Today’s horse racing preview comes from the Moet & Chandon July Festival from Newmarket.
13.50 Newmarket – Bahrain Trophy Stakes (Group 3) (13f)
John Gosden has a prolific strike rate in this race scoring four of the past five renewals with his last success back in 2015 with Mr Singh. This year he is double represented here with Face The Facts and Crowned Eagle. The latter looks the one to concentrate on who finished nearer the tail end of the field in this year’s Epsom Derby. Prior to his Derby run he was seen winning a 0-85 handicap at Windsor which has seen the runner up Secret Advisor finish placed in the Queen Vase at Ascot.
This is probably a big ask stepping into pattern company for the first time against already proven types around this sphere. With only one double figure price winner since 2006, this race has been won from the top three in the market over the past decade and at the head of affairs is Roger Charlton’s impressive King George V Handicap winner Atty Persse who trained Arrive to land this race back in 2001.
He is sired by the mighty Frankel out of Pretty Polly stakes winning mare Dorcas Lane, so speed and stamina, but can he stay this extra furlong as despite winning well by three lengths at Ascot this is a lot tougher with the climbing finish, if this was 10f I would have no doubt he was a good thing, over this trip I am not so sure. Second and third in the market is Raheen House and Wolf County, the former represents Brian Meehan, who has turned out four winners this month from fourteen starts.
Raheen House has not run badly all season, finishing runner up in a conditions race at Newbury on seasons re-appearance, to go on to finish third in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes before seeing him once more run a solid fourth behind Permian in the King Edward V11 Stakes. He ran above his odds of 25/1 that day under Jamie Spencer who stays loyal to the Sea The Stars Colt, as for being the winner there are more positive angles in the race for me.
Wolf Country is another of serious interest, a good win in France when taking the Listed De Havre at Saint Cloud, but was clearly beaten by Permian in the Dante Stakes. The form line through Permian you would have thought Raheen House would be the more likely to run better of the two.
Last year’s winning trainer Aidan O’Brien has a very interesting contender here in Wisconsin, he has been competing over 14f on his last two starts and on paper has a bit to find behind Face The Facts and Desert Skyline who he meets once more from the Queen’s Vase. He was not beaten far in the Curragh Cup once more over 14f beaten a distance of five lengths. However, his last run over today’s index saw him win a maiden at Tipperary, the runner up has franked that form, how many times have we seen the genius of training drop one in off the radar, Housesofparliament was exactly that last year and again I think he has got it spot on again, 8/1 could be too big.
WINCONSIN : 1pt each way @ 8/1 (BOG)
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14.25 Newmarket – Arqana July Stakes (Group 2) (6f)
Two have really caught my eye to run well in this race, Sound and Silence and Card Sharp who make a lot of appeal at the odds. Firstly, Charlie Appleby’s Listed Windsor Castle Stakes winner Sound and Silence who was lit up in first time cheekpieces at Ascot when moving smoothly through the race under William Buick, once he hit the front with 100 yards to go he was going away from his field with ease. I think there is much more to come from this son of Exceed and Excel who could become one of the top sprinters this season.
On to the second I like very much and that is Mark Johnston’s CardSharp, his third in the Norfolk Stakes was a careers best, he had It Don’t Come Easy comfortably beaten back in fifth and again I would like to think there is more to come now stepping back up in trip to 6f which saw him runner up to De Bruyne Horse in the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom in a quick time. As for the Coventry winner Rajasinghe I am going to take him on as a Lay in the race. 9/4 far too short for a competitive race such as this, his Coventry win was not that fast compared to a few of these in the race that have run superior, probably will not get the firm ground required from Ascot.
SOUND AND SILENCE : 2pt Win @ 7/1 (BOG)
Cardsharp : 1pt each way @ 12/1 (BOG)
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15.00 Newmarket – Bet365 Handicap (0-105) (6f)
It’s not been easy going through this big field, but with four places up for grabs once more we could afford to dutch a couple in this. My first selection is Richard Hughes’ inform Goodwood Crusader who is looking for the five timer. His last two runs which came at Leicester and over course and distance in fairly quick times especially his 0-85 win here at Newmarket. Fair enough he takes a huge hike at the weights, however has a good draw in stall 7 and should be in there pitching at the business end.
My second selection comes in Martyn Meade’s Cartographer, this well-bred filly was impressive when winning over course and distance in a 0-85 handicap last time out, but I was more taken with her Yarmouth win back in May when setting a sub 70s win and has recorded that time again since at Lingfield when finishing placed, she is definitely on my short list.
Another in with a shout is Roger Varian’s Victory Angel who ran as you expected when second in this year’s Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Ascot. Won over course and distance back in April in a 0-100 handicap in a fairly good time.
CARTOGRAPHER : 1.5pts each way @ 6/1 (BOG)
Goodwood Crusader : 1pt each way @ 11/1 (BOG)
Good Luck, Bet Responsibly
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