Two more tips for the Cesarewitch and one for the big York sprint
Flat season 2022: bet 58, 59 & 60
My favourite Flat race handicap of the season, the Club Godolphin Cesarewitch at Newmarket, has been somewhat downgraded this year.
To start with, only 23 runners are due to line up for the race on Saturday, instead of the usual maximum field of 34. This is partly because this year the race is worth just over £100,000 to the winner whereas last year it was worth just under £130,000.
Furthermore, the Friends of the Curragh Irish Cesarewitch, run two weeks ago, upgraded its prize money to a whopping Euros 324,000 (£285,000) for the winner, a huge increase on last year. This meant many trainers on both sides of the Irish Sea decided to concentrate on winning the Irish race rather than its British counterpart.
Nevertheless, Saturday’s contest (Newmarket 3.40pm) is still an intriguing contest. I am happy enough to take on the two favourites with a couple more horses at big prices, backing them each way with seven places on offer.
I put up Favorite Moon for Saturday’s contest last week at 33-1 and that price has long gone, even though he will not have his ideal conditions at Newmarket. He would definitely prefer more cut in the ground but he is set to take his chance nonetheless and has a fair each way shout.
I have also been interested in two horses who have their best form on top of the ground conditions: Zoffee, a consistent stayer who is much loved by his trainer Hugo Palmer, and ROCK EAGLE, who is a regular in these top-class staying handicaps but has not been at his best this season.
Zoffee was unlucky in running last time out at York and has Frankie Dettori in the saddle this time. However, I am not certain he will like Saturday’s marathon trip and, at odds of 16-1 or less, I am willing to give him a miss.
Rock Eagle always runs well at Newmarket and was 5th in the Cesarewitch two years ago on unsuitably soft ground off a rating of 100, whereas he can run off a rating of just 97 this weekend on better ground.
With the Ralph Beckett/Rob Hornby trainer/jockey combination in fine form, I am keen to back Rock Eagle each way at 25-1 with Sky Bet, paying seven places.
But there is one other horse that I must back too: Hughie Morrison’s VINO VICTRIX. This improving four-year-old gelding won nicely at Goodwood in August over two miles and is 3lbs “well in” under a penalty compared with his future rating of 95. The form of his Goodwood win was franked when the second horse, Malakhana, won at Ascot last weekend.
If the ground was soft, I would be super-confident of a big run from Vino Victrix but I am willing to take a chance at his current odds. Back him each way at 16-1, again with Sky Bet paying seven places.
I can’t resist a bet too in the Coral Sprint Handicap at York. Gulliver is one of my “cliff horses” but, from stall 22 of 22, he has it all to do and I will pass on him this time. From stall one, Dusky Lord could defy a 9lbs rise in the ratings for his win last time out in the Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup “consolation race”, the Silver Cup. But he has been found in the market at single figure odds.
Instead, I advise a bet on POPMASTER who was 7th in this race 12 months ago after a troubled passage. He is not “Mr Consistency” at the racecourse but he ran a cracker, when put up in this newsletter at 33-1, to finish runner-up in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
If he can reproduce that form on Saturday (York 3.15pm), Popmaster will play a part in the finish. Back him each way at 16-1 with Sky Bet yet again, paying seven places. Lucky Man is another big danger in this hot sprint because he loves this track.
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One for the horse tracker
At first glance, 22nd place in a 27-runner race at Ascot does not appear to be much to shout about. But Oneforsue was repeatedly hampered when poised to make her challenge in this auction race for two-year-olds last Saturday. Her jockey, Theodore Ladd, was easy on the filly when her chance had gone and she can make amends later this season or next. Her handler, Eric Alston, is sure to find an opportunity for her to get off the mark after five moderate runs to date. She will be even better when she learns to settle.
Pending:
1 point each way Favorite Moon at 33-1 for the Cesarewitch, ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Rock Eagle at 25-1 for the Cesarewitch, 1/5 odds, 7 places.
1 point each way Vino Victrix at 16-1 for the Cesarewitch, 1/5 odds, 7 places.
1 point each way Popmaster at 16-1 for the Coral Sprint Trophy, 1/5 odds, 7 places.
Settled:
1 point each way Arcadian Sunrise Cup at 16-1 in the Chester Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places. 4th. + 3 points.
1 point each way Morph Speed at 25-1 in the Chester Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Auditor at 16-1 in the TRU7 Handicap, 1/4 odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Moss Gill at 12-1 in the Temple Stakes, 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Caradoc at 11-1 the Cazoo Handicap, 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Westover at 20-1 in the Cazoo Derby,, 1/5 odds, 3 places. 3rd. + 3 points.
1 point each way Changingoftheguard at 9-1in the Cazoo Derby, 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each Moneista at 16-1 in the King’s Stand Stakes, 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Rock Eagle at 20-1 in the Ascot Stakes, 1/5 odds, 7 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Raymond Tusk at 33-1 in the Copper Horse Stakes, 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Get Shirty at 14-1 in the Copper Horse Stakes, 1/5 odds, 5 places. 1st. + 16.8 points.
1 point each way Aratus at 40-1 in the Royal Hunt Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Symbolize at 18-1 in the Royal Hunt Cup, 1/5 odds, 8 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Rosemary and Thyme at 40-1 in the Kensington Palace Stakes, 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Princess Zoe at 13/2 for the Ascot Gold Cup, 1/5 odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Star of Orion at 25-1 in the Buckingham Palace Stakes, 1/5 odds, 7 places. .Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Dance Fever at 20-1 in the Buckingham Palace Stakes, 1/5 odds, 7 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Stay Well at 16-1 in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, 1/5 odds, 6 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Minzaal at 14-1 in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes, 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Double or Bubble at 14-1 in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes, 1/5 odds, 6 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Gulliver at 33-1 in the Wokingham Handicap, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Popmaster at 33-1 in the Wokingham Handicap, 1/5 odds, 7 places. 2nd. + 5.6 points.
1 point each way Calling the Wind at 14-1 in the Queen Alexandra Stakes, 1/5 odds, 4 places. 3rd but Rule 4 deduction. + 0.81 points.
1 point each way Onesmoothoperator at 13/2for the Northumberland Plate, 1/5 odds, 7 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Primo Bacio at 33-1 for the Falmouth Stakes, 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Star of Orion at 16-1 for the Bunbury Cup 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Ropey Guest at 25-1 for the Bunbury Cup, 1/4 odds, 4 places. 2nd. + 5.25 points.
2 points win Intellogent at 8-1 for the John Smith’s Cup. 3rd. – 2 points.
2 points win Tactical at 12-1 for the International Stakes. Unplaced. – 2 points.
2 points win Air to Air at 20-1 for the International Stakes. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Ropey Guest at 16-1 for the International Stakes, 1/5 odds, 6 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Caradoc at 12-1 for the Coral Chesterfield Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Hydroplane at 10-1 for the Coral Goodwood Handicap, 1/4 odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Montassib at 10-1 for the Coral Golden Mile, 1/5 odds, 5 places. Non Runner. – 2 points.
1 point each way Ouzo at 16-1 for the Coral Golden Mile, 1/5 odds, 6 places. 4th + 2.2 points
1 point each way Acklam Express at 15/2 for the Qatar King George Stakes, 1/5 odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Inver Park at 16-1 for the Coral Stewards Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Summerghand at 20-1 for the Coral Stewards Cup, 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Mokaatil at 11-1 for the Stewards Cup Sprint, 1/5 odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Copper Knight at 25-1 for the Sky Bet and Symphony Group Handicap, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Cruyff Turn at 16-1 for the Clipper Logistics handicap, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Blue for You at 14-1 for the Clipper Logistics handicap, ¼ odds, 4 places. 1st. + 17.5 points.
2 points win Titan Rock at 17/2 for the Abacus Securities 20-Year Anniversary Handicap. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Get Shirty at 18-1 for the Sky Bet Ebor, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each Euchen Glen at 16-1 for the Sky Bet Ebor, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Ever Present at 16-1 for the Sky Bet Ebor, 1/5 odds, 5 places with Sky Bet, NRNB. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Gulliver at 33-1 for the Sky Bet Constantine Handicap, with bet365, 1/5 odds, 6 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Aratus at 12-1 for the National Racehorse Week Handicap, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Island Brave at 33-1 for the Old Borough Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places. + 41.25
1 point each way Zechariah at 12-1 for the StLeger, 1/5th odds, 3 places. Non Runner. – 2 points.
1 point win Gulliver at 16-1 for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Bold Lad Sprint at the Curragh, 1/5 odds, 6 places. 6th. +2.2 points.
2 points Fresh at 14-1 for the Ayr Gold Cup. Non Runner. – 2 points.
point each way Gulliver at 33-1 for the Ayr Gold Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Bielsa at 10-1 for the Ayr Gold Cup, 1/5 odds, 6 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1point each way Legend of Dubai at 16-1 for the Cambridgeshire, 1/4 odds, 4 places. Non Runner. – 2 points.
1 point each way Perotto at 33-1 for the Cambridgeshire, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
2022 Flat season running total: + 6.61 points
2021-2 jumps season + 77.95 points.