Saturday 4th July 2015 Feature Races

Coral Charge
Sandown 14:00

Meccas Angel was a revelation last year winning 4 of her 5 runs including a Listed and a Group 3 event at Doncaster and Newbury respectively. She made very pleasing reappearance when winning at Longchamp by 4 lengths from Robert Le Diable who finished a good 2nd in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot. Meccas Angel was withdrawn from Royal Ascot due to the fast ground and it’s not guaranteed she will run here but if she does then surely she is the one to beat on known form.

Waady is the one likely to give her the biggest run for her money and this Colt has looked very good this season winning 3 of his last 4 including 2 at Sandown and is 3 from 3 at Sandown. His latest win in the Scurry Stakes was very impressive when he quickened away well from Profitable who has since finished 5th in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Waady likes to be held up so his drawn isn’t an issue however there doesn’t appear to be anything that likes to go on and this may play against Waady.

Wind Fire has some very smart form in the book but doesn’t seem to string good runs together. He finished 4th in this race last year when running on well but this years race looks to be a bit stronger. He also has to prove he has recovered from his exertions at Royal Ascot as many that ran at Royal Ascot have ran poorly since including Forgotten Rules, Pleascach, Log Out Island and War Envoy.

Son of Africa is one that is improving well and a recent drop to 5f on the turf proved fruitful when an easy winner at Newmarket. Henry Candy has a good record with sprinters and this one is bred for speed but will need to improve massively to get involved here. Being only a 3 year old this isn’t out of the question and does get the 3 year old allowances but doesn’t look anywhere near as good as Waady, Salt Island and Beacon who are all also 3 year olds and therefore receive this allowance.

Salt Island drops back to 5f for the first time in his career and on the back of his recent 4th in the Commonwealth Cup this is understandable as he was one of the last off the bridle, as he has been for the last 3 runs but hasn’t quite got home. He may be switched back to being prominently ridden and may not be coming back to those who are held up and making their efforts late. Exceed and Excel don’t run great here however and this would be a concern.

Kingsgate Native is sure to be a popular winner, as at the age of 10 he is still running really well including when winning last time out at Haydock in a Listed event. Today’s race has a bit more strength in depth and although he finished 2nd last year he may find that a few of the younger brigade are too quick for him this year.

With the possible change of tactics for Salt Island the race complexion may change from what is expected by many however both his participation at Royal Ascot as well as his sire stats being poor this is enough to put us off him. If Salt Island doesn’t press on then this would really suit Meccas Angel who should be afforded an easy lead and with Waady wanting a fast pace to run at it he might not be finishing fast enough. She can be backed at 7/2.
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Bet365 Lancashire Oaks
Haydock 14:15

Jordan Princess finished 4th on her return in a race at Goodwood in which 1st (Miss Marjurie), 3rd (Arabian Comet), 7th (Lustrous), 8th (Momentus), 9th (Criteria) all re-oppose. She was just caught out at a crucial time which meant she was shuffled back further than she would have wanted before running on quite nicely late on to get back into 4th. She should improve for that run and the form has worked out well albeit with the winner who re-opposes winning again, so this race at Goodwood could prove to be the form line to take.

Arabian Comet was 3rd in the Goodwood race as mentioned above and didn’t get the clearest of runs that day before finishing really well with Jordan Princess. Inside the final 100 yards she was closing on the winner and runner up and pulling away from Jordan Princess and her effort was probably better than Jordan Princess. That said the switch to Haydock is likely to suit less than Goodwood and Pat Cosgrave has a poor record at this course. There shouldn’t be too much between her and Jordan Princess.

Criteria finished 9th and was furthest back out of the 5 that re-oppose today and has been beaten again subsequently by Miss Marjurie at Haydock and looks to have a lot to do to get closer. She has also been beaten by Jordan Princess 3 runs when the pair finished 2nd at 4th at Newmarket. She looks like she has it all to do unless the blinkers can bring her back to her best.

Lady Tiana made her British reappearance when finishing 3rd at Haydock behind Miss Majurie and in front of Criteria and Queen of Ice and she should confirm the placings with Criteria. She was probably unlucky when finishing 3rd as from the 2f to 1f pole she was still hard on the bridle but had no room to make her effort and when the gap did appear she did well to pick up and run of for 3rd. Sir Percy progeny don’t have a good record at this course however she appeared to handle it well enough last time out so this shouldn’t put you off.

Miss Marjurie is the Fillie with the form this season having won at Haydock and Goodwood and has beaten 7 of these already this season. She travelled really well on both occasions and was the deserved winner on both runs and looks the one to beat based on this 2 efforts and there doesn’t appear to be any negatives.

A race that looks like it could be very close. There doesn’t appear to be any reasons why Jordan Princess , Arabian Comet or Criteria can reverse the placings with Miss Marjurie who looks a reasonable price at 5/1 on the back of two wins. Lady Tiana didn’t get a clear run when 3rd to Miss Marjurie and looks the only one who has a valid reason why she should could reverse the form. She can be backed at 7/1.
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Coral Challenge
Sandown 14:35

Basem was a horse we were impressed with when winning on debut at Newmarket and this half brother to Farhh made a very pleasing reappearance when winning at Sandown beating Jacob Black with more to spare than the neck distance shows. Despite the lack of a run he travelled really well before getting squeezed up at the 2 pole. He was just able to get up but actually won it a tad cosily at the death. A 5lb rise should be offset with the fitness now assured and with a clear run he should take all the beating. He looks like a horse who will get further in time and with pace likely he should go very close.

Sahaafy had a really progressive profile including winning 2 of his last 3 races before going to Royal Ascot where he finished a reasonable 10th in the Britannia. He travelled well and his jockey was probably conscious of how far clear the far side group were when he made his move at the 2f pole. He moved into the lead of the near side group and looked like winning in this group before getting tired late on and finishing 4th on his side. With there being no issues with groups forming at Sandown and a fast pace to run at he should go well and can bounce back to his best and can continue improving. Paul Hanagan has chosen this out of him and Munaaser and being a 3 year old he gets the 3 year old allowances.

Jacob Black finished 2nd to Basem when holding all at bay except the late challenge of Basem and he has been raised 4lb for this and is therefore only 1lb better off with Basem. With Basem now having fitness and not getting the clearest of runs it would be a surprise if he could reverse the form. He likes to lead and may well be challenged for the lead by Ifwecan and Fire Ship and so may not be able to hold off as many today.

Baltic Knight has shown some smart form in the past including winning a handicap at Nottingham off a mark of 107 (runs today off 106) and this is his first handicap run since then. He wasn’t beaten far in the Bet365 Mile and also chased home Montiridge here on his other start at the course. Dropping back down to handicap company could certainly see him get much closer and Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes always have to be respected.

Spark Plug had his form boosted despite falling at Ascot as the winner GM Hopkins he had previously beaten at Newbury albeit possibly getting first run. It’s unclear how much of an effort he had made that day and we can only assume he is fine to take his chance here. The booking of Ryan Moore is really eyecatching and he is likely to go well.

Munaaser finished 26th of 30 in the Royal Hunt Cup won by GM Hopkins in which Spark Plug came down. At about 2 ½ furlongs to run he moved nicely into the lead of the near side group but again may have made his move too early similar to Sahaafy and faded really quickly. Whilst New Approach progeny don’t have a good record here, this is a horse that deserves one more chance and if his challenge can be made later then he may spring a small surprise.

We like Basem, Sahaafy, Baltic Knight and Munaaser in this. With 2 at small odds in Basem @ 9/2 and Sahaafy @ 6/1 and 2 at big odds in Baltic Knight @ 33/1 and Munaaser @ 20/1 we have a good spread of chances.
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Bet365 Old Newton Cup
Haydock 14:50

Watersmeet has already had a successful season with 4 wins, 4th at Newmarket and a 5th at Royal Ascot and runs just 15 days later here off the same mark. He has a tendency to hang left when under pressure so all eyes may be on his position coming into the final couple of furlongs as if he still caught out wide then he may cause some interference. He likes to race prominently so may try and push up straight away but this may be a problem from his wide draw. If he can get across then he should run well and if gets the rail and runs straight then he is still a few lb ahead of the handicapper.

Elbereth is another who isn’t particularly well drawn in 14 and with his mid-division style he may get caught wider than ideal. He was finishing really well at Epsom and this step up in distance should suit this relatively lightly raced and improving horse. He’s been raised 13lb for that win at Epsom and this might be a bit too much to overcome.

Battersea makes his seasonal debut in this race and with such a big pot available you would imagine he will be fit for this race but race fit still would have been preferable. After winning twice at Ascot last year over 1m2f he ran a very poor effort at Newmarket and that has to be ignored especially as Galileo progeny generally fare much worse at Newmarket than at Ascot and Haydock so a return to his improving form should be on the cards here. If he does then he should go close but has been priced accordingly.

Kinema is steadily rising through the ranks having initially being given a mark of 68 he has run consistent races and was a winner last time out at Carlisle winning the Cumberland Plate. A 6lb rise means he creeps into this race off bottom weight (excluding reserves). Held up he made a move around the bend and travelled further than some of his rivals. Strongly ridden inside the final couple of furlongs he was always just doing enough and he should run another consistent good race. Alan Swinbank however has a very poor record here with 0/17 in recent years and this would be a concern.

Mighty Yar looked a horse with a big future and contested a Listed race on only his 3rd start but was well beaten. A drop back to handicap company produced a win before he went up to a mark of 98. After moderate runs at York and Doncaster he was dropped to a mark of 96 and ran an encouraging reappearance when 3rd to Master The World and this was probably better than it looked as he both lacked the recent run having not run for 287 days and also Teofilo progeny don’t generally run well at Newmarket July Course. He’s since been dropped a further 2lb and today might be his time to bounce back to form.

Gabrials Star and Gabrials King are favourites of RTR and of the 2, we feel that the drop back in distance will suit Gabrials King. Both make quick reappearances after running in the Northumberland Plate last week.

Watersmeet represents a bit of value at 9/1 and if he can overcome his high draw then we think he will run a really big race. Battersea is probably the one to beat as more improvement is likely but without a run under his belt and a short price he doesn’t represent any real value. Mighty Yar at 12/1 looks a bit big and we will be having small savers on the 2 Gabrials at 20/1 and 20/1.