Horseracing Betting: Newmarket and Newbury preview

General / Graham Cunningham / 22 August 2008 / Leave a Comment

York is dead, long live Newmarket and Newbury. Torrential rain washed out Ebor week, but British racing is battling back with a feast of rescheduled big races in the beautiful south. Racing UK pundit Graham Cunningham wrings out his socks and heads to HQ hoping to make up for lost time on day one of an action-packed weekend.

They hung legendary highwayman Dick Turpin on the Knavesmire and plenty of Betfair forumites would have erected their own gallows to repeat the dose for York's clerk of the course William Derby after this week's washout.

But, with respect to the hanging judges of the Forum, what else could Derby have done? Granted, his failure to call an inspection for Tuesday morning was questionable - and perhaps it's time for that duty to be handed to officials with no vested business interests - but anyone who spent an hour in York this week will testify that the weather gods were in no mood to see racing staged this week.

Thankfully, most of the best races have been transferred to this weekend's fixtures at Newmarket, Newbury and Goodwood.

Readers of my Racing Post column will be aware of my enthusiasm for Michita, Addikt and Bonnie Charlie, but those who like plenty of action will be well aware that today is a day where possible exchange angles can be explored all over the shop.

Weather permitting, these are the ones which catch my eye most.

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Newmarket

1.30

The Amanda Perrett yard isn't top of my list of stables to follow but it might just pay to make an exception for Jazacosta, who will relish this step up to a mile and caught the eye racing prominently throughout in a strongly-run race at Glorious Goodwood last time out. The fact that connections have booked Olivier Peslier to ride him for the first time is also eyecatching and Newmarket's stiff finish looks another point in his favour. Laying horses in such open markets can be risky, but Zaaqya took a long while to assert in an ordinary race at Doncaster and could offer some mileage as a place lay.

2.05

"If she stays she wins" will be the way many purists approach Lush Lashes. But punters have to assess her staying potential before the race. Jim Bolger's filly is by Galileo - who is proving a very strong influence for stamina - but the fact is she faded noticeably in the Oaks and recorded her lowest rating of the season.

In the circumstances I'm prepared to have a crack at her and Michita fits the bill having shown marked improvement to bolt up in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot. She's a powerful galloper and the fact that her stablemate Dar Re Mi is well suited to making the running can only help her cause as she bids to make it second time lucky at Group 1 level.

3.05

In running punters take note. This rescheduled Nunthorpe contains a posse of very fast front runners and much will depend on whether the likes of Captain Gerrard, Equiano, Desert Lord and National Colour go to war in the early stages.

If they do over this very stiff five then things could open up nicely for the hold-up horses and Sakhee's Secret is surely of interest as a result. Hughie Morrison's colt has been hit and miss since last year's emphatic July Cup win, but the loose ground of Royal Ascot was no good to him last time and he's more than good enough to have a major say in this if the rain stays away.

Of the rest, Borderlescott can go well at a big price, while Equiano and Captain Gerrard are also major players provided they don't go too hard too early. However, I can't get excited about the juvenile challenge this year. Granted, they receive lumps of weight and Kingsgate Native triumphed for the youngsters last year, but Percolator, Shyrl and Flashmans Papers haven't done enough to suggest they are in his league yet and a combined place lay of the trio could pay off if the odds are right.

2.35

Bonnie Charlie has the best form in the race courtesy of his close second behind Finjaan in the Molecomb at Goodwood and there is nothing in his profile to suggest that he won's stay six furlongs. In short, he looks bound to go close granted a clear passage, while Fitz Flyer appeals as one to go well at much longer odds.

On the negative side, trends followers will point out that horses with just one run behind them have struggled in this. That said, I wouldn't be in a rush to oppose Damien given the style of his Windsor success, while his stablemate Ouqba is another with definite place claims in a fiercely competitive race.

Newbury

1.45

Betfair guv'nor Andrew Black is reportedly eyeing the Breeders' Cup if Marine Boy swims rather than sinks and who can blame him after a runaway debut success over this course and distance. The canny Tom Dascombe is adamant that the One Cool Cat colt is much his best juvenile and that has to be respected, but as things stand he needs to progress considerably to beat a peak-form Art Connoisseur.

Granted, Michael Bell's colt didn't quite confirm the promise of his hugely impressive Coventry Stakes win when beaten by Mastercraftsman in Group 1 company at the Curragh, but he travelled very well for a long way against a rival who could prove very special. This easier track looks a plus and, although his 3lb penalty is a slight concern, Art Connoisseur still looks the one to beat given that Spencer should have no trouble finding cover in this biggish field.

3.25

The replacement Ebor has lost some of its prize money and its probable favourite in Mad Rush, but finding the winner will still be mighty difficult and stakes are plainly best kept to a sensible level.

Bauer went close off this mark at Goodwood and will plainly warrants respect, while Pippa Greene is another with solid claims after returning to form at Ascot. However, my pair for the win and place market are Young Mick and Tropical Strait. Young Mick found plenty of trouble behind Pippa Greene at Ascot and looks weighted to take his revenge this time, while Tropical Strait faces much tougher opposition than when winning here last week but was mighty impressive there and remains open to improvement.

Opposing Sir Mark Prescott runners in big handicaps is a risky business, but there has to be a doubt as to whether Wicked Daze has the pace for this. Temperament quirks could be the issue for Milne Graden based on the way he carried his head at Goodwood, while Ajaan is another risky proposition based on the way he tends to hang once things get tough.