Moore aboard; Best of the biggest prices could be a back to form Heaven’s Guest.
In the Appetiser Handicap, Dal Harraid will have his backers after taking a valuable contest at Goodwood but the form of that race has not worked out as well as could be hoped and he’s gone up again. Stargazer steps up to this trip for the first time having looked as if more distance was what he wanted at Goodwood when third in a good race that has worked out very well since. This far more conventional course ought to suit him better and Sir Michael Stoute’s fine summer can continue.
Top Horseracing Tips
1 pt win Quiet Reflection, 4.30 Haydock (5/1 general)
1 pt each/way Suedois, 4.30 Haydock (14/1 general)
1 pt each/way Shrewd, 3.30 Haydock (13/2 Hills)
1 pt win Custom Cut, 3.00 Haydock (6/1 general)
2 pts win Arab Spring, 3.45 Kempton (13/8 general)
3 pts win The Last Lion, 3.15 Kempton (7/4 general)
1 pt win Stargazer, 3.10 Ascot (9/2 general)
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