Hi all,
Derby Hero Is Retired!
Well, what did we learn from the Weekend’s Irish Derby? For me the win of Aiden O’Brien’s second string Capri underlined the Ballydoyle don’t have an outstanding three-year-old middle distance colt this season. Epsom Derby hero Wings of Eagles could only finish 3rd but after the race he was found have sustained a career ending injury which sadly means we won’t be seeing him race again. As for the winner, a tilt at the Doncaster St LĂ©ger would seem a logical target for the colt who probably wouldn’t be at his best on ground firmer than good.
Charlton Runner Can Decorate Coral Eclipse
Next Saturday we see the latest running of the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. At the five-day stage 16 horses have been declared to run including, Epsom Derby 2nd Cliffs Of Moher, the Derby 4th Eminent and recent St James’ Palace Stakes winner Barney Roy. The sponsors Coral have Cliffs of Moher as the 9/4 favourite in their ante-post market for the race. It will be interesting who turns up on the day but it has the makings of a really good race.
For those of you looking to delve into the form ahead of the race, here are few ten-year trends that you may find useful in your research:
10 winners from 73 runners 25 placed
Age:
3-year-old – 3 winners 23 runners 7 placed
4-year-old – 2 winners from 28 runners 12 placed
5-year-old+ – 5 winners from 22 runners 6 placed
Odds SP:
8/1 & under – 9 winners from 35 runners 20 placed
Days Since Last Run:
16 to 30 days – 9 winners from 43 runners 18 placed
Last Race Track:
Ascot or Epsom – 10 winners from 52 runners 20 placed
The Roger Charlton-trained 5-year-old Decorated Knight is a proven Group 1 performer who was 2nd to Highland Reel at Royal Ascot and despite his age continues to progress well. The 3rd home in that race was the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Ulysses who won over C&D in April. The four-year-old was just a short head behind the Charlton runner and is another that should go well. At this stage, my slight preference would be for Decorated Knight who can be backed at around 8/1, the same price as Ulysses, and I favour the pair against the three-year-olds in the ante-post betting.
This Weeks Eyecatcher’s
Not a great deal of quality horse racing on show, last week but there was plenty of competitive racing on offer for punters. This week I have three horses to add to your trackers:
Thursday 29th June
Newcastle
One Word More – Tim Easterby – The 7-year-old was having only his second start on the all-weather in this 1m Class 2 handicap. Despite being slow away at the start he did well to get within 1 ¾ lengths off the winner when running on to be 4tth at the finish. He is still 1lb above his last winning mark back in the spring of 2015 but he is on a competitive mark based on his placed efforts last summer in big field mile handicaps. Granted 2 wins from 32 starts isn’t a win strike rate to get the pulse racing and he has broken blood vessels in the past but there is still a handicap in the gelding when all the cards fall right, I am sure of that.
Friday 30th June
Newcastle
Orion’s Bow – Tim Easterby – The six-year-old got no sort of run when favourite for the Scottish Sprint Cup at Musselburgh on his previous start and he didn’t get the clearest of passages once again in the Gosforth Park Cup. He was staying on strongly when in the clear and ran well when finishing 3rd just 1 ÂĽ lengths behind the winner. Was sent off at odds of just 2/1 for this competitive sprint handicap which indicates that market thinks the gelding could still be on a winnable mark off 104. Second, in last year’s Goodwood Stewards Cup when trained by the late Dandy Nicholls, you would think that race would be on his agenda again as would the Scottish Stewards Cup at Hamilton, a race he won last year. All seven of his career wins have come when racing between 8 & 30 days since his last start.
Saturday 1st July
York
B Fifty Two – Marjorie Fife – The 8-year-old has yet to reach the frame since moving from the Charlie Hill stable at the start of the season but one again wasn’t disgraced when coming from off the pace to finish 5th in this 5f sprint handicap. The gelding started last season off a mark of 100 and he has now dropped down to a mark of 74. He is a very well handicapped horse and his shrewd trainer must surely get a handicap out of him before the season is out
All that’s left is to wish you a profitable week punting.
John
