2.05
Bluesquarepoker.com Stakes (Handicap)
(Class 3) (3yo,0-90)
£12,462.00
1m3f
Bencoolen looked good collecting last time and he stuck on gamely over this trip winning with a bit to spare. He is 7lb higher now, and whilst I’m not sure why he sports the visors instead of the cheekpieces he is one that could go well.
Woolfall Treasure has likely been bought with jumping in mind and he was found out last time at Ascot. He faces another tough task here.
Off 86 Tomintoul Flyer doesn’t look badly handicapped to me and his work of late at home has been satisfactory matching strides with Kandahar Run in midweek. He can be forgiven a blip last time and has each way claims here.
Addikt done his job well last time and like so many of these appears to still be improving. He stayed on as if this trip would suit last time and whilst he is 9lb higher he is at least progressing.
Wikaala beat an okay sort last time but it was over 3f shorter. Whilst connections have to be respected I don’t really get the impression he needs this trip and he doesn’t interest me.
Greylami appeared to blow up here on his penultimate start and last time over a slightly shorter trip at Sandown he finished well to grab 3rd. The form of that race isn’t that strong but he is progressing and looks the sort to be suited by this trip. He is off a mark of 80 again and could have place claims.
St Jean Cap Ferrat has been an expensive horse to follow and I’m not convinced his yard is in form. He looked like he would prefer slower ground on his last start and is one to pass over until we get some slower ground.
Stow was a fortunate winner for me at Bath and I’m not convinced Hayley Turner gave the second a very good ride. He was soundly beaten last time out and looks off a high enough mark off 78. I could easily pass him over.
Palmerin win was the benefit of a strong ride by Eddie Ahern at Sandown but he was unable to follow up off this mark last time when returning to the Surrey venue. He doesn’t strike me as a Richard Hughes ride and I couldn’t have him here.
Cosmea runs on Friday at Bath where she looks nailed on to me. This could be on the cards tomorrow and her win at Windsor was a competitive race before again winning in good style last time. She still appears to be ahead of the handicapper and is a leading player here for me.
Sinbad The Sailor does represent an in form yard and last time out he showed a gutsy attitude to get up near the line. He will improve for this extra furlong but he takes on stronger opposition here and that may count against him.
Drum Major who made a noise on the gallops for Sir Michael Stoute is one that sold fairly at the sales and does give the impression he will get further. Not given the most inspiring of rides at Sandown a change of scenery may have done him good and it wouldn’t be a total shock if he ran well.
Cathedral Walk has looked one paced over a mile but a 3f step up in trip may be a bit of an ask at this level. The same can be said about Southpaw Lad who also looks outclassed.
Deep Winter is now on a four timer and this was a horse that stood out to me when making its debut at Pontefract at the start of the season. Under a 6lb penalty to take her to 63, she still looks ahead of her mark and I would expect to see her suited by this longer trip. This is tougher than she has ran in prior but I think she is solid each way.
Air Chief hasn’t really gone on from his impressive Bath win in April and has no excuses over this trip last time. He is not good enough on that evidence despite this ground suiting better.
Summary
This is open and competitive and strangely for a handicap of this nature there isn’t too many screaming out that they are very well handicapped.
In the hands of Gary Moore I do feel we will see more from Drum Major and if allowed to go off at long odds I would want him on my side. The same can be said about Greylami as well but for me three look the classier types.
Deep Winter on a four timer is in good form and her trainer does well here. She has improved with each run and is one to have on side. So is Alan King’s Cosmea who has a good turn of foot and has effectively proven herself recently with a couple of decent success’.
However Henry Cecil is a trainer that has been good for me this season and I really rate the claims of TOMINTOUL FLYER. He has been working very well at home of late with Kandahar Run and when he won, he beat a smart improving filly of Sir Mark Prescott’s. A bit disappointing last time but I can forgive that and I think he will take all the beating over this trip off what appears to be a solid mark.
Selection: TOMINTOUL FLYER (8/10) (E/W)
Savers: Drum Major, Greylami, Cosmea & Deep Winter (E/w)
2.40
Blue Square Premier Stakes (Registered As The Thoroughbred Stakes)
(Listed Race) (Class 1)
(3yo)
£28,385.00
1m
A cracking mile listed race but this could end up being a pointer to a very high class horse.
Alexandros had excuses at Chester having been going nicely before being hampered and missing out on a place. He ran well next time at Epsom lacking the tactical pace but disappointed at Ascot last time. This is a drop in class but he may require a tad further than this.
Alfathaa ran good at Ascot and then improved on that effort with a close 2nd in a race tailor made for him at Newmarket. No match for the winner, this extra furlong is probably not ideal and is best watched until going for a 7f handicap or something similar over that trip.
Atlantic Sport for some reason didn’t give his showing last time and he may have bounced or he may have just flattened out under a too confident ride. He is likely to get the strong pace he needs and he has continued to please at home. The yard rate him very highly and with Eddie Creighton back on board he could go close.
Duntulm won a nice couple of handicaps but this is a big step up in class taking on horses with group aspirations. The trip should suit but I would have thought there were a couple better than him in this.
Meeriss is struggling to find a trip but does have early speed. He is in this to make the pace for Atlantic Sport and should ensure there is no messing about.
Moyenne Corniche is one I liked when winning his Newbury maiden and I did think he was slightly unlucky at Newmarket next time. He has disappointed since however and cant be fancied on recent form.
Perfect Stride was not right in the Guineas and after a break and some impressive gallops he looked the business destroying fair handicappers off a tentative mark at Ascot last weekend. Always held in high regard, he does need to improve at this level but does at least have the scope to do so.
River Proud who was a useful 2yo showed good form in the Craven and suggested he would be smart over ten furlongs this season. He was short of room when they quickened up in the French Guineas and is value for improvement on that. He does however look a horse that may want a bit further and whilst he is clearly classy he may get cone for speed here.
Stubbs Art is the proven class act in the race and he looked god when finishing 3rd in the English and Irish Guineas. Disappointing at Ascot he wasn’t ever really going and whilst he came back sore, he was disappointing. Claims on his best form here but hard to know what improvement is left.
Summary
An open race with a few potentially smart horses in.
River Proud (Absent since France) and Stubbs Art (disappointing last time) are the proven class acts but they still have questions to answer and may be short at the head of the market. I really didn’t like the way Stubbs Art finished poorly last time and would be inclined to favour River Proud of the pair.
Another improving sort is Perfect Stride and undoubtedly impressive as he was at Ascot it was only a handicap and he didn’t really have to be asked serious questions on that occasion. 2nd run quickly after a little break may also be a worry but he is open to improvement and has to be respected.
That said the fact Mick Channon has employed a proper pacemaker in Meeriss means this will be run at a strong gallop to suit the highly regarded ATLANTIC SPORT. It just didn’t happen for him at Newbury last time and its possible he bounced.
He is up to the mile that he needs today and Eddie Creighton is welcomed back into the plate with open arms. He really has been catching the eye on the gallops of late and the strongly run mile here will really suit. He can see off Perfect Stride and River Proud who are the dangers.
Selection: ATLANTIC SPORT (8/10) (E/W)
Savers: River Proud & Perfect Stride
3.15
Blue Square Nassau Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares)
(Class 1) (3yo+)
£113,540.00
1m1f192y
A fair group one but in all reality this should be between no more than four horses.
Heaven Sent has had a busy campaign and has been running well in top class races but doesn’t appear to be the most finding in a finish at this grade and that’s why she is up in trip. Working well at home but needs to improve to give the weight to the 3yo’s.
Majestic Roi has proven very disappointing this season and whilst she has ability to go well at this level, she cant be fancied on what she has shown of late.
Passage Of Time returned right back to form at Newbury last time out and showed a real gutsy attitude to see off the much improved Bankable in a strong battle. She would have preferred the ground a bit slower but back to her best after some impressive work lately and has to be respected.
Soft Morning is gutsy and ran well last time but this is much tougher and faces a hard task at this level.
Cape Amber who will want rain was disappointing in her latest gallop and has struggled at this level lately. I really cant see her getting involved here.
Classic Remark of Harry Dunlop’s showed a real good attitude to score last time at Newcastle and looked value for a step up in class. However a step up to group one level clearly looks beyond her at the moment and she would prefer a slower surface.
Halfway To Heaven is another who has to come under serious consideration and far from disgraced in France she ran a belter to cling on gamely at the Curragh. This step of 1.5f looks a good opportunity for her and she is clearly a proven class act. I’m not quite sure if she is good enough to beat the other Irish runner but she should be involved.
Lush Lashes is that other filly to consider and in my opinion she is as close to a nailed on certainty you will see. I’m convinced she is a class above these even for a group one and the way she won the Coronation she was majorly impressive. This ground suits her to a tee and she is hard to oppose.
Muthabara has been crying out for this trip, and for me is a good solid each way bet. Not disgraced in the Guineas, she was finishing well at Ascot. This longer trip is what she needs and if a bit more rain falls she could become the chief danger to the Irish filly.
Sugar Mint stays 8f well giving the impression she wants 10f but every time over 10f she doesn’t look to quite get home. She also looks outclassed at this level.
Summary
For me this is very one sided and I think LUSH LASHES (Nap) is a different class to her rivals. Her impressive Ascot romp saw her look something special and she didn’t shape as if she was stopping. Already proven over 10f she returns to the trip she impressed over at York and will be hard to beat here.
Muthabara who finally tries this trip and the consistent Halfway To Heaven look the main dangers, whilst Passage Of Time has claims if in the same form as when she won at Newbury.
Selection: LUSH LASHES (10/10)
Savers: Muthabara & Halfway To Heaven
Bluesquarepoker.com Stakes (Handicap)
(Class 3) (3yo,0-90)
£12,462.00
1m3f
Bencoolen looked good collecting last time and he stuck on gamely over this trip winning with a bit to spare. He is 7lb higher now, and whilst I’m not sure why he sports the visors instead of the cheekpieces he is one that could go well.
Woolfall Treasure has likely been bought with jumping in mind and he was found out last time at Ascot. He faces another tough task here.
Off 86 Tomintoul Flyer doesn’t look badly handicapped to me and his work of late at home has been satisfactory matching strides with Kandahar Run in midweek. He can be forgiven a blip last time and has each way claims here.
Addikt done his job well last time and like so many of these appears to still be improving. He stayed on as if this trip would suit last time and whilst he is 9lb higher he is at least progressing.
Wikaala beat an okay sort last time but it was over 3f shorter. Whilst connections have to be respected I don’t really get the impression he needs this trip and he doesn’t interest me.
Greylami appeared to blow up here on his penultimate start and last time over a slightly shorter trip at Sandown he finished well to grab 3rd. The form of that race isn’t that strong but he is progressing and looks the sort to be suited by this trip. He is off a mark of 80 again and could have place claims.
St Jean Cap Ferrat has been an expensive horse to follow and I’m not convinced his yard is in form. He looked like he would prefer slower ground on his last start and is one to pass over until we get some slower ground.
Stow was a fortunate winner for me at Bath and I’m not convinced Hayley Turner gave the second a very good ride. He was soundly beaten last time out and looks off a high enough mark off 78. I could easily pass him over.
Palmerin win was the benefit of a strong ride by Eddie Ahern at Sandown but he was unable to follow up off this mark last time when returning to the Surrey venue. He doesn’t strike me as a Richard Hughes ride and I couldn’t have him here.
Cosmea runs on Friday at Bath where she looks nailed on to me. This could be on the cards tomorrow and her win at Windsor was a competitive race before again winning in good style last time. She still appears to be ahead of the handicapper and is a leading player here for me.
Sinbad The Sailor does represent an in form yard and last time out he showed a gutsy attitude to get up near the line. He will improve for this extra furlong but he takes on stronger opposition here and that may count against him.
Drum Major who made a noise on the gallops for Sir Michael Stoute is one that sold fairly at the sales and does give the impression he will get further. Not given the most inspiring of rides at Sandown a change of scenery may have done him good and it wouldn’t be a total shock if he ran well.
Cathedral Walk has looked one paced over a mile but a 3f step up in trip may be a bit of an ask at this level. The same can be said about Southpaw Lad who also looks outclassed.
Deep Winter is now on a four timer and this was a horse that stood out to me when making its debut at Pontefract at the start of the season. Under a 6lb penalty to take her to 63, she still looks ahead of her mark and I would expect to see her suited by this longer trip. This is tougher than she has ran in prior but I think she is solid each way.
Air Chief hasn’t really gone on from his impressive Bath win in April and has no excuses over this trip last time. He is not good enough on that evidence despite this ground suiting better.
Summary
This is open and competitive and strangely for a handicap of this nature there isn’t too many screaming out that they are very well handicapped.
In the hands of Gary Moore I do feel we will see more from Drum Major and if allowed to go off at long odds I would want him on my side. The same can be said about Greylami as well but for me three look the classier types.
Deep Winter on a four timer is in good form and her trainer does well here. She has improved with each run and is one to have on side. So is Alan King’s Cosmea who has a good turn of foot and has effectively proven herself recently with a couple of decent success’.
However Henry Cecil is a trainer that has been good for me this season and I really rate the claims of TOMINTOUL FLYER. He has been working very well at home of late with Kandahar Run and when he won, he beat a smart improving filly of Sir Mark Prescott’s. A bit disappointing last time but I can forgive that and I think he will take all the beating over this trip off what appears to be a solid mark.
Selection: TOMINTOUL FLYER (8/10) (E/W)
Savers: Drum Major, Greylami, Cosmea & Deep Winter (E/w)
2.40
Blue Square Premier Stakes (Registered As The Thoroughbred Stakes)
(Listed Race) (Class 1)
(3yo)
£28,385.00
1m
A cracking mile listed race but this could end up being a pointer to a very high class horse.
Alexandros had excuses at Chester having been going nicely before being hampered and missing out on a place. He ran well next time at Epsom lacking the tactical pace but disappointed at Ascot last time. This is a drop in class but he may require a tad further than this.
Alfathaa ran good at Ascot and then improved on that effort with a close 2nd in a race tailor made for him at Newmarket. No match for the winner, this extra furlong is probably not ideal and is best watched until going for a 7f handicap or something similar over that trip.
Atlantic Sport for some reason didn’t give his showing last time and he may have bounced or he may have just flattened out under a too confident ride. He is likely to get the strong pace he needs and he has continued to please at home. The yard rate him very highly and with Eddie Creighton back on board he could go close.
Duntulm won a nice couple of handicaps but this is a big step up in class taking on horses with group aspirations. The trip should suit but I would have thought there were a couple better than him in this.
Meeriss is struggling to find a trip but does have early speed. He is in this to make the pace for Atlantic Sport and should ensure there is no messing about.
Moyenne Corniche is one I liked when winning his Newbury maiden and I did think he was slightly unlucky at Newmarket next time. He has disappointed since however and cant be fancied on recent form.
Perfect Stride was not right in the Guineas and after a break and some impressive gallops he looked the business destroying fair handicappers off a tentative mark at Ascot last weekend. Always held in high regard, he does need to improve at this level but does at least have the scope to do so.
River Proud who was a useful 2yo showed good form in the Craven and suggested he would be smart over ten furlongs this season. He was short of room when they quickened up in the French Guineas and is value for improvement on that. He does however look a horse that may want a bit further and whilst he is clearly classy he may get cone for speed here.
Stubbs Art is the proven class act in the race and he looked god when finishing 3rd in the English and Irish Guineas. Disappointing at Ascot he wasn’t ever really going and whilst he came back sore, he was disappointing. Claims on his best form here but hard to know what improvement is left.
Summary
An open race with a few potentially smart horses in.
River Proud (Absent since France) and Stubbs Art (disappointing last time) are the proven class acts but they still have questions to answer and may be short at the head of the market. I really didn’t like the way Stubbs Art finished poorly last time and would be inclined to favour River Proud of the pair.
Another improving sort is Perfect Stride and undoubtedly impressive as he was at Ascot it was only a handicap and he didn’t really have to be asked serious questions on that occasion. 2nd run quickly after a little break may also be a worry but he is open to improvement and has to be respected.
That said the fact Mick Channon has employed a proper pacemaker in Meeriss means this will be run at a strong gallop to suit the highly regarded ATLANTIC SPORT. It just didn’t happen for him at Newbury last time and its possible he bounced.
He is up to the mile that he needs today and Eddie Creighton is welcomed back into the plate with open arms. He really has been catching the eye on the gallops of late and the strongly run mile here will really suit. He can see off Perfect Stride and River Proud who are the dangers.
Selection: ATLANTIC SPORT (8/10) (E/W)
Savers: River Proud & Perfect Stride
3.15
Blue Square Nassau Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares)
(Class 1) (3yo+)
£113,540.00
1m1f192y
A fair group one but in all reality this should be between no more than four horses.
Heaven Sent has had a busy campaign and has been running well in top class races but doesn’t appear to be the most finding in a finish at this grade and that’s why she is up in trip. Working well at home but needs to improve to give the weight to the 3yo’s.
Majestic Roi has proven very disappointing this season and whilst she has ability to go well at this level, she cant be fancied on what she has shown of late.
Passage Of Time returned right back to form at Newbury last time out and showed a real gutsy attitude to see off the much improved Bankable in a strong battle. She would have preferred the ground a bit slower but back to her best after some impressive work lately and has to be respected.
Soft Morning is gutsy and ran well last time but this is much tougher and faces a hard task at this level.
Cape Amber who will want rain was disappointing in her latest gallop and has struggled at this level lately. I really cant see her getting involved here.
Classic Remark of Harry Dunlop’s showed a real good attitude to score last time at Newcastle and looked value for a step up in class. However a step up to group one level clearly looks beyond her at the moment and she would prefer a slower surface.
Halfway To Heaven is another who has to come under serious consideration and far from disgraced in France she ran a belter to cling on gamely at the Curragh. This step of 1.5f looks a good opportunity for her and she is clearly a proven class act. I’m not quite sure if she is good enough to beat the other Irish runner but she should be involved.
Lush Lashes is that other filly to consider and in my opinion she is as close to a nailed on certainty you will see. I’m convinced she is a class above these even for a group one and the way she won the Coronation she was majorly impressive. This ground suits her to a tee and she is hard to oppose.
Muthabara has been crying out for this trip, and for me is a good solid each way bet. Not disgraced in the Guineas, she was finishing well at Ascot. This longer trip is what she needs and if a bit more rain falls she could become the chief danger to the Irish filly.
Sugar Mint stays 8f well giving the impression she wants 10f but every time over 10f she doesn’t look to quite get home. She also looks outclassed at this level.
Summary
For me this is very one sided and I think LUSH LASHES (Nap) is a different class to her rivals. Her impressive Ascot romp saw her look something special and she didn’t shape as if she was stopping. Already proven over 10f she returns to the trip she impressed over at York and will be hard to beat here.
Muthabara who finally tries this trip and the consistent Halfway To Heaven look the main dangers, whilst Passage Of Time has claims if in the same form as when she won at Newbury.
Selection: LUSH LASHES (10/10)
Savers: Muthabara & Halfway To Heaven
Last edited:
