Race 4
The opening leg of the day’s Jackpot looks like a benefit race for the powerful Chris Waller stable, with the top three picks all hailing from his yard. CAPTAIN MAVERICK had his consistency rewarded with a one-and-a-half-length victory last time out over 1800M, this despite coming four wide into the home straight and losing a shoe in running. He struck the front at the 130M mark to win going away. The gelding jumps from gate five and could be the pick with champion jockey James McDonald in the irons.
MISTERKIPCHOGE has cracked pole position and has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when fourth over 1500M, just over a length behind the victor, but he was hampered at the start that day, had to be held up between the 150m and 50M marks and his jockey put up 0.5kgs overweight, so he can be considered an unlucky loser. He will be having his peak run after returning from a 12-week rest and he makes a solid back-up for the yard.
SEAFALL is a 4-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she showed solid improvement to win her last start over 1500M, albeit by just a short-head. She jumped awkwardly in that event and had to be held up at the 200M pole, but finished off her race powerfully to get up in the shadow of the post. The filly has her peak run after returning from a longer 23-week break and although she will have to negotiate a wideish draw eight, she could complete the trifecta.
Race 5
NEED SOME LUCK won over 1200M three runs back, finished third in his penultimate start over 1300M and then second in his latest outing back over 1200M, 0.8L behind the winner, when returning from a 12-week rest. He was returning from a 12-week rest that day and came three wide into the home stretch before chasing hard all the way down to the wire. The gelding gets cheekpieces fitted for the first time and if these have the desired effect, he should be a big runner here, jumping from a handy draw two and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
SOLDIER OF ROME tried to go from jump to wire when ending up in fourth place last time out over 1900M, just a neck back from the winner and was immediately rested for 24 weeks. He returns here after having had two barrier trials, finishing third in the latest and from one gate outside the top pick, he is likely to attempt similar frontrunning tactics today.
EYE PEA OH is a 6-year-old mare taking on males, but she has finished second in two of her last three starts, the latest over 1100M, where she was beaten just a short-head. She faces a wideish gate eight, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
Race 6
The day’s value bet, TRUE TO FORM missed out on his hat-trick after two victories over 1300M, finishing second last time out when stepping up to 1400M, 0.8L behind the winner, but the form of that race has been franked. He tried to go from gun to tape in that event and was only run out of it late. The gelding has pulled gate seven and will have 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.
JUST PARTY put his disappointing penultimate start over 1300M behind him when finishing fourth next time out over 1400M, 0.8L back from the winner, but he was slow away on that occasion and had to be held up at the entrance to the home straight, so he had his excuses. From a useful draw three, the colt should be right up there when they hit the line.
MAKENA is a 4-year-old filly taking on boys. She was held up at the top of the home stretch and was reported to have been cut into on her off-fore fetlock, but nevertheless still won her last start over 1400M by a half-length. She is drawn one outside the latter and will be having her peak run after returning from an 18-week spell.
Race 7
Just like the opening leg of the day’s Jackpot, the Chris Waller yard looks like dominating proceedings here with three of his four runners filling the top spots. EXTREMELY HARDYS put six lengths between herself and the balance of the field when winning first time out over 1200M and could be just about anything. She has finished fifth in a subsequent barrier trial and would have learnt from that race experience. With the natural improvement that can be expected, she could be the one that they all have to beat, even though she will have to deal with a wide draw nine.
PIPPIE BEACH missed out on her hat-trick after two victories over 1300M when finishing fourth last time out over the same journey, three lengths behind the winner. She was returning from a 17-week break that day and made good late progress over the closing stages. From gate seven, she will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways here.
MERGEILA finished third first time out over 1200m and then won her next outing over the same sprint trip by 1.3L. The filly kicked clear of the field at the 100M mark to record a well-timed victory and from one gate outside the latter, she should be included in all bets.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login