Racing Preview of this weekend’s racing with Farringdon: July 22-23
WITH fillies having been successful in five of the last 10 Super Sprints at Newbury (3.35), Queen Mary Stakes runner-up, Relief Rally, is strongly fancied by connections to give the fairer sex an edge over the boys in the last 11 years for William Haggas.
She is fully entitled to be the market leader for this valuable juvenile event based purely on that run and a best price, at the time of writing, of 7/4 will entice many into the betting fray.
But to my eyes there are several better value plays in the race including Juniper Berries, an excellent three length sixth in the Coventry Stakes also at the Royal meeting and almost certainly set be better suited by this drop back to the minimum trip. Again a best offer of 6/1 makes him almost a solid each-way play to nothing, but I am going to go out on a limb even further and plump for an each-way play on the Karl Burke trained WORLD OF DARCY (nap).
Winner of a Pontefract novice, the son of Soldier’s Call then ran to a similar level when a one paced second of 10 behind the subsequent Norfolk Stakes third Elite Status in the National Stakes at Sandown Park. The selection then probably ran a wee bit too free when fading in the closing stages to finish 13 in the Windsor Castle Stakes having been sent off the 5/1 joint third favourite the impressive Big Evs.
He in turn is preferred to the likes of Son of Corballis and Ffos Las winner Rosario. The last named was hugely impressive at the West Wales venue and is highly regarded by connections.
The Listed Steventon Stakes (1.50) has what looks like an uneasy favourite in Al Aasy a disappointing 25 lengths last of five in the Fred Archer Stakes following a 425-day break. That makes him vulnerable to HIGHLAND AVENUE. The charge was just outrun by Regal Reality in the Diomed Stakes at Epsom which was then matched by his fourth in the Hampton Court Stakes over a mile and a quarter.
Being a son of Dubawi out of a Shamardal mare this galloping 10 furlongs should prove right up his street if William Buick can hold onto the five-year-old for a bit longer.
The Handicap Stakes over an extended two miles at 2.25 is the big betting race on the card and trainer Ian Williams will be hoping that the forecast showers come in profusion for the recent Chester Plate winner who then followed up with a disappointing 16 of 19 in the Ascot Stakes when he probably found the ground a wee bit too fast akin to having a wide journey throughout the race.
Fast finishing Northumberland Plate fourth, Nathanael Greene should also relish this test and is allowed to race off exactly the same mark here. He too would be suited by some give.
But with the weather unlikely to break massively, this looks a good opportunity for SWEET WILLIAM. The Gosden trained gelding has always looked as though a step up to a stamina sapping trip would suit when running twice over 12 furlongs as a three-year-old, and again confirmed that impression when running away with a Doncaster novice over that trip.
There is enough stamina on both sides of the breeding lines to suggest this extra yardage will suit and he may be able to teach his older rivals a lesson here.
Elsewhere on the card, SHARTASH could be the each-way play for Irish trainer JP Murtagh in the Group Three Hackwood Stakes at 3.00, a race that has several doubtful stayers in it, while the closing mile handicap at 5.20 may go to EXIMIOUS.
The Roger Varian-trained charge will appreciate this drop in class after failing to make a mark in the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The Irish Oaks (3.45) at the Curragh looks set to go the way of British raider BLUESTOCKING probably on route to the Doncaster St Leger later in the year. All this daughter of Camelot does is lengthen and this stiff track should certainly play to her strengths. She gets the nod over the home trained and red hot favourite Savethelastdance, runner-up to Soul Sister in the Epsom Oaks. She too is merely a stayer without much of a turn of foot and would appreciate plenty of rain.
Of the supporting races, ART POWER may enhance his already terrific record at the venue in the Group Two Sapphire Stakes at 3.10, while in the consistent BIG GOSSEY (second to Art Power in the Greenlands Stakes) could be the call off a handicap mark of 99 in the premier handicap at 2.35.
The Summer Plate Handicap Chase at Market Rasen (2.35) has always been an ultra competitive affair and this year’s renewal is no exception. Sixteen runners are set to go to post in this 2m5f event including five-timer-seeking bottom weight Born Famous and top weight and likely market leader Francky Du Berlais.
But at around 20/1 I am happy to take a chance with the Summer Plate fifth NORTHERN BOUND. He was just outpaced at the end of the back stretch that day before finding a second wind down the home stretch. Set to race off the same mark here, he gets a narrow vote over the other each-way players Killer Clown and Railway Hurricane.
