Horse Racing Preview – Newmarket and Cheltenham- 21st April 2017
Our horse racing preview comes from Newbury and one selection from Bath. It’s been a hard few days on the Rowley with just the placed selections bringing in a loss, but for the week just turning over a small profit on the point count. There are five selections I am confident that should go well on Friday.
14.30 Newbury – Compton Beauchamp Est Ltd Silver Bar Hip (0-100)
Andrew Balding’s Swashbuckle looked in need of the run when third on re-appearance on the all-weather at Newcastle last month. With two good wins last season off 73 & 78 at Ffos Las, he has been raised another 7lb but I actually feel now they are stepping him up further and with the fact he is actually lightly raced, should go very close in this.
Alan King is double handed here with Oceane and Rainbow Dreamer. Obviously the interesting of the pair is the latter with Ryan Moore booked. Nine lengths behind Defi Du Seuil in the Triumph Hurdle trial this year and we know how that turned out with the winner going on to land the Triumph Hurdle and Grade 1 Doom Bar at Aintree.
It’s surprising with that kind of background over hurdles he has only managed just the one win on the level from eight attempts. This is a big step up though considering only competing around the 0-85 brackets, could be vulnerable and will no doubt return hurdling in the near future.
Oceane is currently second favourite, joint with the selection. Another mix bag of running in both codes, his last win on the flat came at York when landing a similar event over 16.2f, this trip for me can see him out in my opinion and has not been in the best of form on the all-weather in his return.
Swashbuckle : 1.5pt win @ 7/2 (BOG)
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15.05 Newbury – Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup EBF Stallions Conditions Stakes (10f)
The name of the race is enough to get you out of breathe by just saying it, but regardless of that I do think John Gosdens filly can do the business on her race course debut. Shutter Speed is the well bred daughter of Dansili who just managed to hold on by a neck at Yarmouth on her debut over 8.1f. The fact she was kept until the back end of her juvenile status, I would predict that there is more to come in her transition focus.
The trainer also has Enable in the race who will be ridden by William Buick. She was very impressive when on debut on the all-weather at Newcastle at the back end of the flat season. Surprisingly though she has not been seen since November and will make her turf debut this afternoon.
Sheikh Mohammad’s 3/4 million pound purchase Dubawi Prince will represent Roger Varian’s yard. He stepped up on his first transition run to win a Doncaster maiden which for me was nothing special, probably see him in better light this season in handicap company.
Raheen House I put forward when declared to run at Doncaster on the opening day of the flat season, but he was pulled out due to the ground, a winner in a York maiden last October he was then pitched in the deep end when running fifth in the Racing Post Trophy when behind Rivet who was beaten easily yesterday in the Craven Stakes.
It’s difficult to assess the ground dependency for him, failing on good to firm and soft in his career and with the ground riding quicker than usual this time of year he looks vulnerable for me.
Shutter Speed : 3pt win @ 11/8 (BOG)
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16.10 Newbury – Dubai Duty Free Full Of Surprises Handicap (0-100)
John Gosden is very well represented here with Chessman who does have a 2000gns entry in a couple of weeks. The son of Acclamation won with plenty in hand on his only juvenile start at Kempton when overcoming a very difficult draw.
That day he beat a useful type in Esprit De Corps who landed a massive gamble at Bath last week. On pedigree, the guineas distance should be more effective for him, but for now stays around 7f and should be landing this race under Dettori.
I can’t see many dangers in the race, Stoutes entry Pivoine could be the main danger, third on debut at Newmarket when behind Via Egnatia who was beaten convincingly this week at Newmarket. The runner up Never Surrender was beaten by Dubawi Prince at Doncaster early this month.
Chessman : 2pt Win @ 7/4 (BOG)
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16.40 Newbury – Dubai Duty Free Handicap (0-110)
I would like to think Roger Varian’s smart sprinter Double Up can land this race. It’s been eighteen months since we saw him land a big handicap at Ascot when fending off a big field.
Since then Double Up has failed in eight starts to get his head in front, has been rising at the weights which has done him no favours, but if he brings his last season’s Portland run to the table then we could see him going close.
Michael Easterby has had a great winter with his runners on the all-weather and I do like his entry here in Bowson Fred. He looks about ready to strike after some good efforts on the all-weather this year when notably just denied by the smart sprinter Kimberella in the Betway Dash, that winner went on to win at the Champions all weather meeting.
Bowson Fred : 1.5pt each way @ 9/2 (BOG)
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18.30 Bath – Clifford Hillier Handicap (0-65)
A low graded affair which should be going to Archie Watson’s Attain. Not the greatest of races and even though he has failed to win since the turn of the year, the runs have been consistent enough to see him win here.
His form returning to turf puts him around 5lb ahead of the handicap, with a win in a 0-70 last year at Sandown he would not have to do much to land this average contest. Best of the rest comes from the Oliver Greenhall yard in Spirit of the Vale.
She has won twice this year on the all-weather at Newcastle off marks of 46 & 51, not a bad run when fifth at Redcar on season turf re-appearance, but does look exposed on turf off current mark.
Attain : 3pt win @ 7/4 (BOG)
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