Yesterday’s Review
1pt e/way Lead Artist (97) – I wrote about course form being important at Ascot, and left out the horse who had the most of it… The selection was unsuited by the slow pace of the race and raced prominently with no cover throughout before weakening over a furlong from home. One to put a line through.
0.5pt e/way Quddwah (88) – This horse seemed overpriced at 25/1 beforehand, and I loved the fact that he had beaten the winner Docklands(104) over course and distance last year. He tried to make all the running but weakened quickly over two furlongs from home and finished last.
0.75pt e/way Gstaad (111) – The selection’s form from Navan looked one of the strongest on offer, and so it proved as he was backed into 7/2 favourite and always travelled like the winner. He took up the running in his group over two furlongs from home and won readily by three lengths. A big, scopey type he can keep improving going forward. Result 1st 9/2, 4/1 adv…7/2F SP.
0.5pt win Gavoo (97) – The selection never figured back on a straight track, and he will be worth keeping an eye on when returned to a round track.
1pt e/way Believing (110) – This mare looked to be coming with a decent challenge over two furlongs from home but could find no extra weakening into eleventh place having been backed from 9/2 into 3/1 favourite. A disappointing performance.
4pts win Field Of Gold (114) – The selection posted adjusted sectional times in the Irish 2000 Guineas that were hard to believe when compared with past winners of the race. He looked just as good visually when winning that race, and it would be fair to say that he looked even better in this race. He travelled nicely around in rear, and jockey Colin Keane found enough of a gap turning in to squeeze through before showing that he is one of the best turf horses in the world right now. The manner in which he quickened away and left his Group 1 winning rivals behind was awe inspiring, and it was a performance that all horse racing enthusiasts dream of seeing. He will be rested now until the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, and it looks like it will be a real privilege to watch the rest of his racing career unfold. Result 1st 4/5 adv…8/11SP.
0.5pt e/way Phantom Flight (108) – The selection ran a decent race coming home in seventh place from his wide draw in stall fifteen beaten just three lengths considering four of the first five home were drawn 1,2,5 and 9. He will be worth keeping an eye on when he is better drawn going forward.
1pt e/way Caballo De Mar (110) – The selection performed with great credit coming home in second place behind the short priced favourite French Master (112) who looks a lot better than a handicapper and will go down the Cup route just like Gregory (another of the stable’s stalwarts did). Result 2nd 5/1 adv…13/2 SP.
Today’s Advice
SNELLEN (8f Hcap) – The (5.35) Ascot looks a competitive heat with twenty three fillies going to post for the Kensington Palace Stakes. The favourite Rainbow’s Edge has been well found by the market, and has some decent form on the board already. She won a Class 2 Handicap on seasonal debut over course and distance from another of today’s rivals Arisaig by three quarters of a length. The sectional times for the race were very poor, and although there might be a lot more to come fitness wise, I went looking for a viable alternative.
The selection won the Chesham Stakes at this venue over seven furlongs back in 2023, and has won three handicaps since from eight to ten furlongs. She has been performing with credit out in Bahrain this winter, and as a hold up performer the quicker they go up front the better for her. Jockey Gary Carroll knows her well having been aboard for all her career wins, and on a day that had few suitable punting propositions for my ways I was happy to have a sporting interest on her at a double figure price.
0.5pt e/way Snellen (16/1 General 5 places) 5.35 Ascot