Friday 16th & Saturday 17th December 2022 - Harrovian to Teach Them a Lesson

The all-weather Flat races often provide us with plenty of good betting opportunities on these pages. 

So, while it is a shame the weather is claiming the big National Hunt meetings at the moment, it doesn’t stop us getting stuck into the bookies once again this weekend.

Friday 16th December 2022

2.35 Southwell (Handicap) – SO GRATEFUL

On paper, this five-furlong Class 4 sprint is a close one with a number of horses in with each-way shouts.

It’ll be interesting to see whether Stone Of Destiny can improve on his second start for his new trainer, Lad Roca Del Fuego, Twilight Madness, Pockley, Double Dealing and Bang On The Bell are all solid enough too.

Of a little more interest is three-year-old Murbih at a big price. He won on the Tapeta two outings ago and can yet improve, with a line being confidently drawn through his last run.

Even more likely to improve though is Michael and David Easterby’s four-year-old So Grateful. His performances at Southwell, Newcastle and Wolverhampton offer plenty of encouragement with this switch back down to five furlongs a definite positive.

3.45 Southwell (Handicap) – MAKETH BELIEVETH

Over the 2-mile, 2½-furlong trip on Tapeta this race will take some getting but the increase in race distance also brings about improvement from many horses. I hope that’s the case with Maketh Believeth.

The favourite here is very likely to be Roger Teal’s Blazeon Five. He is progressive now and is looking for a hat-trick, but this is a very different test to his recent races.

Shadowfax is interesting as a lightly-raced three-year-old trained by Mick Appleby, but Galileo’s progeny doesn’t do as well as many expect on Tapeta and he may be better off at Kempton. Flint Hill is very reliable and is improving slowly over time, while there is nothing wrong with conditions either.

Maketh Believeth has the most interesting profile. A Tapeta winner and a four-year-old with lots more to give, he is now with Amy Murphy who has booked Luke Morris for the ride. The big step up to the extended 2m2f trip is a major positive in my eyes and he looks good value.

6.45 Kempton (Maiden Fillies’ Stakes) – SAPPHIRE SEAS

A look at the trainers involved and the owners’ colours being worn in this race makes you think more of a Group contest. In fact, this is simply one-mile, two-year-old fillies’ maiden but there may be some very nice types lurking in the field.

Newcomers Albany (Ralph Beckett/Kirsten Rausing) and Free Lovin’ (John & Thady Gosden/Helena Springfield) could be anything, while the experience shown by Alice Knyvet (Harry & Roger Charlton/Juddmonte) and Scenic (Ed Walker/David Ward doesn’t set the bar overly high.

Godolphin also have two fillies in the race, with the Fastnet Rock filly Magical Skies ridden by Cieren Fallon. He wears the blue cap, but William Buick has chosen Charlie Appleby’s other horse Sapphire Seas.

A Frankel/Street Cry cross, Sapphire Seas is the best-bred filly in the race and represents very powerful connections who do so well in this type of race.

7.15 Kempton (Handicap) – UNFORGOTTEN

This is a good handicap, a 0-90 over the mile. Simon & Ed Crisford’s Court Of Session remains of interest in such races, ridden this time by Harry Burns who claims 3lbs, while again we see a multiple entry from Godolphin.

Noble Order is the supposed first string. Trained by Charlie Appleby, he did well at Kempton last winter but was a disappointing 4/7 favourite on his return after a long break here last month.

He should come on for that run, but Godolphin’s John & Thady Gosden-trained Unforgotten looks even more tempting after his own enforced break.

Although it was the Tapeta he won impressively on when last seen, Unforgotten has very sound Polytrack form and there is lots of evidence in his form to suggest he comes back on a lenient mark.

Saturday 17th December 2022

12.40 Lingfield (Novice Stakes) – GOLDEN SPEECH  

There are some very interesting newcomers in this line-up.

Andrew Balding trains Siyouni colt Swordofhonor, while Ziryab is a Kingman/Galileo cross representing John & Thady Gosden and Juddmonte.

Godolphin’s Golden Speech however cannot be ignored with the hope that money for any of the newbies would force a decent price for him.

After an inauspicious start in June, this son of Dubawi ran two very solid races indeed on the turf. He separated 93-rated One Nation and 99-rated Stormbuster first, before following home subsequent Group 3 winner and Dewhurst third Nostrum, beating home the now 114-rated Arrest.

Officially, Golden Speech is rated 90 but he is most likely a 100+ horse now. He’s had a rest and been gelded and, in all truth, should be running a race that the newcomers can’t quite match up to yet.

3.00 Lingfield (Winter Oaks Trial Fillies’ Handicap) – SEA TSARINA 

This is a decent quality, tight fillies’ handicap over the mile and a quarter.

Sweet Fantasy, Tequilamockingbird, Tahasun and Queen Of Ipanema, who is looking for a six-timer for George Boughey and William Buick, are all strong on paper.

There is a lot more to come however from William Haggas’s very well-bred Sea Tsarina and she could be the one to claim the prize.

3.33 Lingfield (Quebec Stakes – Listed Race) – HARROVIAN 

A good race, one that provides an early trial for the Winter Derby apart from anything else.

In it we get to see the progressive three-year-old filly Makinmedoit who will be interesting in the market, as well as likely favourite Algiers who didn’t leave anything on the track when going for it over course and distance five weeks ago.

The Gosdens run a pair of popular six-year-olds too. I love Forest Of Dean but a fear his time is up at this level, though Harrovian ran well last time and will take a step forward. If he does, then he has a big shot at beating the market leader.

William Buick has been booked to ride the gelding who was beaten narrowly by Pyledriver last November over course and distance, as well being as a four-time winner on the turf.