Folkestone isn't the most overly fashionable of racetracks, but the picturesque area of the south-east of England, and seems to have become somewhat of a hotspot for their meeting Tuesday, with world class, creme de la creme turning out on Tuesday for their six race card. Jockeys such as Frankie Dettori, Kieren Fallon, Richard Hills, Tom Queally and Martin Dwyer to name but a few, shall be riding for their highly respected connections.
The most notable personnel at the track is the average punters favourite jockey, the synonymous Leofranco Dettori, who has two rides, one for his boss, Sheikh Mohammed in the 4.50 maiden race, but perhaps more interestingly for trainer George Baker in the first race, the 2.20, a five furlong nursery. There seems to be something of a blossoming relationship between Dettori and Baker, with Frankie giving Baker his first Listed winner on Humidor in the Scarborough Stakes at York's Ebor Festival last month. He has had two rides for the trainer this month and has 100% strike rate. He rides BILLYRAYVALENTINE, who he won with last time out, and was backed off the boards from 7/2 into 7/4 favourite when justifying support and hacking up when making light work of a favourable racing mark. He runs with a 6lb penalty but seemingly has buckets in hand, and anything at odds against looks an absolute steal.
Roger Varian has taken onto training like a duck does to water, and it is no surprise he is thriving, after taking over from his old boss Michael Jarvis. He has inherited a lot of good horses, and seems to be getting a fair crop from Sheikh Hamdan al Makthoum, including Derby hopeful Entifaadha. He has a close relative in EMKANAAT, who won a good Lingfield maiden last week, and is now sent handicapping. The three year old gelding was heavily eased and still won by a considerable five lengths, and looks to have bags of improvement still to come, and a mark of 80 is more than workable. Retained jockey Richard Hills is on board, and although in my head that is a slight negative, he has 6 winners from 35 rides in September, five favourites, two of which being odds on, so not the most reliable and successful of jockeys, but should still be able to get the job done on Emkanaat.
RED CURRENT is a very interesting runner for the relatively quiet Michael Scudamore yard. The hatrick seeking mare was impressive when switching back to the flat after an unsuccessful time over hurdles, and finishing third Chepstow before seemingly relishing really good ground at Bath and being a surprise 10/1 winner under apprentice David Kenny. That was followed up by another win under the same rider at Folkestone, stepped up to 2 miles, and again won well, with the winning distance of a head not being the true reflection of the manner of victory. A lot of her rivals will be running over a trip that is unknown, and with stamina worries over rivals such as Thundering Home for George Baker and Kieren Fallon, although Red Current is up 13lb since two runs ago, looks good value to complete the hatrick for his young apprentice rider.
Folkestone Tuesday:
2.20 - Billyrayvalentine (Nap)
3.20 - Emkanaat
3.50 - Red Current
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