Before we get to the juicy stuff, keep an eye on those attractive novice races early on Newbury’s Friday card. Something well above average could come from those events.
The main highlight of the weekend though is the Irish Oaks, Emily Upjohn understandably being odds-on to hold off the challenge of Magical Lagoon and co.
Betting wise there are more engaging races, beginning with a hot juvenile contest at Newbury.
Friday 15th July 2022
3.53 Newbury (Rose Bowl Stakes – Listed Race) – COLD CASE
Chateau has experience and Rogue Lightning was very good on debut, but there is a lot to like about Cold Case who should be backed.
Karl Burke’s colt was very speedy on debut at Carlisle and won nicely at York last time, with his best form to come on a fair track. New Definition is also one to keep an eye on.
7.17 Hamilton (Scottish Stewards’ Cup) – EDWARD CORNELIUS
Plenty of these are handicapped about right by my reckoning; Snazzy Jazzy, Rathbone, Tipperary Tiger, Be Proud and Music Society all looking capable of challenging for places.
Three-year-old Edward Cornelius however has plenty more to offer. He has strong form already and will be all the better for running on fast ground. Callum Rodriguez rides for Keith Dalgleish.
7.40 Newmarket (Fillies’ Handicap) – INVIGILATE
Some shrewd people rather fancied Invigilate for the Sandringham at Royal Ascot last month. She didn’t really like things there, but has the speed and the form to go very well in this lesser race.
She’s rated just 82, but her form in winning at Leicester and finishing a close second when giving 1lb to the now 87-rated Washraa show that she likes fast ground and is probably well in at the weights for Sir Michael Stoute. Ryan Moore should get the best out of her over 1¼ miles.
Spring winner Voodoo Queen and Gosden pair Natasha and Morning Poem are all obvious dangers.
Saturday 16th July 2022
1.50 Newbury (Steventon Stakes – Listed Race) – FINEST SOUND
This is a close contest on paper. Simon & Ed Crisford’s Finest Sound ran to a mark of 108 last autumn, and more like 110 in Dubai this year considering how wide he went before not being suited by Epsom last time.
He’s capable of even more than that now and if he achieves it, he can climb above solid performers Grocer Jack and Cadillac.
2.21 Newbury (Gin Cup Stakes – Handicap) – AURIFEROUS
A number are handicapped right. Of those with more to offer, Diamond Bay remains interesting but Auriferous is too big a price for Andrew Balding.
The four-year-old has been second over course and distance this season and fifth in the Northumberland Vase. Returned here on fast ground, we should see a new career high.
2.56 Newbury (Hackwood Stakes – Group 3) – MAN OF PROMISE
The classy Minzaal has been backed for a return to form here while with a weight allowance, fillies Chil Chil and Happy Romance also enter calculations.
Charlie Appleby has been very well off for sprinters of late. Naval Crown and Creative Force are genuine Group 1 animals and it was thought in March that Man Of Promise may even be better than that duo.
He eased to a mark of 119 when winning at Meydan and is capable of yet more. It didn’t happen for him on Dubai World Cup night, nor over the stiff five furlongs in the King’s Stand, but Newbury is the fairest course of them all and the best horse often wins.
Man Of Promise is certainly that, even under a small 3lb penalty.
3.10 (Sapphire Stakes – Group 2) – EQUILATERAL
This is an intriguing Group 2 five-furlong sprint.
Equilateral is a seven-year-old now, but he was a Group 2 winner last year and has not lost his form this season having run a very good fifth in the King’s Stand. There has been plenty of talk of Raasel being a top-level type too and Charlie Hills’ runner was very unlucky behind him last time out.
Equilateral has the speed and the class. If the field follows the natural camber of the Curragh’s sprint course and comes to the stands rail, then his draw in 8 is also an advantage.
New York City, Mooniesta, Cadamosto and Last Crusader were hard to split in behind.
3.22 Newmarket (Aphrodite Stakes – Listed Race) – ETERNAL PEARL
With the greatest of respect to Technique, Ad Infinitum and Viola, this race could come down to Mukaddamah and Eternal Pearl.
The pair were 3/1 and 10/3 respectively in a novice race behind subsequent Listed winner Grande Dame a wee while ago, Mukaddamah running ahead of Eternal Pearl on that occasion making use of racecourse experience.
The Godolphin filly however was very unruly before her debut and ran green, though she stayed on well to the line.
I expect Eternal Pearl to end up being the best of that bunch, perhaps her greater speed may help her get the better of Mukaddamah here.
10.03 Saratoga (Diana Stakes – Grade 1) – CREATIVE FLAIR
Chad Brown has four of the 6 runners involved in this firm ground, nine-furlong affair. That situation is complicated more by the fact that his Rougir was favourite to beat Bleecker Street last time, the latter now set to go off favourite for this race.
In any event this may go to Charlie Appleby. Last week Godolphin’s main man sent two runners to New York Grade 1 races, one using up too much energy early before being collared and the other surging on for second having been given too much to do.
In Creative Flair’s case, she was a Newbury Listed winner last year who is getting better all the time. She has at least the same level of talent as the Brown runners, will love the fast conditions and in fact on American speed figures she actually comes out on top.
Those figures were achieved at Saratoga too in last year’s Oaks, while she was also an easy Group 2 winner in Dubai. She might be a daft price if you get on early enough.
No comments:
Post a Comment