The horse racing broadcaster picks out his selections from a bumper day of racing at Newmarket, Ascot and Redcar.
Eight races on ITV this Saturday, with the Group 1 Sun Chariot over 1m for Fillies and Mares the highlight.
The John and Thady Gosden yard are double-handed with last year’s winner Inspiral along with Nashwa but it continues to be a stop-start season for the stable. Their total of 81 UK winners for the first nine months of 2024 is the lowest total for that period since 2013, and their percentage of runners beaten at 60.59 per cent is the lowest since 2009. Last season’s Champion trainers are just 6th in this year’s list and it could be a chance for Andrew Balding to cement his 2nd place spot courtesy of SEE THE FIRE 3/1 (14:40 Newmarket) who has been knocking at the door in Group 1 company and displayed a fine turn of foot to win at York last time. Granted that was in lesser company but she placed in the Fillies Mile on soft ground over course and distance last year and ran well in both the Nassau and the Eclipse where 10f on soft ground seemed to stretch her. If there are any cracks in the Gosden duo, she can exploit them.
DEMOCRACY DILEMMA 7/2 (13:50 Ascot) has become one of the speediest hoses in training and whilst it is therefore easy to presume soft ground may blunt that speed, he may still be hard to peg back as he is likely to bag the stands rail. He handled the heavy ground at Newbury fine last time but the extra 34 yards over the minimum found him out late on. Relief Rally was one of those to overhaul but only did so by less than half a length and at the respective prices Robert Cowell’s speedball makes more appeal. It will be a long final furlong but he is a thoroughly likable sprinter and will give his usual bold sight.
Back on his beloved soft ground, HAMISH 100/30 (14:25 Ascot) can return to form in the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge. He ended up in the wrong trio at Newmarket and Kempton was not really run to suit his hold-up style. He has proved admirably consistent when given his preferred surface and I would certainly fancy him to display more heart in a finish than his mercurial stable companion Al Aasy. Al Qareem should ensure a good pace so hopefully, all boxes are ticked this time.
There are a couple of big field two-year-old races, with the 15:20 at Redcar looking to provide the best bet in FRANCISCO’S PIECE 7/1 . Another confirmed mudlark, he has had a good run to a good level throughout the season including when winning a Listed race in France, and a low draw on Redcar’s straight track has seemed an asset all season so he is well berthed in stall 2.
JOCKEYS FOR COURSES
Riders in action at tracks where they have a good career record.
Ascot: Saffie Osborne (15/99, A/E 1.95). Her five rides include Popmaster (15:35) who is nicely drawn in stall 17.
Newmarket Rowley: William Buick (203/1021, A/E 1.18). Not surprisingly, a full book on his home patch with Secret Theory looking an interesting debutante in the 16:25.
Southwell: Laura Pearson (15/92, A/E 1.61). Just one ride, Rizg, an outsider in the 17:45
Wolverhampton: Gina Mangan (17/183, A/E 1.52). Also just one ride on Lady Kilonova in the 16:55.
STABLE TRACKER UPDATE
A very quiet period with WISPER (13:30 Newmarket) running on Saturday, our only one of the week. He needs a good gallop to run at but has form on soft, so if they go at a good pace then hopefully he can make it third time lucky on his last tracker run.
Three additions this week, including rather unusually two last-start winners in Letmebetheboss and Albus Anne, who were both very impressive winners and can strike again while the ground remains soft.
No surprise that Jane Temple is added from Kempton on Wednesday after flying home from the back of the field on her debut. The Gosden yard has been quiet and she will take plenty of beating next time with this under her belt.
Additions: Letmebetheboss, Albus Anne, Jane Temple
A full list of the stable tracker horses can be found here.
COLUMN PERFORMANCE 2024
Selections: 53/53.80, A/E 0.99
Stable Tracker: 26/27.96, A/E 0.93
Jockeys For Courses: 51/52.59, A/E 0.97
Overall Performance: 130/134.35, A/E 0.97.
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