Yesterday’s Review
0.5pt e/way Tactical Bound (106) – A decent effort from the selection who stayed on in the home straight to hit the frame. The front two were well clear, and as a hold up horse he is always going to need luck in running in his races. He did meet some minor traffic on the way through, but wouldn’t have been good enough to trouble the winner. Result 3rd 14/1 adv…14/1 SP.
1pt e/way Desert Peace (107) – It all seemed to be going wrong for the selection from the start who appeared to clip heels and stumble coming out of the stalls, and was left trailing the field by ten lengths. Jockey Jose L Da Silva appeared to be overly patient with his mount, and only appeared to have any chance approaching the three furlong point. He picked off four stragglers in the home straight, and a place at best looked possible. Fortunately, he found an extra gear inside the final furlong to collar Al Jaddaf (106) on the line, and win by a neck. A rollercoaster of a race with a happy ending. Result 1st 20/1 adv…6/1 SP.
1pt e/way Boomerang Bill (95) – Very little went right for the gamble of the race (20/1 into 4/1) who failed to achieve a decent position from the start. The first five home were in the first six positions when the race settled down after a couple of furlongs with Boomerang Bill too far back and three wide. Having to be switched in the home straight didn’t help his cause, but the damage had already been done. It looks like he needs to go up to a mile to be seen in a better light.
0.75pt e/way Musical Tribute (96) – A slowly run race where the selection looked a very unlucky loser when not getting a clear run over a furlong out. Collective Power (97) was mentioned as the danger in the write-up, and so it proved. There should be a win in this four-year-old filly soon, who has been performing very consistently lately. Result 2nd 9/1, 17/2 adv…8/1 SP.
0.75pt e/way Johnny Boom (90) – A disappointing performance from the selection who looked to be in the ideal position to strike for home off a slowly run race but weakened inside the final furlong. Excuses such as slow pace, too keen, and third run in twenty three days could be used, but he looks one to tread carefully with after this.
Today’s Advice
La La Christine (6F 166Y Group 2) – The (3.25) Riyadh looks an interesting contest today, and judging by recent efforts on the clock the 11/4 favourite Mysterious Night looks solid at first glance. A couple of things that don’t appeal to me though are the price, and having his third race in thirty six days. They may be minor details, but I had a look elsewhere and the second favourite Aguri looks to hold decent claims too. He has had two bad draws lately, and has landed a kinder one in stall two today. There will be plenty of pace on with the likes of Matilda Picotte and Art Power in the field, so it all looks to set up well for the five-year-old. My only concern when looking at the videos was his resolution in the finish. Again, it may be nitpicking, but one that I noted from the videos was La La Christine who also has had two bad draws recently. She was given a very poor ride last time out from stall twelve (racing wide the whole way round) in the Grade 2 Hanshin Cup over seven furlongs. Prior to that she was beaten a neck by Win Greatest in the Grade 2 Sho Shwan Stakes at Kyoto from an even worse draw in stall fifteen. She looks to represent a bit of value at twice the price of that rival. With Cristian Demuro taking over the ride today, hopefully she can have better luck in running.
0.75pt e/way La La Christine (16/1 Paddy Power/Bet365, 14/1 Betfred/Ladbrokes 4 places) 3.25 Riyadh