Events / Geoffrey Riddle / 08 July 2009 /

Geoffrey Riddle is trackside at HQ, content and happy at having backed Total Gallery at [17.5] and Goldikova at [3.0]. Any questions, musings or vitriol, e-mail him at: theriddleratbetfair@gmail.com

5.30pm result
1: Dancourt
2: Dingaan
3: Mujood
Unfortunately Mujood couldn't quite land a blow, and Dancourt and Dingaan came home from stalls two and five respectively. Something to chew over ahead of tomorrow's action.

Anyone remotely interested in what is the difference between a thoroughbred and an Arabian should ask Rod Simpson, trainer of Fryvolous, who won the Arabian pure-bred race. "They have one less rib, they have one less vertebrae and they have and intestine half the size." I guess that clears that one up then.

Well gang. We've had some major successes today. I hope you have built up a sufficient war chest for the battles that lie ahead over the next two days. Go out into the night and spend. I'll see you tomorrow.

5.25pm
The median weight carried by the winner of this race over the last ten years is 9st-7lbs, suggesting the classier horses tend to dominate.

Given the wealth of hold-up horses in this contest, Mujood [30.0], a regular front-runner, could be good enough to poach this from the front.

With one win and three places from 17 runners in the last fortnight the Blewbury trainer is not in startling form, but that new-found Racing Post run-to-from figure suggests her horses are running better than their odds suggest.

It's difficult therefore to try to bin the favourite, Last Three Minutes [3.85] who carries 9-13.

4.20pm result
1: Blizzard Blues
2: Manifest
3: Kansai Spirit
Oi Oi! Henry Cecil 1-2, eh? You've got to love Cecil.

I haven't had a chance to look at the race times, but the jockeys are pretty sure that the ground is riding on the slow side of good. Olivier Peslier, after riding that wonder filly Goldikova to victory in the Falmouth Stakes, said that there was 'a bit of give in the ground', but when pressed, he towed the party line and said: "Perfect. The going is always perfect when you win." Very diplomatic.

Anyone interested in backing or laying Misheer for next year's 1,000 Guineas, the fixed-odds bookies go around 20-1. On Betfair, you can get between [17.0] and [25.0], but for very small liquidity. Or 'illiquid', as one financial type e-mailed in a minute ago.

There's an Arabian pure-bred race in now, so it's time to do some serious studying on the lucky last...

4pm
The success of Poets' Voice had led to me to consider backing horses running along a similar path. John Gosden's Reportage leaps out of stall 8, while Henry Cecil's Manifest comes out next door. But favourite Beauchamp Xerxes is berthed in stall 12. Again, not much of a view on this. I'll have a wander and take it all in.

3.45pm result:
1: Elusive Pimpernel
2: Timely Jazz
3: Poet's Voice

3.35pm
I really have no idea about the next race. I don't think I can tell you anything at all. Fifteen runners, and only six of which have ever seen a racecourse. As they have all come down the middle today, you can be forgiven for thinking that Godolphin's Poet's Voice had a chance. But then again, Frankie Dettori saw some merit in coming down the far side on Cosmopolitan in the Falmouth, so who knows. Sorry guys.

Falmouth Stakes result
1: Goldikova
2: Heaven Sent
3: Spacious
All together now. GOLDI-KOVA! GOLDI...KOVA!! What a win? The jockey Olivier Peslier barely moved an inch.

Freddy Head, the trainer, didn't really know what to make of the race. "It was a slow pace early on, but she kept on finding more and more," he said.

Head nominated the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville next month as the filly's next target, although "California is the ultimate aim," he added. I wasn't sure whether that was meant as a synopsis for all our dreams, or just Goldikova...

2.35pm result
1: Misheer
2: Habaayib
3: Lady Darshaan
Well I didn't lay the favourite, but congraulations to those who did. Misheer goes for the Moyglare next. Bruce Raymond, racing manager to Saeed Manana, said that the filly would easily stay seven furlongs.

It's Goldikova time everyone. Yep. I see now way back from here. The Falmouth Stakes looks at the mercy of the French filly. Goldikova has a bit of an attitude, and so does the second-favourite Rainbow View. Two jumpy fillies. Not something I would usually lump on. But trainer Freddy Head was so bullish about Goldikova that it is impossible to ignore here price, which is collapsing as I write. [2.67] now from a high of [3.55]. The word is out. Get on.

Sorry people. There are some readers linked into this blog who have come to the intriguing conclusion that I am a snob. Some people! You give them a double-figure price winner and they still give you a joshing?

"What does it matter what some people wear to the races?" bleets Jonathan. "This isn't the 18th century you know," he adds.

2.20pm
Betting waits for no man. No sooner had I stuffed wads of notes into my suit pocket courtesy of Total Gallery, than I was engaged into conversation about the next race from a couple who looked less than salubrious. Now I know I'm not at Royal Ascot, but there is a certain way of dressing at the races. I don't mean tie and jacket, or even jeans and trainers, but being covered in engine oil is not something I was expecting to tell you the truth.

Anyway, I told the couple to back Capercaille in the Cherry Hinton. Hopefully it'll win easy and they can bloody go and buy some new clothes...

This race revolves around the form produced at Royal Ascot and whether hot favourite Habaayib is as good as a few people seem to think. The jolly has been a massive drifter on Betfair.

Habaayib won the Albany Stakes at Ascot and the time of that race was 2.13secs slower than standard and doesn't compare favourably with the other races held on the Friday.

According to Paul Kealy in the Racing Post, the paper's Topspeed ratings indicate that Habaayib's performance was some way below the fifth horse (Chantilly Creme) in the Queen Mary, won by the phenomenal Jealous Again. As the Albany is a Group 3, and the Queen Mary a Group 2, that is probably a fair assumption without the figures. Still, it gives Misheer, Ceedwell and Capercaille decent claims.

Of that trio, it is Capercaille that interests me most. The Mark Johnston runner was favourite for the Queen Mary, and the Scot regards her as his best juvenile filly since Attraction, the five-time Group 1-winning filly that won this race by five lengths in 2003.

While we are on the subject of these three, why is Ceedwell such a big price? There is precious little between this trio, and yet Ceedwell is [12.0]. I think I'm coming around to laying the favourite. It's just too short.

2.00pm result:
1: Total Gallery
2: Desert Icon
3: Enderby Spirit
4: Rowayton
There is no better place on earth than spending an afternoon on the July Course with the sun out. I think I am blessed. But god himself lent down and kissed me just now, because Total Gallery scooted home, didn't he? He has more than paid for the week surely! I'll have to eat and drink as much as Mr Creosote if I'm going to lose this. Quick, get the wheel-barrow, I'm off to clean out Tony Prince, my on-course turf accountant!!

1.55pm
I'm no paddock judge. There. I've said it. But sometimes you just can't help being taken by a horse. And Akhenaten looked a strapping colt, and was probably the biggest and most built horse in the paddock. His coat was nice and shiny, and he looked arrogant. As a son of High Chaparral, you'd expect he will be taken off his feet over 6f, but his second at the other Newmarket suggests he is a real runner here.

Some news to update you on. Godolphin's Global City and Desert Icon were taken down to the start early.

Also, you've got to hand it to Prosser. The skies are clearing and the going description is now officially 'good'

1.30pm result:
1: Greenisland
2: Balaagha
2: Mo Mhuirnin
Well, that was pretty decisive wasn't it? Get on those horses drawn high is the answer to today's draw conundrum. Greenisland wasn't such a no-hoper after all!

I'm on Total Gallery in the next. Johnny Murtagh is in the saddle, quite unexpectedly, too. And I think the Namid colt is well drawn and is a decent price at [17.5].

There is a lot of pace around Total Gallery in the shape of Run For The Hills in stall 13 and Spring Green in stall 10, which is where they came down in the first race.

The horse has been highly tried of late, and this presents a decent opportunity.

1.24pm
Hmmm. Prosser's assessments on the weather are touch and go. It's clouding over, which doesn't bode well. Racegoers seems to have ignored his predictions and have stayed away. It barely seems as if anyone is here.

The string quartet are playing to around seven people, most of which can't hear, although the brass band by the entrance gates are at least making it a jovial occasion.

I've talked myself out of backing First City, despite it being backed on Betfair from a high of [26.0] down to [13.0].

Never Lose has been heavily backed and is now as short as [12.5]. Clive Brittain's charge will get the pace to suit, and is drawn on the right side. I reckon the Diktat colt is probably a better bet at [3.4] for a place though.

Pyrrha trades at much the same price, but be careful, because Charlie Wall has sent out 36 three-year-olds this season and hasn't had a winner of that age group. Ouch.

12.45pm:
The dull, dull, subject of the draw is beginning to rear its ugly head. It was all the rage during the Royal Meeting at Ascot, and it has followed us to here.

No-one knows which side will be favoured, but the high numbers in the 1.30pm seem to have the sway as far as pace is concerned. Cumana Bay (stall 14) likes to be prominent, or lead, as does Sir Michael Stoute's Resort (15). No hoper Greenisland (11) also has been known to force the issue, which means hold-up horses such as Never Lose, Sea Of Leaves, Photographic and favourite, Balaagha, all have sound claims.

Former Pricewise guru Mel Collier, and Paul Kealy both have highlighted in today's Post why is could be a good idea to be drawn high. Kealy says: "In the last two runnings of this race when there has been more than 13 runners, high numbers have dominated to the extent that seven of the eight horses to finish in the first four were drawn in double figures."

Guess that rules out my initial fancy of First City, then...

12.15pm:
Gosh, I look up and see that Alastair Cook has become the first casualty of the Ashes 2009. Ed Hawkins, this website's cricket man, said as much at a cricket symposium he hosted last week. Before there are any cries of after-timing, he also said that Ravi Bopara would get loads of runs this series, Michael Clark would be the Aussie top scorer, and look out for going long of Paul Collingwood's runs and, intriguingly, Stuart Broad's runs. I've done 'em all so he better have not had a change of heart...

11.45am
Good morning ladies and gentlemen and, given that it is Abu Dhabi day here at Newmarket's beautiful July Course, I might as well send out a hello to any Sheikhs that may be logging on to keep up with the action.

There is a mighty Bedouin tent on display as you walk into the course, and when I got here this morning, it felt mighty strange seeing it there under a blanket of grey cloud. Still, the Emeratis seem to have taken heed of Crowded House's most famous mantra by trying to bring the weather with them. You see, it is clearing up here in Suffolk, and if you want to get a forecast from someone with slightly better credentials than myself, director of racing at Newmarket Michael Prosser has stepped into the breach. "It is starting to brighten up now and I would expect that by the time of the first race today, the going will be riding just on the slow side of good," he said.

Interestingly enough for those of you who like to punt on events slightly further ahead than the 1.30pm, Prosser added: "I think it is unlikely we will see any rain during racing today, or throughout the duration of the three days of the July Festival."

Those who fancy betting on Friday's July Cup therefore should steam in appropriately now. Main Aim and African Rose are unlikely to shorten any further as they like the going description 'soft'. Others like Scenic Blast, will probably continue to shorten.

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