Why do people moan about rides?
Why do people complain about rides? Because they lost a few ££’s and they don’t understand the difference between a bad ride and an unfortunate ride. Horses can’t simply run through other horses that may be in the way. Similarly people expect jockeys to know what their mounts and others are going to do all the time. When a gap closes it’s not always (or even often) the fault of the jockey going for the gap and yet they get moaned at.
The criticism of Frankie on Stradivarius is ridiculous. The claim that he should have been closer turning in would have meant he was still behind Rip Van Lips who then fell back and Frankie got caught behind him. By the time they came into the bend he was behind him so getting closer a furlong before wouldn’t have made any difference. My only criticism of Frankie would have been after he got out and was trying to run down 2nd and 3rd he appeared to not ride out to the finish and I feel he could have at least got 3rd if he had continued to ride when his chance of winning had gone.
Anyway, let’s have a brief look at all of the races and look further into those where I feel there was an eyecatcher or 2.
Day 1 – Tuesday 15th June 2021
Palace Pier was a decent winner, not amazing but won well enough. He will continue to take all the beating over 1m. There was nothing in behind that really interested me here.
Berkshire Shadow for me won due to the track bias down the nearside. Taking this into account you have to mark up the unlucky (didn’t get a run) Eldrickjones and Ebro River (raced down far side of centre for most of the way). I think we could see Eldrickjones next at Newmarket in the July Stakes whilst Ebro River goes to Goodwood for the Richmond Stakes.
Oxted bounced back to form here under a strong ride from Oisin Murphy. Battaash probably needed the run and didn’t have time to get a prep run in. Nothing really to take out of the race.
Poetic Flare with arguably the performance of the week. Battleground was arguably the 2nd best in that race but wouldn’t want to keep racing against Poetic Flare.
Reshoun dug in for William Buick to hold off the unlucky Mc Muldoon. Mc Muldoon will be priced accordingly next time out. Coeur De Lion would have wanted a bit of cut and so for me has run a great race to finish a decent 6th whilst my quiet eyecatcher was Rayapour who never really got a clear run until the race was finished. Keep an eye out for this unexposed 5 year old.
The highly tried Juan Elcano finally got his act together here to run down Patrick Sarsfield. Blue Cup and Euchen Glen are likely Ebor types but the former is going to get a hike up the handicap due to his proximity to higher rated horses.
Amtiyaz was given a great ride by Hollie Doyle who was always in the right position and the pair dug in at the finish to narrowly deny the fast finishing Dubious Affair. Sextant who was only 8th is one to take out here as he was never involved in the race before running on quietly in the final straight. If he is dropped 3lb+ then I think he can be found a race.
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Day 2 – Wednesday 16th June 2021
Quick Suzy beat Twilight Gleaming after both raced up with the pace. Cheerupsleepyjean was arguably given too much to do under Chris Hayes. Last off the bridle she finished strongly but was unable to make up the ground she found herself behind when Chris asked his mount.
Kemari was a good winner after getting a lovely tow through the race from Law Of The Sea. JP doesn’t have many on the flat but he surely can count Benaud as unlucky here, still last turning for home he’s finished a never nearer 4th after having to come widest of all. I think he could be seen in a feature staying handicap later on in the season.
Indie Angel won after coming down the near side with Frankie and that for me was the difference. Lady Bowthorpe was an unknown on the ground but she handled it fine and I am confident she is and will be the best out of that race.
Love battled really well to hold off Audarya and should improve for the run. She’ll be tough to beat over 1m2f – 1m4f this season.
Real World bolted up under Marco Ghiani and was surely a Group horse in a handicap. Escobar got caught out on the left of the nearside group and is worth another go whilst Hortzadar who doesn’t run well at Ascot was never off the bridle but never able to as he was always behind a wall of horses. Don’t give up on them.
Chipotle got a lovely path through over the far side and won well under Charles Bishop. Dig Two ran on well for 2nd late on and should step up in trip. Kaboo was a big gamble and although only finished 6th, I think will end up being the best of these. Newcomer and ran down the centre of the track were both against him.
Lola Showgirl made all the running under a great ride from Laura Pearson. Ffion arguably had the run of the race and every chance to go past but was unable to. Waliyak who was reported to have been rushed to get to the race made eyecatching progress from the back of the field for 3rd and will be interesting next time out.
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Day 3 – Thursday 17th June 2021
Perfect Power has finished strongly under Paul Hanagan to win but surely Project Dante who was 3rd was the best horse in the race having not looked straight-forward nor getting a clear run.
Mohaafeth was an impressive winner despite travelling widest of all. Movin Time could be interesting if handicapper doesn’t adjust his mark. He’s raced against higher rated horses, over-raced and not ridden out strongly and wasn’t too far behind in 5th.
Loving Dream may have won but Eshaada was surely the best horse in the race however I don’t think it was a poor ride, just unfortunate due to how the race unfolded. Nothing else really caught my eye.
Subjectivist was given a great ride by Fanning and kicked on at the right time. Stradivarius was unlucky not to finish closer but I don’t think would have won even with a clear run. It was definitely not Frankie’s fault though. He simply ran into the back of a horse who started to fade.
Perotto battled late on to hold off Quintillus who looked like he was going to go past. Liffey River finished strongly to get up for 2nd close home after not getting the clearest of runs. Dubai Honour won over the far side but was beaten by 3 down the nearside.
Surefire came from a long way back before drifting across but only hampered Nagano who he was passing at the time. Sir Lamorak got going even later but couldn’t quite get there finishing 2nd. Both are likely to go up in the handicap and probably into Listed/Group races. Parachute finished 3rd despite racing wide and up with the pace and probably beaten by 2 decent sorts.
Highfield Princess beat the boys despite racing a bit keen down the nearside. Bielsa was wayward under pressure but beat those who ended up in the centre of the track comfortably and deserves another chance particularly if handicapper is kind.
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Day 4 – Friday 18th June 2021
Sandrine got a lovely tow through the race from Lady Ayresome and was a comfortable winner over Hello You. It all happened too fast for Prettiest who ran on at the finish for 4th whilst Oscula was given an enterprising ride by Mark Crehan coming down the nearside with just one other runner (who was 3 or 4 lengths behind)
Alenquer was a comfortable winner here and clearly the best. Things happened too fast for The Mediterranean
Campanelle was awarded the race in the stewards after being bumped by Dragon Symbol. Personally I don’t think this caused Campanelle to pass the line behind Dragon Symbol but the margins were so fine, I can understand the decision despite not agreeing with it.
Alcohol Free put her stamina doubts to bed when winning this despite it being heavy going. Snow Lantern finished best of all despite not getting a clear run twice at crucial times. If she had then she may well have won this. All of the front 4 could win that race on another day.
Create Belief won comfortably but the ground would have been exaggerating the distances beaten. Samoot was arguably in the wrong part of the track and came from a long way back. Prado could be interesting further down the field.
Quickthorn backed up his recent win with another at Royal Ascot beating Raymond Tusk who has now finished 2nd twice at 40/1 & 25/1 behind 2 favourites since I highlighted him as being well handicapped. He was rated 99, he’s finished 2nd off 102 and likely to be 105 after that. Frustrating on the win side for sure.
Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes
Significantly got his act together after regularly running well but finding one too good. Boomshalaa was arguably the best horse in this race but got going too late. Dream Composer started down the nearside but ended up in the centre of the track whilst Mo Celita has run really well considering he raced the whole way down the centre of the track.
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Day 5 – Saturday 19th June 2021
Point Lonsdale had to be ridden here but got on top late on and looks well above average. He was definitely the best horse in the race.
Creative Force made it 4 wins on the bounce and 5 wins from 6 runs. I think he won despite of where he raced and was the best horse in the race. Naval Crown finished 2nd making the form look strong.
Wonderful Tonight won her 3rd race on the bounce having already won at Ascot in October last year. She picked up really well to win going away. I didn’t see anything in this race that caught my eye.
The best horse in Dream of Dreams won the race and he’ll be back in October for Champions Day. Art Power was arguably in the wrong group and can pick up a Group 1 soon.
Rohaan won as a 3 year old off a mark of 112 having started life in handicaps off 55. That was some performance. King’s Lynn was unlucky as didn’t get a clear run. I will be looking to see where the handicapper starts dropping horses handicap marks.
Foxes Tales picked up from a poor position to win in impressive fashion. Irish Legend didn’t get the clearest of runs but wouldn’t have won anyway whilst King Frankel raced wide and didn’t get a good run through the race but still ran a good race.
Stratum landed the final race of the week for Willie Mullins and Ryan Moore. He won the 2019 Cesarewitch and clearly thrives in these events. Calling The Wind ran a great race for 2nd whilst The Grand Visir finished 3rd for his 3rd top 3 at Royal Ascot. Stag Horn is only 4 and ran a cracker for 4th.
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I’m sure next weeks Handicap blog will be really interesting with a few of these from Royal Ascot likely to feature. The blog highlighted Raymond Tusk after his 3rd behind Sir Ron Priestley and he was clearly well handicapped off 99 having finished 2nd to Ilaraab at 40/1 and now 2nd off 102 to Quickthorn at 25/1. Ilaraab has already run in a Group race whilst it’s surely only a matter of time before Quickthorn runs in a Group race. I just hope Raymond Tusk can get a win to his name before his mark rises too high.
Great read & write up Liam many thanks