Thursday, May 28, 2009

Haydock and York on Saturday

My guess is that several potential customers who might have gone to Haydock this Saturday will be travelling down to Wembley instead to watch Everton play Chelsea in the FA Cup final. The feature on the day's card is the Group Three Timeform Jury John Of Gaunt Stakes which is run over a distance of seven furlongs and thirty yards. A fortnight ago Sir Michael Stoute's Main Aim won the Berry Bros & Rudd handicap over Newbury's six furlongs by an astonishing seven lengths. He steps up in class and trip here but handles cut in the ground and is likely to go off favourite, with the Stoute yard generally in excellent form despite two seconds in the feature races at Sandown on Thursday evening. The official handicapper rates Arabian Gleam the best horse in the race; Jeremy Noseda's charge carries a five pound penalty on his first run of the season and the yard has been out of sorts of late. Godolphin's Asset won a listed event at Leicester last time out but hung badly right in the final stages; using the ratings as a guide he has plenty to find with several of these. Course and distance winner Beacon Lodge makes more appeal but I'm going to take another chance with Tariq after his sixth in the Lockinge, beaten under four lengths over a trip that is probably a shade beyond his best. This seven furlongs should suit, as should the drop in class and the underfoot conditions. The stable has been going through something of a purple patch recently; in the early tissue prices Chapple-Hyam's charge is a 10/1 shot which looks excellent each-way value.

At York the Stowe Family Law LLP Grand Cup run over one and three quarter miles has just the eight runners and something of a trappy feel to it. One of my old favourites, Yellowstone, runs in this but he was rather disappointing on his seasonal debut. He's entitled to be right there on his best form, but I'm going to look elsewhere. Friston Forest will have his supporters and it would be unwise to totally dismiss Nicky Henderson's Cesarewitch winner Carraciola who, at the grand age of twelve, has spent the winter months hurdling over distances of two miles four and beyond. However I'm going to take a chance with another who has hurdling form to his name - Furmigadelagiusta. He beat Sahrati three and three quarters lengths here fifteen days ago and comes to this in decent form.

Newbury's evening card is full of class four and class five events but there's a party in the paddock after racing with Madness performing - that should ensure a few more punters pass through the gates...

2 comments:

Noel Bell said...

Tariq: promised so much as a 3 year old.

GeeDee said...

Main Aim (7/4f) answered doubters such as myself with an authoritative display in the Timeform Jury Stakes. Ryan Moore had his mount close to the pace early doors; when asked for his effort two out, Main Aim quickly put the race to bed. Beacon Lodge ran well enough but was beaten two lengths into second. Tariq (4/1) had his optimum conditions here; held up early on, he made limited headway two out but was never a threat, looking tapped for toe and finishing a disappointing seventh of the ten runners. Noel Bell's comment - 'promised so much as a 3 year old' perhaps hinted that this horse has had chances but ultimately hasn't delivered - he certainly didn't here.
The ground at York rode good to firm, so I wasn't surprised to see connections withdraw Furmigadelagiusta. A thrilling finish to the race though with the twelve year old Carraciola (7/1) holding off 9/4 favourite Friston Forset a short head. What a tough battler Nicky Henderson's charge is, particularly on his favoured fast ground!