ARATUS has repeatedly been unlucky with the draw at Ascot, consistently being in a stall that proved to be on the “wrong” side of the straight track in his last three runs.
Clive Cox’s four-year-old gelding has, however, now dropped to a nice official rating of 98, which is exactly the mark he last won off when racing at Goodwood a year ago.
I am hoping he has better luck with his draw on Saturday when he contests yet another competitive Ascot contest – the National Racehorse Week Handicap over 7 furlongs.
Ground conditions should be ideal – he needs good ground or faster to be at his best – and Kevin Stott has already been booked for the ride.
Take the 12-1 each way with one of several bookmakers offering those odds including bet365 and Sky Bet.
The long list of dangers is headed by Inver Park, who will appreciate returning to both Ascot and a longer trip after a disappointing run at Goodwood over 6 furlongs last month.
Inver Park is only 4lbs higher in the ratings than when winning the 29-runner Buckingham Palace Stakes at the royal meeting in June. Talented apprentice Saffie Osborne is booked for the ride and is able to claim a useful 3 lbs.
Up at Haydock on Saturday, I am going to oppose a favourite horse of mine, Euchen Glen, despite him having a decent chance of landing the Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup over 1 miles 6 furlongs. Jim Goldie’s nine-year-old gelding has had no luck in running on his last two outings, including in the Sky Bet Ebor at York.
But last year’s winner of the Old Borough Cup, ISLAND BRAVE, looks overpriced even though his form this year has been rather less than sensational.
Heather Main’s gelding is eight now but he ran promisingly when fourth at Ascot earlier this month and he can race off a mark 3lbs lower than he won off 12 months ago. Take the 33-1 each way with Paddy Power, Betfair or Sky Bet.
I have been studying the form of my favourite flat race handicap of the year, the Together for Racing International Cesarewitch, but have decided to keep my powder dry.
Many of the entries this year may opt to run in the Friends of the Curragh Irish Cesarewitch instead, given it now has a monster first prize of €340,000.
Furthermore, two of the horses I fancy are ground dependent – one liking soft ground, the other fast - so I am not putting them up until I know more about the likely terrain. But watch this space for a tip or two in the Newmarket marathon on October 8.
As always, please recommend this newsletter to a friend:
One for the horse tracker
Bright Diamond was the horse to take out of the William Hill Prestige Fillies’ Stakes at Goodwood on Saturday. Karl Burke’s two-year-old filly was only third in the Group 3 contest but there is surely better to come. She was slowly away in a race that favoured the runners who raced prominently. Bright Diamond, however, kept on well in the last furlong to be beaten less than two lengths by the winner, Fairy Cross. Expect Bright Diamond to make an even better impression when contesting some group races at the end of the season, possibly at Newmarket, where she won on her racecourse debut earlier this month.
Pending:
1 point each way Aratus at 12-1 for the National Racehorse Week Handicap, ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Island Brave at 33-1 for the Old Borough Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Zechariah at 12-1 for the StLeger, 1/5th odds, 3 places.
2 points Fresh at 14-1 for the Ayr Gold Cup.
1 point each way Gulliver at 33-1 for the Ayr Gold Cup, ¼ odds, 4 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.
2022 Flat season running total: - 22.84 points.
2021-2 jumps season + 77.95 points.
My gambling record for the seven years: I have made a profit in 12 of the past 13 seasons. To a 1 point level stake over this period, I have made a profit of 460 points. All bets are either 1 point each way or 2 points win (a "point" is your chosen regular stake)