A 66/1 Chance And A Horse Beaten over 100 Lengths Last Time Out - What's Not To Love?

ALL VIEWS ARE MY OWN

Well, you will have read elsewhere of the racing strike on Wednesday 10^th September as the sport looks to draw extra attention to the risk to the industry if any harmonisation of gambling taxes (for harmonisation read “rise” as far as racing is concerned) goes through.

I can assure you that those at the top will have thought long and hard about this and they will be fully aware it may not have the desired effect, but this government has backed us all into a corner and we are now in a position where we have nothing left to lose. The bookmakers don’t like the idea (so it must be a good thing), and have already warned that if slots and casinos take the hit those costs will still trickle down to the racing industry (thanks for that), but to plagiarise someone else’s word, racing faces an existential threat, a dose of government covid when it is already on its sick bed and at death’s door.

No-one should be too surprised in the currently politically correct climate where having a 10p win Lucky 15 on a Saturday is deemed akin to being a leper that the government see gambling as a quick fix to fill up empty coffers, but somehow they currently seem all set to ignore the job losses and cultural significances their actions could have?

We battle on regardless (I am no quitter), and I will be in Westminster on the 10^th arguing the case on behalf of the millions of punters who enjoy a bet responsibly, though whether anyone will be listening other than those already converted, only time will tell, but we can only try.

Lastly, if you haven’t written to your MP yet, follow this link for further information – we are all in this together https://emailyourmpnow.co.uk

On to the racing…..

Saturday racing

Newmarket 1.25pm

Words of Truth has to give 7lb to all of his rivals in this six furlong novice stakes, but he was pretty impressive when winning at Ascot on his second start, showing considerable improvement for his debut eighth. That was a class two maiden and he drops into class four here, suggesting he is more than good enough as long as there isn’t anything too exciting lurking among his opponents.

York 3.35pm

The Ebor handicap is always a highlight of the racing year, however difficult it can be to solve, but all the money this season has been for the Willie Mullins trained Hipo De Loire, fifth here last year and with a confidence boosting maiden hurdle win to his name last month. He can go well, but 7/2 is far too skinny for my liking and I am going for an each way bet on top-weight French Master. Trained by John and Thady Gosden who are having a good week, and running in the Wathnan racing colours, the four-year-old son of Frankel won two similar races over this trip at Ascot and Goodwood in May and June before finding two miles and Group One company beyond him in the Goodwood Cup when fifth to Scandinavia. Back into handicap company and sporting a first-time visor, he does have a mark of 108 to deal with but looks the obligatory group horse in a handicap, and if that is correct, he can hit a top three spot at a bigger price.  

York 4.10pm

A bit of a silly one next if the betting is to be believed when the 66/1 about Nimitz looks too big to resist. Three wins in a row at Bro Park in Sweden saw connections let him take his chance in a five furlong handicap at Glorious Goodwood where he was far from disgraced in ninth, five lengths off the winner but leading his group home. He is far better at the sixth furlong he faces here and he has a good draw in the 19 stall, and although a win should prove beyond him, he could hit a top four place at a massive price if the race falls his way off 3lb lower in the handicap.

Windsor 5.15pm

Off to the evening meeting at Windsor for my next bet when Amazonian Dream catches my eye ahead of the 5.15pm, a six furlong handicap. At first glance he has it all to do off top-weight, but dig deeper and you will see the six year old is dropping two classes after being beaten less than three lengths here when finishing fourth last time out. Left with a bit too much to do that day, if he can be ridden nearer to the early pace he could win or at least hit a top three spot, and if the price is big enough I will be playing him each way accordingly.

Windsor 5.45pm

Staying at Windsor to round things off this weekend, and a bit of a risky one – who else suggests a horse beaten over 100 lengths last time out? Dartrey proved, and I quote jockey Edward Greatrex to be “unsteerable” on his debut at Chelmsford where the 750,000 Euros son of Lope De Vega was stuck on the outside before pulling his way across the track on the home bend, letting his supporters down after he was sent off the Even money favourite. Racing over the straight six furlongs here he will either find another way to confuse connections, or hopefully give his true running, and if it is the latter I can see any losses that day being repaid here.

Sean’s Suggestion

Dartrey 5.45pm Windsor