Events / Geoffrey Riddle / 10 July 2009 / Leave a comment

Geoffrey Riddle is staying on grimly at HQ where all eyes will be on the Aussie hotpot Scenic Blast, who bids to repeat his Royal Ascot victory in the Group 1 July Cup. Any questions, hints or tips, e-mail him at: theriddleratbetfair@gmail.com

4.55pm result
1: Cool Strike
2: Manyriverstocross
3: Classic Vintage
Well that's it folks. Say farewell to a ludicrously profitable July Meeting. I hope you did as well as I did. Even Marcus. Frankie Dettori finished top jockey of the meeting and gets the gold star. Johnny Murtagh gets the wrap on the knuckles for his careless riding on Emperor Claudius. He got a four-day ban for that intereence and will miss two of the three days of the Betfair King George meeting at Ascot at the end of this month, which is where I'll catch you all next.

It's been wonderful.

4.40pm
Michael writes: "Sir Michael Stoute will be furious at losing that Stewards' inquiry. I reckon Pictorial looks a good bet." Nope, it's not Sir Michael himself unfortunately. And the non Knight of the Realm Michael, Stoutey can't really make Pictorial run any faster now can he? Unless he does something illegal, which I don't really wish to be discussing here thanks.

Talking of illegal things, Francis writes: "I'll tell you what happened at that three furlong pole during the July Cup. Someone was there with an air gun, y'know, like in Trainspotting, shooting at all of Fleeting Spirit's challengers." My giddy Aunt. You've got to love a conspiracy theory haven't you? I mean it's no Kennedy assasination or anything, but there's a lovely grassy knoll here at Newmarket.Trouble is Francis, that air-gunner probably had a shoddy aim, and that was most likely the reason why Fleeting Spirit jinked so badly away from the far side...

4.20pm result
1: Lamh Albasser
2: Tres Coronas
3: Sir Parky
Gosh that was impressive wasn't it? Godolphin keep churning them out and Dettori marches closer to top jockey of the meeting. The lucky last beckons. E-mail me your tips on: theriddleratbetfair@gmail.com

3.45pm result
1: Bella Swan
2: Water Biscuit
3: Outshine
Not an easy race to have had a bet on, but with two races under her belt, Bella Swan did that well. These maidens are devilishly difficult at the best of times, but when few of them have run, it makes it virtually impossible. Still, at the least the favourite won, so well done all those who followed the money.

Trainer Mike De Kock seemed pretty happy with JJ The Jet Plane's third in the July Cup. "He's upped his form, although that is about how good he is," said the burly South African trainer. "I want to try him over ground though. My racing manager reckons the Prix de Maurice de Gheest in Deauville on August 8th is suitable. Don't forget he is a Listed winner over seven furlongs and Group 2 placed over a mile." That Deauville race is beginning to look super hot.

Scenic Blast fans will have to wait a little longer to find out what went wrong with their great big Aussie hope. Steven Arnold, who is a full 5ft 9in, was completely nonplussed by the performance of the King's Stand winner. "He just ran flat. It was completely out of character for him," he said. "I travelled ok for the first six hundred meters, but for the second six hundred I was in real trouble."

There were similar sentiments from Jamie Spencer, who rode Art Connoisseur. "He travelled well for the first three furlongs and then that was it." What precisely happened at that three furlong marker?

3.25pm:
The result stands. Although Fleeting Spirit veered nastily right after Tom Queally gave her a good thwack with his left hand, there was no risk to the result according to the Stewards. Another hot pot down the drain though and I'm way out in front now. Hope you guys are too. I confess, I have absolutely no ideas what is going to win the next. If you do, send me an e-mail will you? theriddleratbetfair@gmail.com

July Cup result
1: Fleeting Spirit
2: Main Aim
3: JJ The Jet Plane
Scenic Blast, eh? The Bing bong has sounded. So wait all you Fleeting Spirit backers...

3.55pm
Ok. Here's the deal. I'm laying Scenic Blast. I know. I'm probably going to give all my money to Marcus. To be honest, though, I don't think I care becuase I'm on such a roll at the moment. Even Serious Attitude won at York a minute ago. I really do think that the Aussie hotpot is too short at [2.68]. He is by far the most likely winner, but I'm just not sure he is a 6-4 shot. For those out there who are not au fait with percentages that realistically means Scenic Blast has around a 40% chance of winning this race. Come on.

Paco Boy, proven Group 1 performer over 7f. Not too hard to imagine him winning. Fleeting Spirit, who was second to Scenic Blast in the King's Stand. Has everyone forgotten Takeover Target? And what about Main Aim, who has the exact profile of so many previous winners? Even Equiano looks a massive player now that Charlie Hills has decided to change tactics with him. Hills told the Racing Post today: "He has been racing prominently but we are going to try some new tactics with him." He's got to be of some sort of interest at [120.0]?

And what about the poor record of Royal Ascot winners in this race. Not even the mega star Choisir could win this race. I think 2-1 would be a fair price, particularly as the far side now does not look too much of a hindrance after the first few races, and it mustn't be forgotten that Scenic Blast has seen this track several times, having worked here with Takeover Target during the last few weeks.

Bunbury Cup result
1: Plum Pudding
2: Captain Brilliance
3: Mutheeb
4: Joseph Henry
Well that couldn't have gone much better really could it? Plum Pudding from pillar to post. And backed at [15.0], too! I'm just annoyed my throwaway (sorry guys, I just had to) forecast of Plum pudding and Mutheeb didn't pay off. You've got to admire the training skills of that Noseda though, eh? It was a close one, but I think that the Pudding had enough in hand. Sensational stuff. I even hope Marcus took the hint...

2.30pm
Marcus writes in "Why 'One More Time' by Daft Punk? Why don't you try the Tellytubbies and just keep shouting 'Again, Again' as you keep on making the same mistakes, and I'm probably taking all your money on Betfair."

Jeez Marcus. Chillax man. Go and take a walk around the office or something. I know this betting game is confrontational, but there's no need to be so ungentlemanly.

Talking of gentlemen and gambling, Richard Dunwoody just walked into the winners' enclosure ot great applause. No he hasn't just ridden a winner. The great jockey has just walked 1,000 miles in 1,000 consecutive hours and looks fine. Dunwoody was emulating the feat achieved by Captain Robert Barclay in 1809, who performed the perambulation for the then princely sum of 1,000 Guineas. I hope Dunwoody has earned more than that for his charities Racing Welfare, Alzheimer's Society, Sparks and Spinal Research...

2.20pm
The fact that they came down the far side in the previous race highlights the distinct possibility that the low numbers may well prevail in the Bunbury Cup, next up. If that is the case, then Plum Pudding looks a massive wager at [15.0]. Tipped up by the Seagull in the Racing Post, there's more. Richard Hannon's top-weight is about the only hare in the field. There are virtually no other front-runners. Alright, maybe Joseph Henry will try to force the pace on the stand's side out of stall 13, and Laa Rayb may help press him onwards. But realistically, Plum Pudding could get it all his own way. What's more, six of the last ten winners carried 9st or more. This is a classy race, and the pudding will be in the eating...or something like that.

On the other side of the track I like Mutheeb. If there is one horse that may be that elusive nirvana of a Group horse in a handicap, it is the Godolphin colt. His form after only four starts merits the closest inspection, and stands up far better than the massively over-hyped Captain Brilliance. I know, I know, I keep falling into this pit. Racecourse performance over supposed lurking ability. It didn't work yesterday when I went against Arcano, who won the July Stakes, and it certainly didn't work when I binned Forgotten Voice in the Royal Hunt Cup. But I've got to do it. If it doesn't work today, I'll stop it. Really. As Daft Punk put so eloquently, "One More Time"...

2pm result
1: Silver Grecian
2: Roi De Vitesse
3: Shakespearean
Rarely, if ever, can I have been more disappointed with a race, despite winning money. Just as predicted, Emperor Claudius was too short. But inside the final furlong, my throwaway punt on Roi De Vitesse at [40.0] looked like paying off in a massive way only for Silver Grecian to nail it late on. Gutted.

1.55pm
I had a word with myself. I've gone in. I've laid the O'Brien runner. Properly. Like Blucher at the battle of Waterloo, my punting colleagues have come to my aid. Emperor Claudius is on the drift on course. He was 11-8, and now he trades at 15-8 with most layers. Big Audio has come in. Game on!

1.30pm result
1: Brief Encounter
2: Crackdown
3: Sovereign Remedy
I'm glad Archie Rice never got into it as I saved myself a throwaway bet. I've got to try to get out of those. There is nothing more damaging to your Betfair balance than rubbish bets you are not confident about. This game is ALL about confidence.

I was screaming for Crackdown by the time the race reached the halfway mark. Such a shame that brave steed couldn't hold out.

I've got strong views about this next race. Why on earth is Big Audio such a big price when compared to Emperor Claudius? Big Audio beat him last time out! I know Emperor Claudius suffered interference, but Big Audio veered sharply left in the closing stages at Royal Ascot. He's unlikely to do it again.

What's more, I think there is a whole host of colts that can win this. Lucky General's form behind Arcano, who won the Group 2 July Stakes yesterday, and Party Doctor is strong. Shakespearean also looks useful, as does Silver Grecian. The price that has really caught my eye though is the [36.0] about Roi Vitesse. A line through Love Lockdown suggests that there is not much between the favourite and the rag. Ok. This will be my last throwaway bet, ever. I promise.

1.25pm
Crackdown looked a picture in the paddock. Mark Johnston's runner had a shiny coat and was well defined. Mohtashem looked athletic, too, which is good, because I've thrown a couple of quid at him. There's a lot of pace on in this contest. Thousand Miles, Spinners End, Hunterview, all like to press hard, or lead, and Royston Ffrench will be hard pressed to keep the lead. I love Mark Johnston runners, but I'm just not sure he has enough guts to tough out a race of this nature.

So Mohtashem should benefit from a searing pace, but I'm still trying to work out why he is going to beat Sovereign Remedy, the Godolphin colt who has beaten him twice already. I'm keeping stakes small here.

I'm also looking to back Archie Rice in-running. Willie Jarvis's colt has put up some decent performances up against the likes of Cloudy Start and Amour Propre in his time, and is also a hold-up horse. He should trade at a huge price (he's now [17.0]) as the race develops, and if he can last home, all the better!

1pm
I've been looking off-piste. There is a cracking card on at York today isn't there? The 2.45pm looks a real humdinger. Lesson in Humility, who ran so well in the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot, and Serious Attitude, last year's Cheveley Park winner go head-to-head. There are enough people who suggest that the Golden Jubilee was a funny old race, and I'm not sure that Lesson In Humility should be favourite at [3.55]. I'm trying to back Serious Attitude in the Betfair matchbet market, but so far there isn't a decent price on offer. Anyone?

Mick De Kock, the trainer of JJ The Jet Plane said about the Golden Jubilee in today's Post: "If that race was run again I reckon you could get ten different results." That wouldn't bode well for Art Connoisseur would it?

You may wonder why there are pictures of Hayley Turner on this blog. Please don't leap to conclusions. Though a wonderful woman, I do not harbour any stalking ambitions for Britain's leading lady rider. Unless you've been living in a cave for the last few months, Turner was banned from riding for a year due to a severe injury to her head on the Newmarket gallops in March. But today she swings back into the plate having had her licence restored. Go Hayley Go!

12.45pm
On my arrival at the racecourse this morning I saw clerk of the course Michael Prosser prizing chewing gum off the pavement. Once he had got the offending Juicy Fruit off the concrete, he then proceeded to pick up all manner of litter, before putting all of the detritus in one of the bins. Such a conscientious man. I found it amazing though that litter picking was in his job description.

Anyway, Prosser has got his weather predictions spot on this week, and his description of the going went thus: "We experienced a dry night and the going is now good to firm, good in places. It is good ground in the final two furlongs and the track has done extremely well in retaining moisture."

I wonder who that final sentence was aimed at? Paco Boy will only run today in the July Cup if the ground remains easy, which Betfair layers don't seem to think will be the case. The Queen Anne winner is beginning to drift and can now be backed at [6.2]. This morning's gorgeous summer's day though has been eclipsed over the last hour by heavy grey cloud and a fresh tailwind, much like on day one is expected. This tends to favour prominent racers so look out for them today.

Here we go again everyone. Welcome to day three of Newmarket's wonderful July meeting. After a few computer glitches yesterday, we are back up and running. A little later than usual, but hopefully better informed. If you want to e-mail me with your thoughts on today's racing, or anything else in fact, I'm on: theriddleratbetfair@gmail.com

Coming to these racing festivals tends to place you in your own little bubble. I went out for dinner with my sister last night in a lovely pub called the Arboretum, and I was trying to relate the dramatic incidents that went on after the last race yesterday. Fuelled with drink, joie de vivre, and a little machismo, there was a huge brawl which required about 15 policemen to calm the whole thing down. I didn't get close enough to see if there was any claret spilled, but the burly officer at the centre of it all used a decent half-nelson to make sure things settled down pretty quickly.

So, I was trying to explain to my sister why everyone was so drunk. I told her that Frankie Dettori scored a 147-1 treble yesterday, and that most punters would have backed at least one of the great Italian's mounts. I couldn't believe it. She had no idea who Frankie Dettori was. I mean, you might say that her lack of knowledge says more about her than it does about racing, but I'm really not sure the sport is breaking through to the wider world. I don't want to start a flurry of e-mails about Ben and Bill, or whatever they were called, but I just thought it was worth bearing in mind.

Non-runners:
1.30pm: Hunterview, Mutawarath
2pm: No Hubris
2.35pm: Al Khaleej
4.55pm: Persian Peril