Ok, it is a nightmare day but :
1.30 Newmarket.
A tricky handicap to start off with where I could give a chance to quite a few of them. That doesn’t though include the favourite Highland Knight whose rating of 87 looks a little high considering what he’s actually acheived so far. He’ll probably go and skate in now but if he does, he won’t be carrying any of my money but some of Frankie's it seems:D. The way Dance East finished his race off last time makes me wonder whether he’ll be able to stay a mile in this company and I think a better bet is the topweight Sea Lord. As I said on Wednesday (just before Fireback won) the form of the Britannia this year looks worth following and Sea Lord finished 8th in that race. He has since come out and won a big handicap at the Curragh and with Amy Ryan claiming a useful 5lb I reckon his winning spree can continue. The consistent Finest Reserve can chase him home.
Selection: Sea Lord Danger Finest Reserve
2.00 Newmarket
I’m not sure whether Ecliptic would have won his race at Sandown if Frankie hadn’t been dumped on the floor by the second favourite but they were both 8 lengths clear of anything else at the time and it didn’t look too bad a race. It is however a big step up in class here so I’ll be siding with the runner that won a Group 2 last time out from the O’Brien horse Samuel Morse. That’s tip top form and if Formosina is able to shoulder the 3lb Group penalty he’ll take all the beating.
Selection: Formosina Danger: Ecliptic
2.35 Newmarket
This really is a race to swerve, anything could win but probably one of these ! My choice, the trends pick is Noble Citizen who ran 4th in the Victoria Cup and 6th in the Hunt Cup where he faded in the last 150yds. Off bottom weight the 18/1 looks big for a horse drawn well and with the assistance of William Buick can make the frame at the very least. Crown Choice probably hit the front too soon when winning narrowly at Goodwood last time out. However, with Jamie Spencer on board looks an ew contender at least, looks to be on an upward curve and and ran well on the Rowley Course back in May. 3yo’s don’t have a great record in the Bunbury Cup (although they don’t have that many runners) but the way Freeforaday ran last time out in the Jersey Stakes he could change all that. The step up in trip seemed to bring about massive improvement and 20/1 is value. Everymanforhimself can run well in these big field handicaps if the mood takes him and odds of 33/1 may be worth a small each way interest if anyone is looking for a big priced outsider. Signor Peltro could figure but is likely to need luck in running and 7/1 doesn't appeal in this trappy race.
Selection: Noble Citizen ew Danger: Crown Choice Maybe worth small ew/win-place interest are Freeforaday/ Everymanforhimself
3.10 Newmarket
The July Cup looks a virtual re-run of the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot with the rest of the field made up of Kings Stand runners from the Tuesday of the meeting. I’m sure Equiano will make life difficult for Starspangledbanner up front and they’ll be taking no prisoners in what’s going to be a very fast run race. Blink and you’ll miss this! It may pay to find a horse able to sit off the pace and challenge late on which is exactly what I expect Society Rock to do. 3yo’s have a good record in the race and he doesn’t have a lot to find with the favourite so at 14/1 he’s my idea of a value each way bet. Niconi also appeals ew at 16/1, wasn't given the best of rides in the Kings Stand stakes and is reunited today with top Australian jockey D M Oliver. Stepping back to 6 furlongs should suit, hopefully Niconi will be there or thereabouts when it matters. Given his much improved form this year I’d like to think Equiano could finish in the frame too
Selection: Society Rock Dangers: Niconi/Equiano
3.45 Newmarket
A 2yo race for fillies isn’t my cup of tea at all. Mick Channon usually unveils a decent filly in July so I’ll be watching Layla Jamil and also Hannon’s horse Our Way Only given his 2yo form this week. Suroors Ragsah looks the one they all have to beat though.
Selection: Layla Jamil (e/w) Dangers:Our Way Only/ Ragsah
4.20 Newmarket
I used to love these 2yo Nursery’s but I’ve not been having a lot of luck in them recently. With all the top 10 runners in the handicap having won 1 of their last two races it probably won’t be changing here as this looks really tough. Breathless Storm looks a real monkey but he obviously has ability to match his wayward tendancies as his 5th to Royal Ascot winner Zaidan confirms. The one that I really like the look of though is Barry Hills’s Rerouted who began his career by running Elzaam to 3 lengths in a Class 3 maiden at York.
Selection: Rerouted Danger: Breathless Storm
4.55 Newmarket
And so as it began so does it end. However, Times Up looks of interest, won twice last year and 5th on seasonal debut. With a drop back in drip and hopefully coming on for that run 10/1 looks fair enough. Bay Willow is clear favourite and with Frankie on board should run well so in the absence, so far at least, of an alternative I'll opt for him as an obvious danger though might well find a few more !
Selection: Times Up ew Danger Bay Willow
Be very, very lucky
Chris
He ran 10.11 in the heats in Moscow ( a pb I think) and 10.25 in the Olympic final in Moscow 1980. There is, as you would imagine, lots of debate as to why black athletes are able to run faster. Is it in the genes or somehow are they more likely/able to be cheating by using drugs ? It doesn't help that a lot of US sprinters have tested positive in more recent years, Jamaica is nowhere near as strict in it's approach to random drug testing as say the UK nor of course that both Linford Christie and Dwain Chambers have tested positive for drug use. Christie was essentially retired when testing positive so one wonders why he would bother, Chambers of course suspended though now back running and still around 10.00 in a regular basis. I do believe he is now clean having openly admitted to using drugs, it would be very hard for him to use drugs without detection. Some believe Usain Bolt must be taking some kind of drugs to run such amazing times. My own opinion is that he is clean but tarnished by the legacy of others.