I though Cordite ran a lovely race and he showed a good attitude after being headed in the home straight, keeping on well for 5th. I have tipped up Examiner a few times before but he was too short for me yesterday so it was frustrating to miss out when he did win. Diamonds Pour Moi went wrong during the Oaks but she wouldn't have got anywhere near Minding. She has gears and she got the trip and it was a magical performance. Smuggler's Moon finished off the day on a high note for us with a snug win in the 5.15 and ensured that we finished the day with a healthy profit. Let's hope for more of the same tomorrow.
RACE 1
The one I like at a price in this race is Dark Devil for Fahey and Hanagan. This son of Dark Angel has yet to be out of the first three in four career starts and he won his maiden at Redcar over 7f on good to soft ground. He made his seasonal comeback at Chester and he ran a huge race to be 3rd behind Ian Fleming off a mark of 86 (7.5f gd).
He stayed on strongly in the closing stages of that Chester race and he needed every inch of the 7f when he won his maiden. He looks as though he is crying out for a step up in trip and he gets it here. He is not bred to be a 10f horse by any means but as Minding proved on Friday that doesn't mean he won't stay. His sire Dark Angel has a 19% strike rate over this trip so he should be fine. A bit of juice in the ground will suit him well too and at odds of 14/1 he is the each way selection.
STEVOS' SELECTION: DARK DEVIL E/W 14/1
RACE 2
Andrew Balding showed that his string are in good form with a win for Tullius in the Diomed and I think he has another live chance with Merry Me in this 8.5f Group 3 fillies and mares contest. This 5yo daughter of Invincible Spirit has won just 2 of her 15 starts but she has run some massive races in defeat. She failed to get her head in front last season but she earned some black type which is hugely important for a mare. The fav will be hard to beat here but I think Merry Me can run her close.
She ran poorly on her seasonal comeback last season before going very close here in a course and distance handicap off 92 (gd). She followed that with a cracking effort in a Listed heat at Ponte, chasing home Nakuti in second, beaten a length. Better was to come in a Group 2 in Germany next time when she was 2nd again, beaten 5L in 2nd and a head in front of a subsequent Group 2 winner. She was poor at Lingfield on her comeback run this term but she will be a lot sharper today. With track, trip and ground to suit she has to have a great chance and she looks well overpriced at 14/1.
STEVOS' SELECTION: MERRY ME E/W 14/1
RACE 3
Postponed is all the rage for this Group 1 contest (12f) and it is not hard to see why. He goes on any ground, he is already a Group 1 winner and he was hugely impressive in Meydan earlier this year. He is consistent, he is well ahead on the ratings and if he turns up at 100% he will be very hard to beat. With 8 runners due to go to post there might be better value to be found in backing something each way, and at odds of 16/1 Arabian Queen is a good alternative if, like me, short priced favourites aren't your thing.
This filly caused one of the biggest upsets of last season when she turned over Derby hero Golden Horn at odds of 50/1 in the Juddmonte at York 10.5f. She is a previous course winner, taking the fillies Group 3 at this meeting last year (8.5f gd). Just like the favourite she is versatile regarding ground, she is already a Group 1 winner and she will not lack in assistance from the saddle with De Sousa on board. She ran a cracker on her seasonal reappearance in a Group 2 at Newmarket (9f gd) and if the fav doesn't bring his A game this fabulous filly could be the one to capitalise.
STEVOS' SELECTION: ARABIAN QUEEEN E/W 16/1
RACE 4
The dash is usually a very difficult race to decipher and Duke Of Firenze looks to hold every chance from a super draw, but at 7/1 in a 20 runner race he is too short for me. The one I like at a price is Blythe Spirit for Eric Alston with John Egan on board. This fella is a real trailblazer and he hasn't got a bad draw at all in stall 14.
He is running off a mark of 90 and he has proven in the past that he is capable of winning off that rating. He was a close 2nd at Haydock off 91 last season for example, and his last win came off just 2lb lower at Chester last June. He has also won off 89 so he is on a mark that he can go close off. He has won on ground ranging from soft to good to firm so he won't care what the weather does. If he can ping the start he is capable of making a bold bid at odds of 33/1.
STEVOS' SELECTION: BLYTHE SPIRIT E/W 33/1
RACE 5
The highlight of the day is the Derby and you can read my in depth preview here exclusively for Bettingtools.co.uk.
RACE 6
Hubertas is definitely the one I like in this 12f handicap and the claim of top young pilot George Wood could make all the difference for this 4yo son of Lord Of England. He has been expensive to follow this season, twice a beaten favourite, but he has been improving with every run and he went agonisingly close at Haydock in a class 4 last time off 81.
He was beaten a head by Sign Manual that day and he was unfortunate not to win. He has already won over this trip, a handicap on good ground at Leicester off just 67, but he has also run some cracking races on easy ground. With Wood's claim he is essentially a pound lower than for his head defeat last time and at odds of 16/1 this consistent gelding is the each way selection.
STEVOS' SELECTION: HUBERTAS E/W 16/1
RACE 7
No strong interest in this battle charge that finishes off proceedings. One I'll be simply watching and enjoying.
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