An All-Weather Focus While The Rain keeps Falling

ALL VIEWS ARE MY OWN

Very little chit-chat this week as life has been far too busy for my liking – though I will at least mention a welcome from me to Lord Allen (and good luck) as he takes over as Chair of the BHA at a particularly tricky time for the horse racing industry.  I will be in Westminster next week when racing goes on strike as we try to persuade the government that a tax increase could irreparably hurt a centuries old British institution, though I am far from convinced they care if there is a chance to raise a few quid for the empty coffers. Sadly, even IF we “win” the argument, they will undoubtedly hit slots and casinos, and although I don’t play either, the bookmakers will claw back the money from somewhere and racing will not be ring-fenced by them for special treatment – but more of that next week.  It’s a farce of the highest order, and we now have the TUC (remember them?) coming out in favour of hitting the bookies in the pocket – ignoring the fact it will trickle down to their members when it will become even harder to break even, let alone make a profit as the bookies put the squeeze on. Seriously, you just couldn’t make it up!   

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

On to the racing…..

Saturday racing

Kempton 2.05pm

I have looked away from the big races this weekend such as they are – either odds-on shots or open sprints and on rain softened ground – and my first bet runs in a one mile handicap on the all-weather -one of those weekends I’m afraid. Sky Safari heads the betting here and arrives unbeaten on an all-weather surface after a course and distance win last time out where the four-year-old scored by a length and a quarter, which has seen him punished 5lb by the handicapper, At an each way price, I prefer the chances of Silent Age, who won his maiden over C&D and scored narrowly on the turf at Ripon last time out. Scoring by a neck that day, he has only been put up 2lb but did remarkably well in the circumstances after failing to get a clear run both two furlongs out and again later in the race, and was value for far more than the official margin.  

Ascot 4.25pm

Just the one on the turf for me this Saturday when William Haggas looks for yet another winner at Ascot with Binhareer who has each way chances in the 4.25pm, a six-furlong handicap.  I suspect the going will be pretty testing having seen the recent rain, so that fact that the son of Dark Angel has won over a furlong further on soft ground looks a huge positive. A winner at Ayr in July and second, beaten less than a length at Newmarket, jockey Cieren Fallon knows him well which is a bonus, and if he is held up for a late run I can see him outstaying these.

Kempton 4.50pm

I always look for horses with good course records when the opportunity arises, and Federated looks each way value ahead of this mile and a half handicap. He sits nearer the bottom of the weights than the top despite winning five of his last eight starts, with the step up to this sort of trip seeking plenty of improvement. He does need a career best off a mark of 82 after winning off 77 last time out, but he ran on well over a furlong shorter to win by close to two lengths last time here, and may have more to offer this afternoon.

Wolverhampton 7.42pm

Daaris looks a good thing to me (famous last words) ahead of this mile and three-quarter handicap after the six-year-old finished third over shorter at Newmarket off 1lb higher, beaten less than two lengths at the line. Twice a course and distance winner, we know he handles both the surface and the trip, and with Jack Nicholls claiming 5lb from the saddle he looks to have every chance of adding to his tally of victories back on the all-weather and over his favourite distance.

Sean’s Suggestion

Daaris 7.42pm Wolverhampton