Few Thoughts All Racing This Week

ALL THOUGHTS ARE MY OWN

As you may have worked out I have only just got back from my latest racing trip abroad and need to catch up on what has been going on – though that can wait for another day.

Affordabilty checks have reared their ugly head once more so I have been busy taking calls from the racing papers and doing a 10 minute slot on radio (which is lucky as I don’t have a face for television before you say it), but other than that its been unpacking and catching up on sleep.

Therefore we have a double whammy of suggestions only, good or bad, with Saturday and Sunday – enjoy and here’s to a winner or two!

Saturday’s Racing

In no particular order…

4.35pm Newmarket

The Group One July Stakes at Newmarket this afternoon looks to be the best sprint of the season so far, with the one obvious question – can anyone get the better of Venetian Sun? Karl Burke’s filly was mightily impressive when winning the Coronation Cup at Royal Ascot by a head, though her superiority was more than that as she was produced late on to get up as she pleased. I am wary of her short price here and the fact that she has come into season, which can distress the fillies considerably, especially on a hot summers day, and it may be sensible to look elsewhere for each way value. Aidan O’Brein’s Mission Control is officially rated her equal, and at 6/1 he looks a sensible play with a place giving is a small profit, and a win even more! Three wins this season include a last gasp victory over five furlongs at Royal Ascot in the King Charles III Stakes but the added furlong now is in his favour (currently unbeaten over six furlongs), and if he is played late by Ryan Moore he could yet pull off a surprise.

3.12pm York

Heavenly Heather ran a blinder to finish sixth behind Mission Control in the Group One King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot, beaten just a length and a half at the line finishing nearest at the finish after hitting a flat spot mid-race. I accept that three wins form 21 starts is not the most prolific of records and that she cannot be guaranteed to repeat that effort, but if she does, the drop to listed class means she has an outstanding chance. Jockey Barry McHugh knows the mare well and if she can get a clear run when needed then this race could be hers for the taking.

2.27pm Ascot

French raider No Lunch arrives on the back of six successive wins and has to be respected but personally, I would be surprised if he was up to the level of the Group Two Summer Mile from Ascot, due off at 2.27pm, though a place is not impossible. More Thunder heads the betting for William Haggas after his second to Ten Bob Tony in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot where he finished fast and late and a repeat of that really ought to see him home in front, though I will be having a an each way bet on Jonquil instead, a favourite of mine who has always been held in the highest regard at home. 16/1 as I write he could hit the frame at a massive price if he settles better than he did last time out and back on the quicker ground that seems to suit him best.

And on to Sunday…

3.35pm Stratford

A horror show of a day for me and every punter with only two meetings here in the UK, both over jumps in the height of the hottest summer on record. At Stratford I will be having a very small bet on Gambino, half-decent on the Flat with a third to Constitution Hill at Southwell in February and expected to have learned plenty for his hurdling debut when a distant third at Musselburgh. He has had win surgery since, suggesting he may have had breathing issues, and if that has a positive effect, he looks as good a bet as any on a trappy day.

4.45pm Stratford

On what could be a good day for the Skeltons Edelak goes from strength to strength, winning his last three starts at Huntingdon, here over shorter, and most recently when destroying a small field by over 70 lengths at Uttoxeter. For reasons I cannot fathom the handicapper has ignored that race and left him on the same mark this afternoon, and if he remains at the same level he should win, albeit at a laughable price (what can I do?).

12.35pm Hong Kong

With apologies I have headed abroad for my final bet when the 12.35pm from Sha Tin (Hong Kong) catches my eye with a decent each way option, price permitting. It’s a Group One handicap over the mile worth £217,541 to the winner, so no surprises to see a big field of up to 13 going to post. Cap Ferrat has top-weight for a reason having won the Hong Kong Derby last year, but he has failed to register a victory since in nine starts and has frankly become disappointing. That said, he does have some decent form to call upon including a second to My Wish in the Champions Mile (Docklands in third) with his lasty start seeing a two and a half length sixth to Beauty Joy when looking set to challenge until his run was blocked. Luck in running is invariably needed here but if he gets it, he could go close despite having to give 5lb or more to the rest of the field.

Sean’s Suggestion:

Mission Control each way 4.35pm Newmarket Saturday