DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY JULY 4
2.05 NEWMARKET
ARC OLE OLE did as well as expected under the circumstances at Royal Ascot last time out and he rates a strong choice to confirm he remains a staying handicapper to keep on side.
Dylan Cunha’s gelding supposedly (according to all data experts) had a good draw at the Berkshire venue, housed in stall 20, but like many of the round track races at the meeting this year, his stall position ended up being a coffin box and he proceeded to get shuffled back through the pack to the point where he had little chance of recovering.
To his great credit, therefore, to run on as strongly as he did to finish a never-nearer fifth was a herculean effort and his performance proved that he has the potential to take his game to the next level.
His victory at York previously also suggested a similar idealism and with the form of that race boosted by the likes of Stoneacre Donny, Heroics, Pendella, Hard To Believe, Wicksey, Dryburgh and Sudbury Hill since, the son of Study Of Man can follow suit over an extra two furlongs which should play into his strengths.
ARC OLE OLE – 1-point win@9-4
2.25 SANDOWN
Cases can be made for plenty in this competitive mile handicap and of those high on the shortlist, EBT’S GUARD is the recommendations at the morning prices.
William Muir & Chris Grassick’s gelding has become a very reliable performer in these big field handicaps in recent times and his effort when fourth in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot is testimony to his consistency.
Although the Berkshire venue clearly suits him best looking at his overall profile, he has run well at a variety of tracks, including Newbury in a similar race the time before and over today’s C&D in the past.
A prominent racer, those tactics are often complemented at the Esher venue and with River King likely to serve up a decent pace from the outset from stall 2, the son of Cable Bay can follow his trial from gate 4 and be in a position of strength at the business end.
EBT’S GUARD – ½ point each-way@11-1 (five places)
3.15 NEWMARKET
Klassleader is quite rightly all the rage to capture this valuable prize and given the strike rate of his stable in this kind of events, he is most likely to justify his position in the market.
However, odds around 6-4 are plenty tight enough and a better value alternative might turn out to be PADDY THE SQUIRE.
Iain Jardine’s inmate looked badly in need of the run when only sixth behind Klassleader at York on his seasonal bow, but he went on to prove to be a totally different proposition at Royal Ascot last time out, finishing a creditable third under an unlikely set of circumstances.
Despite the even tempo set from the outset, the six-year-old raced extremely keenly down into Swindley Bottom and once shuffled back through the pack towards the rear of the field turning for home, his goose appeared to be cooked.
It was to his great credit, therefore, he somehow managed to stay on very gamely to finish a never-nearer third and if building on that encouraging effort, he might be capable of duplicating his display in this race last season, when runner-up to Plage De Havre.
PADDY THE SQUIRE – 1-point each-way@8-1 (four places)
3.35 SANDOWN
If the French Derby ends up being the key form line to this Group 1 prize, Constitution River and A BOY NAMED SUSIE are the two to focus on, with the latter-named the clear value alternative to the short-priced favourite.
It has been well documented what a tactical affair the race at Chantilly turned out to be and, with Ballydoyle ensuring they had all bases covered, many of their rivals ended up being compromised to how the race panned out.
One of the chief sufferers in this hatchet job was Donnacha O’Brien’s colt and considering the amount of ground he made up from the rear of the field – roughly 5.5 lengths from three out – he deserves another chance to show of his skills on a more level playing field.
By the look of today’s extra additions to the line-up, namely Flushing Meadows and King’s Gambit, each set of connections are dead set in ensuring the tempo is high for their main players and if so, a pace collapse and being ridden chilly will hopefully end up being the key component to success.
A BOY NAMED SUSIE – 1-point win@9-1
A BOY NAMED SUSIE – 1-point win@6-5 Top three finish