Neil Morrice walks you through the front runners for Saturday’s feature race meetings at Doncaster and Newbury, including the Vertem Futurity Trophy, Victoria Club Stakes and Cancom Stakes.
An extraordinary situation as KAMEKO takes on a raft of Coolmore colts in a race that is fast becoming an Aidan O’Brien benefit. It’s a case of FIVE from Ballydoyle against the Kingsclere challenger.
Andrew Balding’s colt hasn’t done much wrong, and after scoring impressively on his debut made Positive pull out all the stops in the Solario Stakes at Sandown before paying the price for racing too keenly in the early stages on his latest outing at Newmarket. Oisin Murphy’s task will be trying to get KAMEKO settled which is not easy in a small field.
But just look what he’s up against………MOGUL heads the Irish quintet as a colt that has got better with each run after being beaten on his debut at Gowan in August. He looked potentially top class when landing a Leopardstown Group 2 last time and the fact that he idled in the closing stages strongly suggests there’s further improvement to come.
INNISFREE couldn’t handle the more experienced Year Of The Tiger at Naas in July but has won both his subsequent outings, latterly a Group 2 at the Curragh. Also a son of Galileo, he needed every yard of the mile to win, and ought to enjoy the slightly better ground on Town Moor.
It’s hard to think that any of LOUISIANA, IBERIA or ROYAL COUNTY DOWN could trouble the ‘Big Three’ and at least one of the trio are probably in to adopt a peacemaking role.
Louisiana traveller beautifully before winning a Thurber nursery in emphatic style after being heavily backed and it’s feasible he could progress to post a frame finish.
But Iberia was easily taken down by Stela Star in a Group 3 at Leopardstown last time, while Royal County Down finished five and a half lengths behind Mogul in the Leopardstown Group 2, and has it all to do.
Prediction
1st MOGUL
2nd Innisfree
3rd Kameko
4th Louisiana
5th Royal County Down
6th Iberia
Victoria Club Stakes (Group 3)
Morando has the honour of having beaten Kew Gardens on soft ground at Chester in May and followed that Ormonde Stakes triumph on his latest start at Ascot where he pulverised Sextant by six lengths in the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes, in spite of being a bit keen in the early stages.
He carries a 3lb penalty, but with conditions again set to be bottomless, it’s hard to get away from him.
Young Rascal hasn’t cut the mustard in his two starts this year but this is his first appearance since being gelded. While he’s had issues he strips fresh and fancied to do new things at a time of year when he was thrice successful in 2018.
KING’S ADVICE fell short at Salisbury but prior to that he’d put together an impressive sequence. If getting onto an easy lead he could be hard to reel in while strictly on the book there’s not a lot to choose between MANUELA DE VEGA and Morando on a line through Sextant, who beat her a length at the Chester May meeting.
ROYAL LINE has to be taken seriously after his doughty third to Kew Gardens in the Stayers’ race at Ascot on Champions Day, but that was just a week ago and those efforts in deep ground may well have left their mark.
Prediction
Ist MORANDO
2nd King’s Advice
3rd Young Rascal
4th Manuela De Vega
5th Royal Line
Cancom Stakes (Group 3)
KENZAI WARRIOR also landed a maiden but then had to work hard for that Salisbury novice. What makes that run all the more appealing is the way Roger Teal’s colt knuckled down for the victory and that the runner-up Max Vega went on to win a Group 3. In fact, the Salisbury race has worked out wonderfully with a couple of those further back also reappearing to win next time.
YEAR OF THE TIGER skips the Doncaster Futurity for this having finished fourth to Pinatubo in the Dewhurst. He was eye catching in doing his best work at the finish. He’s joined by fellow Ballydoyle raider NEW WORLD TAPESTRY who has a solid enough chance on his defeat of Colour Image at Newmarket.
Godolphin’s BOCCACCIO is something of an unknown quantity but did the job well enough when landing some good bets in his Yarmouth debut. He’s a colt with abundant scope for progression and has to be taken seriously.
The William Haggas-trained SURF DANCER is on a hat-trick but needs to bring his best game to the table after a narrow win on the all weather last time.
IMPRESSOR made many friends when stylishly breaking his maiden in easy conditions at Salisbury but was unable to consolidate in the Mill Reef Stakes over this course and distance in which he was in trouble some way out. In fairness he came back with excuses but will need to raise his game to make an imprint in the outcome here.
Prediction
1st KINROSS
2nd Year Of The Tiger
3rd Kenzai Warrior
4th Boccaccio
5th New World Tapestry
6th Surf Dancer
Newbury Undercard Best Bets
Race 5: SEPARATE (10)
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Sean Levey
SEPARATE looks the one to be on in this Listed Ridley Stakes after getting into the shake up in a Group 3 at Newmarket. She picked up well in the Dip and was staying on as well as anything at the finish, suggesting that a long season hasn’t left it’s mark on her and that she can end her campaign with a career best win. She looks to have the beating of Final Option, Bettys Hope, Star Alexander and Afraid Of Nothing.
Race 6: MAJESTIC DAWN (4)
Trainer: Paul Cole
Jockey: David Egan
Egan gave MAJESTIC DAWN a peach of a ride when making all in deep ground at Nottingham and even though he’s 5lb higher his ability to handle desperate conditions will be of paramount importance considering further heavy rain is set to fall before racing.
Cheltenham Best Bets
Race 1: COGRY (11)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies
Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
COGRY is looking to repeat his 2017 success in this and his liking for the Prestbury Park course was reflected in another success here over a longer trip in December. That was off the same mark he’s on today, and with connections reporting him fully tuned up for this reappearance he can make a mark 8n a race where Hollywoodbets offer four places.
Race 3: SAINT CALVADOS (1)
Trainer: Harry Whittington
Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
SAINT CALVADOS scored on his seasonal reappearance in Ireland last year but then mainly struggled when contesting the top two mile chases against the likes of Altior. The gelding looks certain to get the softer underfoot conditions he prefers, with a blanket of rain set to hit this part of the West Country. He excelled in an important schooling session last week and is considered ready for this return to the fray.
Race 6: SLATE HOUSE (9)
Trainer: Colin Tizzard
Jockey: Robbie Power
Although he was largely disappointing last season, SLATE HOUSE is a horse to take seriously now returning with a fresh agenda in front of him. His trainer pitches him into a competitive novice chase but he’s been working well. He’s going to open up at a big double figure prince, but can reward win and place support.
