Thursday, July 28, 2011

Saturday selections

Just two Flat races beyond 12 furlongs on Saturday - Goodwood's Toyo Tires Summer Stakes at 2.35 and the Glenridding Handicap at Thirsk (4.45).

Three have previous NH form in the Goodwood race - Sentry Duty, Investissement and Woolfall Treasure. I tipped up Investissement for this year's Northumberland Plate but the gelding ran out of steam up Newcastle's long home straight; having previously won here over this shorter trip, John Gosden's charge, formerly with Evan Williams, remains of interest. Fallon is booked for the ride on Sentry Duty - in the Weekender the jock says Nicky Hendserson's charge 'would have a decent each-way chance' but I always think Sentry Duty shows his best form with cut underfoot. Woolfall Treasure made a belated seasonal reappearance in the John Smith's Silver Cup at York three weeks ago. That day he went off at odds of 66/1; this course and distance winner looks sure to come on for that run but is probably best watched here. In the tissue Investissement is priced  at 14/1 and would merit each-way support at that price. Of the other runners Petara Bay, owned by Bernie Ecclestone, caught the eye when a staying-on fourth in the Northumberland Plate at 40/1 - the gelding is unlikely to start that price on Saturday.

At Thirsk 10 of the12 runners have previous NH form. Top weight Los Nadis, rated 126 over hurdles, looks to be returning to form and is of interest; having said that, no favourite has taken this in the past seven renewals.  Bulwark has been off the track for 20 months and Into The Light reamins a maiden but Andorn merits respect with a win strike rate of 25%. Gary Moore's team is in decent form - two run here - but if Los Nadis turns up with his A game, he should be thereabouts. Suggestion - Los Nadis.                  

1 comment:

GeeDee said...

Petara Bay (12/1) came with a late flourish to take the an eventful renewal of the Goodwood race with Investissement (14/1) staying on for third. Long-time leader Captain John Nixon broke down five furlongs out; as Chris Catlin struggled to pull his mount up, both Verdant (Ryan Moore) and Activate( Jamie Spencer) were brought down - Moore went to hospital and has been diagnosed with a broken humerus and thumb, injuries which are likely to force the rider to miss the rest of the season.

At Thirsk Beat The Blue took no prisoners up front while Los Nadis (6/1) was close enough rounding the home turn but he had no answers as several went on up the home straight; he came home a somewhat disappointing seventh of 11.