Racehorse Week - And I'm There In Spirit If Not In Person

ALL VIEWS ARE MY OWN

You know the years are flying by when your heroes of yesteryear leave this mortal coil, and it has been a very sad week for racing fans with the passing of Bruce Raymond on Sunday and now the news that Geoff Lewis, of Mill Reef fame has also left us. I am not quite old enough to call them my childhood heroes (whatever I may look like), but I remember them both fondly with Geoff going on to train in Epsom which is where the majority of my memories come from, and on the few chats we had he came over a really lovely bloke – sad times indeed and with the likelihood of more to come as we all get older.

Other news this week includes the Juddmonte Stakes won by Ombudsman (impressively I might add), but what do we all make of pacemakers, are they REALLY running on their merits as per the rules of racing? In case you missed it (where were you?), on this occasion it was Godolphin who ran the 109 rated Listed winner Birr Castle to lead them all a merry dance, and to be fair, he was given a brilliant ride by the much maligned Rab Havlin. Sent 20 lengths clear with five furlongs to go, for a moment it looked as if they had given him too much rope and that he would last home for a 150/1 surprise (Betfair SP 240.0,) but he lost two places close home to be beaten four lengths at the line. Well as he ran, the fact is he was there as a pacemaker pure and simple, and although it didn’t happen on this occasion, we have all seen them move off the rail to let the better fancied runner through – but is that right – I will leave you to draw your own conclusions on that one, but it is noted that only the bigger owners and stables have the firepower to employ such tactics.     

Racehorse Week was something that sadly passed me by (too busy working I’m afraid), but it was a not so subtle reminder that racing is not about having a bet (win or lose), but about the animals who give their all for our entertainment. Contrary to popular belief, 90% of my working week is (sadly) spent in front for a computer screen reading or writing about the sport we all love, but the only times I am really at home is when I am with the horses. That may be at Nicky Hendersons on a pre-Cheltenham stable tour, at Summerveld in South Africa chatting to trainers as their horses work or drinking coffee at Meydan in the week before the Dubai World Cup, but it does remind me – horses themselves are the be all and end all. Bank Holiday Monday saw Epsom opening up their yards to the public for adoring fans of all ages, while the likes of Nicky Henderson, Alan King, Harry Derham, and Hughie Morrison are all expecting big crowds for their open days. I may not be there in person, but it is a good reminder as to why we love this sport as much as we do – if it every becomes nothing more than a betting medium for me than it is clearly time for me to hang up my boots! 

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

The Curragh 2.20pm

Sugar Island was more workmanlike than impressive when winning on his debut over seven furlongs here last month, but as a son of Dubawi out of a Galileo mare, that was only to be expected. Word is that he has improved hand over fist for the experience on the Ballydoyle gallops, and if that is the case I will happily take any odds against we can find, with 9/4 the price at the time of writing. He is the pick of stable jockey Ryan Moore which is a positive, and although I expect him to come into his own over middle distances next year as a three-year-old, a win today will do for me.

Sandown 2.25pm

Blue Note is the talk of the town ahead of the Group Three Atalanta Stakes after three wins on the bounce, but if money talks, this is all about the William Haggas trained Alabayyah, freely available at 10/1 earlier in the week, but backed down to 11/2 at present. A once raced filly who won on soft ground at Yarmouth last October, she has not been seen since – so where is the money coming from? I can only (naively) assume she has been pulling up trees on the Newmarket gallops, and although my bets will be minimal in this sort of race and after such a long absence, I will be having a little each way at that price or bigger.  

The Curragh 2.52pm

I hate to look like a member of the Aidan O’Brien fan club, but how can I oppose Mission Central here? Disappointing on his debut he was gelded soon after, and returned in a huge 28 runner maiden over course and distance where he put the race to bed with an eight length victory – those margins simply do not happen over six furlongs too often. Mushaffar looks an each way alternative for those who hate backing favourite after Joseph O'Brien’s colt won easily on his debut, but I cannot sensibly oppose the jolly – so I won’t.

Beverley 3.42pm

I am avoiding the so called main meetings with my last bet this weekend as Melvin Udall heads to Beverley for the 3.42pm where I feel he has an outstanding chance. One start in Ireland saw the son of Earthlight outrun his price at the Curragh when fourth at odds of 80/1 but beaten less than two lengths at the line after running on well over the six and a half furlongs. Now in the care of Ed Walker, whose string are in good form, he is upped a furlong which seems sure to suit, with my only worry the small field which may see it go tactical whereas I think he may prefer a test of stamina.

Sean’s Suggestion

Melvin Udall 3.42pm Beverley