Weekend Horseracing Preview: Pick of the races from Newbury and Ripon

General / Graham Cunningham / 15 August 2008 / 4 Comments

Watch enough Olympic action and you can't help fall prey to Beijing-speak. Graham Cunningham is no exception. Fresh from a week of absurdly early mornings watching sports you have never heard of, the Racing UK analyst gets in the zone for the best of eight Saturday races covered live on Channel 4

Newbury

2.10

Tread carefully looks the best advice in a race which is all about potential. Courageous is well regarded but didn't beat a lot at Redcar, while Cry of Freedom showed a gutsy attitude on his Sandown debut. Jazz Police is also one from one after a decisive success in a middling Newmarket maiden, while Whispering Angel looked stronger the further he went at Newbury. If pushed, the choice would be Whispering Angel. But no bet might be an even better option in this instance.

2.40

By far the best race of the day in Britain and many punters will look no further than Sixties Icon to follow up his Group 3 success at Goodwood. Time may show they are right to stick with him, but he has little if anything in hand on a clutch of this field based on this year's form and, with the ground still on the sticky side, I suspect I will be looking to lay him in the win market if he can be taken on at [3.2] or shorter.

Regular readers will be well aware I have a longstanding soft spot for the frustrating Geordieland and, as ever, Jamie Osborne's stable star holds clear potential for the back-to-lay brigade. This step down in trip could be perfect for the smooth travelling grey, while Eastern Anthem, Peppertree Lane, Donegal and Tempelstern add further strength to a race which promises to take a deal of winning.

3.15

The Betfair Cup is plainly the key form guide here, with Il Warrd, Arabian Gleam and Al Qasi all aiming to reverse Goodwood form with the impressive winner Paco Boy. It's hard to see Arabian Gleam and Al Qasi turning the tables. Il Warrd holds a better chance if he handles these softer conditions, but Paco Boy is proven in the mud and the way he quickened at Goodwood suggests he is bound to go very close again.

The fact that Frankie prefers Alexandros to Il Warrd has to be noted, while Laa Rayb ran a fine race at Salisbury on Thursday but will have to be tough and better again to land this stronger contest. Last but not least, a word on the veteran Welsh Emperor. Soft ground is tailor made and he went agonisingly close to landing this last year, but he isn't getting any better aged nine and could offer mileage as a place lay this time around.

Ripon

4.00

Stand by for lengthy debates on the draw and the fact that the last seven winners have been berthed in traps 22, 12, 23, 11, 23, 18 and 17 will have a major say in shaping the market. Whether things will work out that simply remains to be seen, but it isn't hard to see why win and place layers will be out to get Knot In Wood from stall one and Bond City from six.

Those drawn high look assured of a fast pace to chase, in which case Fullandby and Hogmaneigh should both have a say. Fullandby was second in this race two years ago and ran a corker at Ayr recently, but it comes as a surprise to see connections have booked a claimer who hasn't had a winner all season to ride him for the first time.

By contrast, Sal Golam knows all there is to know about Hogmaneigh, who will be fresher than most after a light campaign and holds clear each way claims despite his big weight. The other at the top of the short list is Tajneed. Granted, he hasn't been since Guineas weekend, but he was mighty impressive when bolting up over this course in the spring and the softish ground is a big boost to his chance.

2.55

Derek "Thommo" Thompson will doubtless be beside himself with glee over this all greys race. Those of us who inhabit the real world will be less excited, but the whole affair will take on a much rosier hue is we back the winner and Secret Night appeals as a live each way contender after two fine efforts at Newbury and Ascot.

A high cruising speed is his calling card, so the step down from seven to six looks no problem. The fact that Clive Cox has hit form again is an added plus and a back to lay in the win and place market looks the right way to get with him. Of the remainder, Zowington has a touch of class but didn't shine last time. Certain Justice has a 303-day absence to overcome, but the fact that he has finished in the last two runnings of this race suggests he is most unlikely to fail for lack of fitness.

Comments (4)

1. nat | 16 August 2008

   Derek "Thommo" Thompson will doubtless be beside himself with glee over this all greys race. Those of us who inhabit the real world will be less excited, ... what world is that Graham? Don't think Thommo is a law graduate nor claiming to be a pundit? :-) He is not everyone's cup of tea but is not as patronising as some pundits. Anyway, lets see how you do today......

2. theclockster | 16 August 2008

   when you actually meet tommo,he is not as bad as you imagine.
   quite a nice bloke in the real world.

3. nat | 17 August 2008

   oh Graham laying Sixties Icon was not very clever ... I think "Thommo" was keen on that one :-)

4. graham cunningham | 19 August 2008

   I think you will find that your friend Derek "Thommo" Thompson thinks that every hot favourite under the sun will "take the beating." Ye follow?