Friday, September 03, 2010

First Saturday in September at Stratford

Straford's first Saturday in September often offers an interesting card and tomorrrow's is no exception with three Class 3 races to take in.

The opener can throw up an interesting sort - Forty Thirty won this last year and was then quietly fancied for a race at Market Rasen three weeks later but Sheena West's gelding was emphatically put in his place by Barizan. Many thought the handicapper had overrated that winner when he was beaten by Pistolet Noir in the soft at Cheltenham but trainer Evan Williams knew what he was doing, giving his charge an extended break before bringing the bay back with an almighty effort to make all in the Triumph; compensation came with victory in the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown. In tomorrow's event Peter Bowen's mare Tout Regulier is well in at the weights and a course and distance winner to boot while Milton Harris' Saltigoo is forgiven his last effort on soft ground at Newton Abbot - nonetheless that one has been kept busy over the past three months; Milton's other runner, That's Some Milan, could be anything. Tout Regulier looks the percentage call, the yard having had three winners from ten runners in the past week.

The beginners' chase is trappy - Emma Lavelle's Ravenclaw looks by far the most interesting.

In the feature at 3.55 De Soto from Paul Weber's nearby Banbury yard would be worth a second look on the back of his one length second to Grand Slam Hero at Ffos Las at the beginning of June. Last time out the gelding disappointed on softer ground at Bangor; here he sports a tongue tie for the first time. Priced up at 14/1 in the tissue De Soto would rate a reasonable each-way shot should that price become available on the day.

Plenty with chances in the 4.20 handicap hurdle where the market has proved a reliable guide in the past - the winner has come from the first three in the betting on seven of the last eight renewals.

Inmate, an easy winner last time out, will be popular in the 5 o'clock but he'll be no price and I've found it difficult to build up any enthusiasm for the others (e.g. Cortinas third in a seller last time). In the bumper Peter Bowen brings out Whereveryougoigo carrying a seven pound penalty for his Hereford win three days ago. I'm tempted to oppose with Robin Dickin's chestnut mare Music In The Air.

1 comment:

GeeDee said...

I deliberately omitted Russian George (3/1) when discussing the opener as he'd looked hard work when winning the last time. McCoy took the ride again and still got his charge home in front by a short head from Saltagioo (9/2) with 7/4 favourite Tout Regulier unable to go with the principals after the last, coming home six lengths third.

Ravenclaw was a non runner (cut leg).

De Soto (12/1) jumped left and fell at the eleventh fence - that was particularly disappointing as the obstacles at Stratford are hardly the most demanding.

Last time Littledean Jimmy ran out in the race won at Hereford by Whereveryougoigo. Here he had no such steering problems and won at odds of 6/1, beating selection Music In The Air (11/4) one and a quarter lengths with 8/11 favourite Whereveryougoigo a further neck away in third.