Wednesday Tipping at Lingfield and Doncaster - February 22nd 2012

It was a nearly day for me on Saturday with Swincombe Flame, Medermit and Bobs Worth all failing to win but running well. I fully expect them all to perform with credit come the Cheltenham Festival where the likelihood is they’ll run in the Coral Cup, Ryanair Chase and RSA Chase’s respectively.

Cheltenham is still three weeks away, though so, in the meantime, we’ll attempt to find some winners this Wednesday (22nd Feb), with racing at Ludlow, Doncaster and Lingfield.

Starting at Lingfield, RIO ROYALE is worth taking a chance on in the 3.55, and should be a good price to boot. The Amanda Perrett gelding has put in two runs this year that were better than the bare forms reads. A three lengths 6th placing and a seven length 9th may look poor, but reasons can be found. His first run was when returning from a break and the ‘bounce’ factor possibly accounted for the second run. Down 2lb in the handicap, against very exposed horses, a very good 7lb claimer in Luke Rowe on board (he has a record of 3-13 at Lingfield) Rio Royale may make amends here.

The Andrew Balding yard have a good record when dropping maidens into handicaps, and the filly SEA ANEMONE can build on this further in the 5.00. She has run well in two claimers, firstly at Lingfield, over course and distance, losing by a length, and a fifth at Kempton, when she tired when tried over a mile. The drop back down to seven furlongs should suit and she may be thrown in off her current mark of 55.

The way BRAMSHILL LASS won her maiden over course and distance last month, gives her a terrific chance in the 2.50, a class five handicap over 10 furlongs. The filly made a pleasing reappearance in January running third in a maiden over a mile, before beating two very good horses in Cotton Trader and subsequent winner Three Bards in that maiden. She stayed on well, collaring the odds on favourite late on under a powerful Jim Crowley ride. She could do even better now she’s been sent handicapping and has to be respected here against more exposed rivals.

EAGLE ROCK has been exceptionally unlucky to run into three very good sorts in Countrywide Flame, Kaolak and Royal Bonsai in three novice hurdles, finishing a good second on all three starts. The runs behind Royal Bonsai and Countrywide Flame in particular looked promising. No one rides Doncaster better than James Reveley and although the Henderson and King yard are represented with good sorts, he should go close.

1.55 Doncaster – Eagle Rock
2.50 Lingfield – Bramshill Lass
3.55 Lingfield – Rio Royale
5.00 Lingfield – Sea Anemone

The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner / @JJMSports

Yorkshire Chase Day at Doncaster and Cheltenham Trials Day 28/1/12

A feast of racing on Saturday showcases Doncaster’s Sky Bet Chase (formerly known as The Great Yorkshire Chase), a highlight of the northern track’s jump racing calendar. Calgary Bay looks to defend his crown in what looks a decent renewal. It is also Trials Day at Cheltenham as preparations for the forthcoming festival move into top gear. Some very good horses on display at the Cotswold track, particular in the Argento Grade 2 Chase.

The Argento Chase is usually a pointer towards the Gold Cup and is run over the same course and distance. Won last year by Neptune Collognes, in a less than vintage renewal, this looks a classier field. Previous Arkle Chase winners Captain Chris and Tidal Bay, previous Hennessy winners Diamond Harry and Carruthers, as well as Cheltenham specialist Midnight Chase are among the likely runners. However another Cheltenham specialist with good claims is TIME FOR RUPERT, who can build on what promised to be such a strong novice career.

A disappointing favourite in last years RSA Chase, the eight year old finished second this term in the Charlie Hall Chase, before a solid fifth in the Betfair Chase. He dropped in grade to win a solid Graduation Chase at Newbury, and that confidence booster can do him the world of good as he returns to his favourite track.

Another Cheltenham specialist is POQUELIN, trained by Paul Nicholls and owned by the Stewart family. The multiple Prestbury Park winner carries top weight in the 2.05 but looks to hold solid claims, despite a disappointing season thus far. He has the class plus the course and distance experience to slam his rivals here, on his way to a likely run in the Ryanair Chase at the Festival.

The James and Keith Reveley team usually do well at Doncaster and the father and son combo have three strong each way chances at Doncaster. The mare CUE TO CUE was the nap in midweek, but has been saved for this race (the 2.20), and she has solid claims. There are some tough rivals in Alasi and Lifestyle, but both have flaws, with Alasi unseating last time out and the Nicky Henderson trained Lifestyle running over a shorter trip.
The other Reveley eye-catchers are CORKAGE and KINGS GREY who seeks to bounce back after consecutive seconds, often in unfortunate circumstances. His last run at Catterick was a muddling affair, and he came up short, when given a poor ride, seemingly with bundles in hand, going down by a short head. The race at Doncaster looks tough, but could cut up and, with jumping doubts about leading fancies. Corkage was successfully napped last Wednesday, and won at a canter, suggesting he still has plenty left in the tank, and should be able to defy his new mark, despite hurdling instead of chasing on this occasion.

The Skybet Chase looks a terrific race in prospect and CALGARY BAY could take all the beating for the in-form Henrietta Knight stable. The versatile nine year old looked back to his best when winning a competitive three mile handicap on New Years Day at Cheltenham, showing the class that he has always promised. He is 2lb well in as a result of that and, given his performance in winning this last year, he should go close.

His main threat will come from the recent course and distance winner QIANSHAN LEADER, who won a tricky handicap here in the mud, back in December. The Emma Lavelle horse thrived in the tougher conditions, and if the heavens open, it could further improve his chances seeking the hatrick under stable jockey Jack Doyle. It’s worth backing both in this open-looking contest.

2.05 Cheltenham - Poquelin
2.35 Cheltenham - Time for Rupert (Nap)
1.15 Doncaster – Cue to Cue (Ew)
2.20 Doncaster – Corkage (Nb)
2.50 Doncaster – Calgary Bay (Ew) & Qianshan Leader (Ew)
3.55 Doncaster – Kings Grey

The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner @JJMSports

Doncaster St Leger Meeting - Friday 9th September

The Flying Childers Stakes looks set for another cracking renewal, and although there are lots of big stables with Requinto, Burwaaz, Lilbourne Lad and Angels Will Fall all representing powerful yards, I think it will come down to two horses, depending on the ground. If it comes up good, My Propellor will be difficult to beat, following up her impressive maiden win with a listed win at York. However my value option is KOHALA for the David Barron yard. A model of consistency, and the form from her Queen Mary 4th is absolutely rock solid. She sets the standard.

Few of interest in this one, with no real obvious stand out pick. Eternal Heart ran a good race behind Motrice at Goodwood two weeks ago, and Will Buick has kept the ride on the Mark Johnston colt, which is of interest. Precision Break won this race off a 1lb lower mark, but faces five more rivals than last year, and may struggle for fitness on only his second run of the season. The Fallon factor sways us with BOURNE, who looked an out and out potential stayer when second in the Old Newton Cup. He stayed on strongly, has that man Fallon on board, and has a low weight to carry, and the Luca Cumani gelding may hold the key.

Absolute banker of the meeting runs in the Doncaster Cup and that is my trusty OPINION POLL, whom I napped last time out in the Goodwood Cup, and should once more be too strong against a much inferior field. Trip of 2m 2f should suit the Godolphin animal moreso than anyone else, and his form is absolutely rock solid. The more rain the better, and that will only effect the winning distance. Cue a flying dismount for the Doncaster locals!

Toughest race on the card is the May Hill Stakes, a fillies group two, with some promising juveniles. Samitar sets the obvious benchmark, winning the Albany and then being an arguabley unlucky runner up at Newmarket next time out. Regal Realm looked highly progressive from her recent group three win, and has some promising entries. As does John Gosden's Fallen For You, whose maiden form has worked out well, and the daughter of Dansili is entered in the Fillies Mile at Newmarket. Hard to stray from SAMITAR however, who should relish the conditions and sets the best standard.

Another horse with a seemingly bright future is the Sheikh Hamdan horse EKTIHAAM, and although it pains me to side for a horse with Richard Hills on board, he looks to be potentially a superstar. Entered in the Royal Lodge, Dewhurst and Racing Post Trophy, he made easy work of Harvard n' Yale in his maiden, who is another extremely well bred colt, and then won a Newmarket maiden next time out. Even Richard Hills can get this one home chaps!

BELOW ZERO looks a colt who has sneaked his way ahead of the handicapper, and although carries a 6lb penalty for a recent victory, looks well in. After finishing third in the second leg of the Betfair Summer Double, he was punted off the boards with Fran Berry on in the September Handicap at Leopardstown, winning very cosily. The big danger looks to be the Easterby gelding Grissom seeking the hatrick, but again we put our faithin King Kieren!

Final race of the card, tough classified stakes, a race where three year olds have an excellent record, Godolphin's Willing Foe building on the record last year. Two stand outs come in the Mashaaref for Richard Hills and Roger Varian, a son of Cape Cross who is fairly unexposed, and Beaten Up for William Haggas and Richard Hughes, an unbeaten gelding aiming to build upon a solid maiden win in April at Ripon. Hard to pick between the two but based on BEATEN UP's maiden form, we shall side with Yorkshireman William Haggas in the lucky last.

1.25 Kohala

1.55 Bourne

2.25 Opinion Poll (Nap)

3.00 Samitar

3.35 Ektihaam (Nb)

4.10 Below Zero

4.40 Beaten Up

St Leger Festival Doncaster - Wednesday and Thursday Selections

The St Leger is the oldest classic in British Horse Racing, and happens at Doncaster next Saturday, with Sir Michael Stoute having the hot favourite Sea Moon, aiming to give the trainer his second Leger win after Conduit breaking his duck in 2008. The festival kicks off on Wednesday with a seven race card, and the cards getting better with everyday leading up the big day on Saturday.

Wednesday starts off with an interesting card, focused on the older horses, including a listed race, conditions races and a group two race for older fillies and mares.

The Group Two race, the Park Hill Stakes, looks a strong renewal, with recent listed winner Motrice for Seb Sanders and Sir Mark Prescott making a quick turnaround, and the consistent mare of Clive Cox Polly’s Mark providing stiff competition. That being said the best horse on ratings, and the proven stayer is David Lanigan’s star filly MEEZNAH, who bounced back to form in a big way when winning the Lillie Langtry Stakes (Group 3) at the recent Goodwood Festival. Meeznah had the beating of both Motrice and Polly’s Mark that day, and looked an out and out stayer, grinding out a win under Frankie Dettori, who keeps the ride once more. Although she disappointed last time out when finishing seventh in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury, she was giving a stone away to the three year olds, and was never going well, and was very much eased by Frankie. This race looks far easier than the recent group three behind Leger fancies Brown Panther and Census and she can bounce back to form at Doncaster on Wednesday.

JET AWAY is a horse who seemed to have a very bright future when building on his

three year old career, and coming out on her first start as a four year old, beating decent yardstick Sri Putra, who has form in the book such as finishing second behind Twice Over in an Eclipse, and third behind multiple group one winners Rewilding and So You Think in the St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. He was unlucky to finish second behind Passion for Gold in a listed race at Goodwood, when finding little after coming up cruising. Dropped down to 10f from 12f should suit, and given the colt’s pedigree, there could be bags of improvement to come from this son of Cape Cross, and he looks to have some star quality in a fairly modest conditions race.

HAMISH MCGONAGALL is one of the most resilient sprinters in training, and goes for the ever popular Easterby yard when running in the Scarborough Stakes (Class 1) on Wednesday, and looks to have a very strong chance in a competitive listed race. He took a while to get into the swing of things this year, after a promising conditions stakes victory, finishing down the field in two group two races, although not beaten by any greater than 6 lengths. He then finished well in group races in Chantilly and at the Curragh, before a good second to Margot Did in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York just three weeks ago. That form has improved by Hoof It running an excellent race in the Haydock Sprint Cup, finishing a head behind group one sprinters Dream Ahead and Bated Breath. His form is rock solid, and streets ahead of his rivals. The only threats appear to be Dinkum Diamond and Medicean Man, who will need to improve further to get anywhere near the impressive six year old.

3.00 Doncaster (Thursday) – Meeznah (Nap)

3.10 Doncaster (Wednesday) – Hamish McGonagall

4.20 Doncaster (Wednesday) – Jet Away

The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner