Sunday 11th September

 

The tagged extra 1/2 furlong is the key here as this intermediate trip stretches the 5 furlong specialists and can leave the 6 furlong specialists a bit tapped for early speed. On soft ground however it can just favour those with a bit of extra stamina provided of course they can handle the Going.

 

There are a couple of Scott Dixon runners at big odds who are well worth a £1 e/w punt. (ZARGUN is also declared in the 1.00 and can be backed in that too if not running in this - see the Trackers). MOTAGALLY is well handicapped on some old form, gets a draw in the Centre and the Yard is doing well with new recruits. Any Draw bias at this specific trip on Thursday seemed more based on pace than any particular strip of turf.

 

Significantly is coming down to a nice mark but may be not ideal conditions today but one to add to TRACKER systems. Lord Riddiford won last time, is up 3lbs and feared but I think better at a bare 5 furlongs. Burning Cash too seems more of a sprint specialist at the bare trip and may now also be in the grip of the handicapper. Bergerac was a 22/1 winner for us last time it ran, its now up to a mark of 97 and not as suited to this ground and drawn 22 may need the draw bias to be ground rather than pace related.

 

Makanah is very solid and consistent and feared Chipstead is progressive but has no form at all in the underfoot conditions and Whenthedealisdone is upped 10lbs for a win last time but not great market value.

 

I was really very taken with COUNT D'ORSAY and DAKOTA GOLD and can't leave out NOMADIC EMPIRE or SUNDAY SOVEREIGN.

 

Count D'Orsay has fought the handicapper for 2 seasons and been desperately slow to come to a mark it can again win off. It is one who can handle soft and dead ground, has come now to a lovely mark and really does jump off the page at me. Dakota Gold is a Course winner and a Distance winner, should be in the thick of the action from Stall 8, and another who looks very solid. I'll be very disappointed if those pair aren't both placed at the very least with luck in running.

 

Both Nomadic Empire and Sunday Sovereign may be slightly better at shorter but both can run to and through the line at this trip and have the speed to run prominently, and early pace was a bonus on Thursday here. Sunday Sovereign is a fresh horse and Jim Crowley picks up a nice ride on it from Stall 15 and Nomadic Empire is Drawn in Stall 6 (so I'm covering the flanks) and off a very nice mark.