Friday 16th September

 

It's easy to get fixated on the Draw here when you have 3 races over the 2 days being the Bronze Cup today and the Silver and God tomorrow. The Straight Track 5 furlong race yesterday suited those drawn more central but that was where the pace was and everything gravitated to the pace. I don't see any reason to think at the moment that there is a massive advantage on either flank, but we'll see what the drying ground delivers today.

 

It's also worth pointing out that this Class 2 race is because of the nature of what are really 3 Divisions in ascending order of handicap mark, very much a low Class 3 / high Class 4  race in reality, so that has to be factored in to the form analysis and there are a bevy of possibly improving 3 year olds with less exposed for to add to the mix. Form is important but a "gut feel" is equally so.

 

I narrowed  the 25 down to a short list of 7-8 which I will come to after looking at many of the others.

 

I wouldn't totally rule out Chookie Dunedin who has won over Course and Distance but who is more of a 7 furlong specialist, he'll pick up more than a few in the closing stages and could nick an enhanced place with luck in running and nearly got a £1 each way nomination.

 

That investment goes to TOTHENINES, an unexposed 3 year old who has shown considerable potential but also a touch of inexperience for Karl Burke, it's right in the thick of it in Stall 13 but in time a mark of 80 could look really low. Black Friday is a Course and Distance off a mark of 83 who could also nick a place and SUMMER SANDS is another who lurks off a very nice mark for Richard Fahey who should be in the thick of the action drawn in Stall 16 . The 5 year old isn't overly raced and did jump off the page at me and warrants a shrapnel bet.

 

Showtime Mahoney is another 3 year old whose form could revive, Intervention and Ballyare both look in the grip of the handicapper and I really want to see Le Beau Garcon prove it's fit and well after it was reported to have a defibrillating heartbeat last time, but for that concern he'd have had some money on his back today and is one to TRACK (add to your Trackers).

 

I tipped Late Arrival to win at 28/1 SP at the end of June and they take the headgear off today, I leave that one out reluctantly. Fast And Loose blotted its copybook last time but could revive and is another one to fear, as is Beattie Is Back, very unexposed for the Fahey team and coming off a break. Monsieur Kodi and Vince Lombardi are another pair at nice odds who just look in the grip of the handicapper to me. Admiralty is very solid and consistent and deserves to win one of these but the draw in Stall 4 just made the price look a little too short, if I'm done by the Draw on that one I'll take it on the chin as the horse really does deserve a nice prize.

 

Mattice is another improving 3 year old but so far is better over shorter trips, and as with Admiralty the draw (Stall 1) and the price given that draw put me off Music Society whose form stands out as being the most solid of the 25 runners and an understandable favourite.

 

 So having identified TOTHENINES for a £1 each way and some Shrapnel on SUMMER SANDS on to the chosen 4 from the field of 25.

 

I really like DANZAN despite being drawn 23 of 25, it was 3rd in this last year when tipped, it drops back again to 6 furlongs and that stamina suits this Track, it races prominently and strongly and looks to have a great each way chance. THE THIN BLUE LINE is more speculative, but its another back at the trip, drawn in Stall 17 gives it more tactical scope to go for a rail or down the middle and it's back down very close to its last winning mark for the Dalgleish yard.

 

BELTANE was one I tipped here when it was first past the post but demoted to 2nd for interference, it won on its only other Course visit and is an improving 3 year old who may still have some scope, TIPPERARY TIGER in drawn in Stall 8 and of those in single digits was the one who stood out for me at the price, it gets a set of Blinkers for the first time and very interesting to note that so far each time they have introduced a new Aid, it has won first time in the Aid, it's off a nice mark too for a Yard that can't stop winning nice prizes. It just pipped Grantley Hall for the investment and IF any of the main 4 are non runners then Grantley Hall another improving younger horse would be the replacement.  

 

Lots of enhanced places so we'll go with