Friday, September 11, 2009

St Leger day in England and Ireland

Only eight go to post for the St Leger at Doncaster; on paper the race appears to be between the first four in the betting - Kite Wood, Changingoftheguard, Monitor Closely and Father Time. Of that quartet, Henry Cecil's Father Time looks to offer best value as the horse is bang there with a chance provided you forgive his last effort in the Great Voltigeur. Kite Wood has a favourite's chance but I'm slightly put off by the fact he would prefer more cut. Changingoftheguard will not be inconvenienced by fast ground but there are reservations about the ability of Monitor Closely to last home. The winner has come from the first three in the betting on nine occasions in the last ten years, with the favourite obliging six times. I'll take a chance with Changingoftheguard.

At the Curragh I can't oppose the legendary Yeats. Whatever happens, we have to bear in mind that, with the advancing years, this could be the last time we'll see him on a racecourse.

Others I'll take a closer look at before the off include Cat Junior in the DFS Park Stakes at Doncaster, Mac Love in a tight-looking Group 3 at Goodwood (2.40) and Cloudy Start in the 3.55 at Chester.

1 comment:

GeeDee said...

Changingoftheguard (3/1) had every chance if good enough as the runners came to the two furlong pole but he looked decidedly one-paced, finishing a well-beaten sixth of eight; something of a turn-up in this year's St Leger with Godolphin's Kite Wood (9/4f) being beaten three quarters of a length by 14/1 stable companion Mastery.
Yeats took a big walk in the market at the Curragh, being sent off 4/1; the game was up over half a mile out from whence he wasn't given a hard time. 2/1 favourite Schiaparelli tried to dictate from the front and looked to have his rivals in trouble up the home straight but he tired noticeably close home in the yielding ground and was beaten into third by Alandi (3/1) and Clowance (33/1).
Of the other fancies, Cat Junior (5/1) appeared to encounter traffic problems and as he was only beaten a neck on the line can consider himself unlucky. No hard luck stories for the other two - Mac Love (15/2) beat the well-touted Stotsfold (6/4f) at Goodwood but 8/13 favourite Cloudy Start was the first beaten at Chester, finishing last of the four runners behind the top weight Djeerr (4/1).