Friday, June 10, 2011

When Saturday comes

With Ascot just around the corner I intend to watch from the sidelines tomorrow.

Tuesday's card at the royal meeting looks exceptional with the reappearance of the 2000 Guineas winner Frankel in the St James's Palace Stakes an eagerly awaited highlight; connections of the favourite have indicated different tactics are likely be adopted in this race. The opening Queen Anne Stakes, set to feature a clash between Canford Cliffs and Goldikova, together with the five furlong King's Stand Stakes, provide strong support to the main event.

If I'm tempted off the straight path when Saturday comes, I'll look at horses with previous jumps form in the concluding handicap at Sandown run over one and threequarter miles. Top weight Right Stuff is a dual purpose horse who hasn't won since April 2009; last time out he finished third off a rating of 112 in a Fontwell handicap hurdle so he is respected here with a mark of 85. Owned by Malcolm Denmark Kid Charlemagne hasn't run over hurdles since 2008 when Carl Llewellyn was training; subsequently the gelding was off the track for over two years. His third behind Illustrious Blue at odds of 80/1 in the2010 Goodwood Cup reads well and the latest effort after a break can be forgiven. The gelding has clearly been difficult to train and sports a first-time tonuge-tie tomorrow - if the tissue price of 50/1 becomes available, I'll take an each-way interest. Kazzene, owned by Terry Neill, had the Triumph Hurdle as a target at one stage. David Pipe's charge has since shown signs of reluctance in his races and has been described by his handler as 'a bit of a character but he's got an engine.' Rated 123 over hurdles, he goes off a mark of 83 tomorrow so on bare figures makes more appeal than the top weight. Gifted Leader finished eighth at York earlier today - I'd be surprised  to see him in tomorrow's line-up.
  

1 comment:

GeeDee said...

You hear people talk of the great unpredictability of racing...

I was surprised to see that Gifted Leader was allowed to take his chance in Sandown's finale after yesterday's effort at York. I was even more surprised to see the bay gelding backed from 9/1 in to 11/2 favouritism. When Ian Williams' charge lost his pitch five furlongs from home, the inevitable looked entirely probable. Then the leaders tired, stamina was at a premium up the Sandown hill and Gifted Leader came to pinch the spoils with a little left in the locker. Unbelievable.