DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY OCTOBER 17
2.05 ASCOT
It’s been well documented the sprinting division has been a bit all over the place in recent times and while Almeraq has done his level best to try and instil some sort of stability this season, his poor run for no apparent reason in the July Cup just goes to show how fallible even the very best can be on any given day.
With that in mind and, taking into account this race has witnessed shock winners at 100-1, 40-1, 33-1 and 28-1 in the last decade, only a brave man would be wading in on William Haggas’ inmate at a very short price.
So, where does the value lie among the rest of the field you might ask. Well, there could be worse alternatives than DIVISION and PRINCE OF INDIA and with most bookmakers offering each-way terms down to four places, playing the two against field might well prove to be a reasonably wise strategy.
The former has often been the master of his own downfall this season, frequently giving away valuable ground he is unable to retrieve in the latter stages of his races but, hoping events pan out a little more in his favour this time, he is afforded another chance.
Last time out over today’s C&D, for instance, was a race that didn’t play into his strengths and not for the first time, he was left with a mountain to climb from halfway.
He did, however, come home with his usual gusto and if today’s contest pans out in the way the Commonwealth Cup did here back in June, the son of Kingman should be good enough to hit the frame at the very least.
The latter, other than being slam-dunked over the rails here last season, would have a near-perfect record at the Berkshire venue and it is easy to see Marco Botti’s gelding keeping those stats intact.
Victorius on his first visit over the C&D, his latest effort when runner-up to Hidden Force wasn’t without promise in the first-time cheekpieces and with the rain that fell yesterday providing him with much-needed cushion underfoot, the four-year-old makes more appeal than most.
DIVISION – ½ point each-way@9-1 (four places)
PRINCE OF INDIA – ½ point each-way@16-1 (four places)
2.40 ASCOT
Undoubtably, Kalpana sets the standard here on the figures with her victory in The King George, one of the standout 1m4f performances of the season.
However, she did have a hard race in the Arc recently and stall one has proved to be a stumbling block for many over the years on the round track, so she might not be the penalty kick she appears on paper.
Trying to find the right fit with the rest of the field isn’t easy but based on her run in this race last season and her performance in the Park Hill at Doncaster on her latest start, DANIELLE comes across as the percentage call from an each-way stance.
Following a slow beginning twelve months ago, John & Thady Gosden’s filly was held up towards the rear of the field in the early stages but she ended up being not very amenable to restraint and she wasted energy she could ill afford to lose.
To her great credit, she managed to finish off her race quite strongly, so much so, she ran the final three furlongs in exactly the same time as Kalpana (36.4).
Arriving her in great shape following her excellent display when runner-up to the improving, Waardah, on Town Moor, a more efficient passage through today’s race should result in an improvement on last year’s fifth position.
DANIELLE – 1-point each-way@18-1 (four places)
3.20 ASCOT
Similar in many ways to the sprint division, the milers seem to take turn in beating each other in recent times and today’s contest looks one of the most complex of its kind all season.
Improving three-year-olds such as Gstaad, Talk Of New York and Rayif add to the usual complications but it might well be that the older guard hold sway, with TEN BOB TONY and ZEUS OLYMPIOS making the most appeal at the morning prices.
Ed Walker’s chestnut ran out a shock 50-1 winner of the Queen Anne at the Royal meeting but there didn’t appear to be any fluke about his performance and subsequent events have backed up that view.
Unlucky in the City Of York Stakes two starts ago, the son of Night Of Thunder didn’t get the rub of the green at Longchamp last time out but both efforts strongly suggest he remains in top form and a return to his greatest success will hopefully see him in a better light.
The latter has just come up short on his three attempts at Group 1 level, but he hasn’t been beaten too far each time and he has always left the impression he is capable of landing a big one if things pan out in his favour.
Karl Burke’s inmate looked like winning at Deauville during the summer only for Rayif to pick his pocket late on and he has every chance of turning around the form with his old rival back over a track where he has valuable experience.
Fourth in the Queen Anne was supplemented with a deserved victory at Group 2 level back at the Berkshire venue next time and saved for this race since August, he arrives here fresh and raring to go.
TEN BOB TONY – ½ point each-way@7-1 (four places)
ZEUS OLYMPIOS – ½ point each-way@10-1 (four places)
4.35 ASCOT
Plenty of course specialists on show in the traditional curtain closer and although you can not quite put PERSICA into that category just yet, Richard Hannon’s inmate has done more than enough here in the past to make him more than just a hopeful choice.
The five-year-old has been plying his trade against top-level opposition for the thick end of two years and his effort when third to the massively improving Talk Of New York at Newmarket last time out highlighted his overall consistency against Group 2/3 opposition.
If wanting to castigate him, you could argue he is better served by further than a mile nowadays but in mitigation, the ground at HQ would not have played into his strengths and the rain which has fallen in the last 24 hours is likely to bring his stamina more into play than was the case 22 days ago.
Moreover, his effort when fifth in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot has been advertised by the likes of Wimbledon Hawkeye, Galen, Survie and Enfjaar since and with his useful apprentice taking off 7lb, the son of New Bay gets to run in his first handicap for over two years – a race in which he won off 100 – off a workable mark.
PERSICA – 1-point each-way@22-1 (five places)