Horseracing Betting: Look Here for season finale

General / Graham Cunningham / 12 September 2008 / Leave a Comment

Town Moor traditionally plays host to the St Leger on the second Saturday in September, but this year there is also a Group 1 sprint and several other hugely important races on the supporting card. Is it just a case of back Aidan O'Brien's horses and wait to collect? Racing UK pundit Graham Cunningham suspects not as he analyses the best of the day four action.

1.35
Can you really justify taking [2.6] or shorter about a maiden winner in Group 2 company? Some would say no, but Zacinto bolted up at Sandown and looked ultra professional to boot. He's a very worthy favourite and several of his rivals have questions to answer. Westphalia plainly isn't one of the cracks in the Ballydoyle juvenile team and, although he is smart, he has also shown a few kinks.

War Native pulled harder than ideal at Lingfield and Master Noverre wasn't good enough in the Gimcrack. Playfellow looks more interesting based on the way he quickened at Lingfield, but Zacinto looks set to boost his lofty reputation further here.

2.05

Laying Cheveton has been a swift route to the poor house recently but I suspect I will take a crack at him in the win and place markets this time in the belief that being 10lb higher than his last turf win in a better race than he normally contests could finally prove a bridge too far. Last year's winner Fullandby plainly relishes big fields and a fast pace, but he's 7lb higher now and that could kybosh his win chance. On a more positive note, Tamagin is very speedy and holds clear back to lay potential after a fine effort at Ripon, while Lipocco is another with bags of pace and the ability to show up well for a long way at a generous price.

2.35

How good is African Rose? The short answer is at least three lengths better than Utmost Respect, US Ranger and Diabolical based on her fine second to the champion sprinter-elect Marchand D'Or at Deauville. She hadn't looked a star prior to that, but there was no fluke about her improvement and the market probably underrates her chance back at this slightly shorter trip.

The King's Stand hero Equiano didn't stride out at all fluently in the Nunthorpe at Newmarket. This softer surface ought to suit him better, but there is still room at the top in the sprinting division and Diabolical and Corrybrough appeal as the sort to go very well at decent prices here. Granted, faster ground would probably be ideal for Diabolical, but he travelled very well for a long way at Deauville and may just creep under the radar and into the places here.

Horses who have been beaten in Listed company on their last two starts usually struggle when raised into Group 1 company, but Corrybrough is surely better than he showed when given a lot to do in France last time. The holding ground ought to suit him well and the canny Henry Candy remains confident that he can live with the best.

3.10

Another day and another dilemma over whether to be with or against the Ballydoyle massive in a Group 1 contest. Johnny Murtagh has chosen Frozen Fire ahead of Alessandro Volta and company, but for all that he came from last to first in the Irish Derby I still suspect there could be chinks in his temperament. I'm not saying he won't win. I am saying anything under [3.7] is moderate value and I'm happy to take him on and hope to to back him at double those odds at some point in running.

There has been an element of cloak and dagger about the setback which held Oaks heroine Look Here back during the summer, but her Epsom form is very solid and the way she charged home suggests this trip ought to suit her. She's a big player if healthy again and so is Doctor Fremantle, who has been keeping very strong company and has the speed to trade at much shorter than his current odds at various points in the home straight.

A high cruising speed isn't Unsung Heroine's greatest asset, but she gallops relentlessly and should relish a stamina test. Conduit and Alessandro Volta both appeal as likely to go well without perhaps winning, but Look Here and Doctor Fremantle are old acquaintances after dominating a Salisbury maiden last autumn. Between them they might also hold the key to the final Classic of the season.