RaceCafe..#1...Tipsters Thread.... Share Your Fancies For Fun...Lets See Who The Best Tipsters Here Are.
stodge

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On 1/27/2021 at 9:30 AM, stodge said:

Haven't got round to the review of last weekend yet but we have the usual Meydan Carnival card on Thursday to consider.

The Group 2 is the Cape Verdi for the older fillies and mares over 1600m on the grass. Top rated is SUMMER ROMANCE who was eighth in the 1000 Guineas before winning a Group 3 at Epsom. She flopped again finishing last in the Rothschild so this is a recovery mission. That said, you'll do well to see a weaker Group 2 anywhere. 

There are two unbeaten fillies from Godolphin of interest. First we have the 5-y-o LAST LOOK who won three on the spin in 2019 but hasn't run for 524 days and Frankie Dettori has the leg up on STUNNING BEAUTY who won twice last summer, once by five lengths and then by seven lengths. These were ordinary races but she did it in the style of a useful filly and could make the step up.

Seven stand in the UAE 1000 Guineas on the Dirt. Again, not a strong field - MNASEK won well on debut at a big price last December and could be anything. SOFT WHISPER won the Trial for which SUPER CHIANTI was a late scratching having beaten NAYEFAH on debut. KHATUN won on debut in Sweden so I think I'd stick with SOFT WHISPER.

Bubble popped on those two unbeaten mares last night Stodge , both tailed off .

I read no travel for horses  Dubai to Saudi this year,  got to go via UK or some other country . Mekong was going Dubai then Saudi but instead Lingfield mid winter to Saudi , quite different places bar the sand .Will weaken both Carnivals ..

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38 minutes ago, Red Rum said:

Bubble popped on those two unbeaten mares last night Stodge , both tailed off .

I read no travel for horses  Dubai to Saudi this year,  got to go via UK or some other country . Mekong was going Dubai then Saudi but instead Lingfield mid winter to Saudi , quite different places bar the sand .Will weaken both Carnivals ..

I wasn't keen on LAST LOOK off the very long layoff and STUNNING BEAUTY beat trees in her two UK races. To be fair, this is Godolphin's home ground and they bring over all manner of runners to take part in the Carnival.

News tonight all flights from the UK to Dubai stopped so that option is closed. I suspect jockeys, trainers and horses based in Dubai will be stuck there for a while.

The Saudi Cup is on February 20th this year so it's a better fit between the Pegasus and the World Cup. The Saudi Derby has been doubled to $1.5 million and got a real initial boost when runner up MISHRIFF went on to win the Jockey Club.

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Looking back to last weekend and for those who follow my occasional suggestions, a nice payday with FIRST FLOW winning the Clarence House Chase which you can hopefully enjoy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W30vwh4AFjo

It was a superb ride by David Bass who kept to the inside the whole way and took on POLITOLOGUE down the far side forcing the latter's jumping to fall apart. It's shaken up the Champion Chase market but the Irish CHACUN POUR SOI looks the one.

Far away from the chill of England to the balmy climes of Florida and the Pegasus races took place at Gulfstream park. The Turf looked a wide open race devoid of any European interest and was won by COLONEL LIAM who was an expensive 2-y-o but after one or two frustrating efforts as a 3-y-o seems to be coming to himself. In a 1-2 for Todd Pletcher he held off LARGENT in a close finish but they didn't go fast and it was a sprint in the final 400m. 

The Dirt race saw Breeders Cup Mile winner KNICKS GO notch up an easy victory. He was impressive in the Dirt Mile at the Breeders Cup last November and with Joel Rosario able to make his own running and set his won fractions the race was always under control. He's owned by the Korea Racing Authority so you'd wonder if a global campaign might be on the cards - the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup look serious options.

Back to the UK and Saturday's big Trials meeting at Cheltenham is threatened by heavy rain forcing an inspection tomorrow afternoon. Better news is the Dublin Racing Festival on February 3 and 4 is going to get extensive UK free to air coverage - four races on the Saturday and six on the Sunday will be shown featuring all the top Irish jumpers.

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Bits and pieces of news this evening.

Cheltenham's Trials Meeting tomorrow has fallen to the weather - two or three of the races will be moved to other venues such as Sandown next Saturday.

I don't agree with moving races apart from Group/Grade 1 events. These races are trials for Cheltenham races run at Cheltenham - running them on a completely different track such as Sandown makes no sense. In addition, the British jumps season has plenty of contingency built in to cope with spells of bad weather and races lost. We have plenty of races at Newbury in a fortnight which will suffice - why bulk up the programme with a surplus of small field races for a small group of top horses?

Looking ahead, news Aidan O'Brien will base some staff at Newmarket in case travel restrictions are still in place by the time of the Guineas meeting in early May and in an interview set out some early plans for his top horses for the coming campaign. Dewhurst winner and top 2-y-o ST MARK'S BASILICA will head for the Guineas along with WEMBLEY and VAN GOGH while BATTLEGROUND may swerve Newmarket and head for the St James's Palace at Ascot. Derby favourite HIGH DEFINITION is on course for Epsom and top 4-y-o LOVE will be aimed at all the top middle distance races starting with the Tattersalls Gold Cup but she will only go on decent ground.

Yesterday at Meydan, the Group 2 Cape Verdi saw ALTHIQA come from last to first and put up a smart performance running a very decent time. SUMMER ROMANCE went hard from the front but tired in the final 300m. ALTHIQA had only finished a length behind ONE MASTER at Goodwood in the Oak Tree so had claims for all her best form looked to be at 1400m. 

The UAE 1000 Guineas saw Frankie Dettori enjoy an armchair ride on SOFT WHISPER who led 600m out and came home unchallenged by seven lengths. It's fair to say MNASEK would have been closer had she got out of the stalls but this was a demolition job and if there's an easier "Classic" winner this year I'll be surprised.

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Racing continues to be hit hard by the weather and with another spell of wet weather due in the week, we're already looking at inspections for the weekend cards. The feature meeting at Sandown survived a midday check but the problem is the hurdles course which as many of you will know uses parts of the summer Flat track so these get watered in the hot spells and don't take well to winter deluges being as it is on good old London clay.

For now, the hurdles track is "barely raceable" but with more rain falling, I suspect the hurdles races will be abandoned at the 8am Thursday inspection in favour of an all-steeplechase programme which will feature the rescheduled Cotswold Chase and the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices Chase over 3200m.

The Cleeve Hurdle has ended up at Wetherby where the ground is already Heavy.

Over in Ireland, Leopardstown drains really well and should be okay - current ground is Soft on the chase course and Heavy for the hurdlers.

It's Dublin Racing Festival weekend and Saturday sees three Grade 1 races - the Dublin Chase over 3400m is the trial for Champion Chase favourite CHACUN POUR SOI who is 1/2 favourite to beat his six opponents. Eleven go in the Irish Arkle Novices Chase over the same distance for which new novice star ENERGUMEME is favourite. Just six go in the Irish Champion Hurdle over 3200m for which the mare HONEYSUCKLE is 5/4 ahead of Christmas Hurdle winner SHARJAH at 5/2.

It's a weak card at Meydan this week with a couple of Group 3 races the best on offer - just six go in the 2000 Guineas over 1600m on the Dirt and Godolphin run NAVAL CROWN who was Group 3 placed on the grass in England last year. MOUHEEB was runner up in the Trial for this race and looks a reasonable alternative.

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Well, Sandown didn't even get to the Thursday inspection before pulling the plug on the hurdle races following more rain overnight and this morning. Clerk Andrew Cooper is confident the all steeplechase meeting will be fine but he's been caught out before. At Wetherby, it's the reverse problem with the chase course in trouble.

Sunday at Leopardstown sees the second day of the Dublin Racing Festival featuring four Grade 1 events and six races televised on British free-to-air television. It's a cracking card as you would expect. Eight have been entered for the Juvenile Hurdle and early favourite is QUILIXIOS who won two races in the autumn by wide margins but Willie Mullins has a strong hand with FRENCH ASEEL and YOUMDOR and the former was hugely impressive over course and distance at Christmas.

The Novice Hurdle over 3200m for the older hurdlers looks set to go to APPRECIATE IT who for many was the most impressive winner of the Christmas meeting. He was well ahead of BALLYADAM but the Elliott horses were under a cloud then and it may be closer between these two this time.

The Novice Chase over 4200m features MONKFISH, another impressive Christmas winner and while LATEST EXHIBITION chased him home that day, a bigger threat (assuming he can stay on his feet) could be his stable mate ASTERION FORLONGE. He looked very good on his chase course but has tipped up the last twice.

Just five go in the Irish Gold Cup over 4800m and four met in the Savils Chase over course and distance just after Christmas. MINELLA INDO was strongly fancied that day but fell early - in the end, KEMBOY was second to A PLUS TARD with MELON third and DELTA WORK also losing his jockey. MELON was travelling best two out when he lost momentum with an over-cautious jump and he could be the one.    

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Inspections in the morning for both Sandown and Wetherby but I suspect both will survive - the real problems will be early next week when we are forecast a real taste of winter.

Seven go in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices Chase over 4000m at Sandown where the ground will be Heavy.  SHAN BLUE won the Kauto Star over 4800m at Christmas but while the trip won't be an issue his fluent jumping style may not be best suited to the tacky ground. MESSIRE DES OBEAUX lowered the colours of PROTECKTORAT at Wincanton last time but he too looks one for whom better ground would be ideal. The French import HITMAN chased home FORALLMANKIND in the Henry VIII over 3200m on this track so he jumps the course well which is a big plus. 

I quite like DAME DE CAMPAGNIE who, unusually for a horse trained by Nicky Henderson, seems to relish heavy ground. She won the Coral Cup at Cheltenham last March and looked good when winning on chasing debut at Ayr. It's a big step up but I think she has claims though the fact there are only seven runners puts me off a bet.

At Leopardstown, the Dublin Racing Festival kicks off on soft ground for the hurdlers and yielding to soft ground for the chasers. Just six go in the Dublin Chase over 3400m and it looks a straight fight between CHACUN POUR SOI and MIN. The latter is a solid bet at 7/2 against the long odds-on favourite but CHACUN POUR SOI dominated the race at Christmas and if he comes here in similar form he'll be very hard to beat.

ENERGUMENE goes into the big leagues in the Irish Arkle Chase but he should be good enough. He has a very tall reputation from the Mullins team having dotted up at Navan three weeks ago. The only slight worry is whether he'll be as effective on this sharper track on this better ground and 8/11 looks very short. Stable companion UNEXCEPTED who won on chase debut at Tipperary looks the most interesting alternative and I'd be tempted to take on this favourite - as they say there are fools, damn fools and people who back odds on in novice chases.

All six stand in the Irish Champion Hurdle and the question is whether HONEYSUCKLE can beat the boys and book herself a run in the big one at Cheltenham.  She won this last year beating DARVER'S STAR who ended up third at Cheltenham - the problem I have with her is she has done most of her winning at 4000m and this is 3200m. SHARJAH was second in the Champion Hurdle and on a line through DARVER'S STAR comes out very close to the mare - he is a 3200m specialist and won the equivalent race at the Christmas meeting. 

 

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Starting the look back on the past few at Meydan last Thursday. 5/4 isn't a price you'll ever get rich backing but MOUHEEB did it nicely in the UAE 2000 Guineas and while he's no world beater there aren't many who run down a clear leader on the Meydan Dirt so a decent performance.

 

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Last Saturday's jump racing at Sandown and Leopardstown provided some clues at to how events might transpire at Cheltenham which begins 5 weeks today.

The first point to state is it's very likely the ground at Cheltenham will be quite different to that encountered by the runners on Saturday. At Sandown, it was Heavy and at the normally well-draining Leopardstown track on the outskirts of Dublin, it was Soft.

At Sandown SPORTING JOHN ground out a win in the 4000m Scilly Isles Novices Chase. It didn't look at all likely early on as the horse wasn't jumping or travelling well but under a fine ride from Richard Johnson and enjoying a fair bit of luck with favourite HITMAN crashing out and bringing down DAME DE COMPAGNIE, SPORTING JOHN led after the last and ran down SHAN BLUE on the run in to win by four lengths. I imagine SPORTING JOHN will got for the staying novices race at Cheltenham but I think it'll all happen too fast for him. SHAN BLUE jumped superbly again and on better ground he'd have won - the plan seems to be the 4000m novice chase but I'd love to see him in a King George.

Over in Ireland, trainer Willie Mullins has dominated the first half of the season and on Saturday nothing changed. In the Dublin Chase, CHACUN POUR SOI had a bloodless victory after stable companion and chief market rival MIN made a dreadful error and was pulled up. The winner is now short priced favourite for the Champion Chase and looks the one to beat. 

The Irish Arkle saw ENERGUMENE put up a superb performance to saunter home by ten lengths. He is now second favourite to SHISKIN for the Arkle at Cheltenham - I expect SHISKIN to be the superior on the quicker ground but ENERGUMENE vs CHACUN POUR SOI is going to be a real treat next season. In the Irish Champion Hurdle, HONEYSUCKLE was big to her brilliant best after a subdued win in the Hatton's Grace winning by ten lengths. For a mare who was won her fair share of 4000m races, the pace she showed back at 3200m was impressive and she routed the best of the Irish. Looking forward, she now disputes favouritism with EPATANTE for the Champion Hurdle but has, for me, a more convincing profile. SHARJAH was well held in third but you'd think he will be back in it given the usual hurly-burly of a Champion Hurdle.

  

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It's been very cold here since the weekend and all turf racing has been flooded or frozen off until Thursday. The weather should improve from Sunday but I think that will be too late for the big Saturday meeting at Newbury as we have some brutally cold nights coming and even frost sheets may not save the meeting.

No such worries in Meydan where they race again this Thursday. 10 go in the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge over 1750m on the Dirt, The interesting one here is DUBAI WARRIOR who won the Churchill at Lingfield in November but was beaten in a tight finish by the useful SANGARIUS in the Quebec. That wasn't a bad effort and if he takes to the Dirt (as distinct from the Polytrack) he'll probably win. I thought the ex-South American AJUSTE FISCAL shaped well in round 1 of this series. BLOWN BY WIND won the Jebel Ali Mile last time but this is a tougher race.

The Al Rashidiya is a Group 2 over 1800m on the turf. Five of the seven ran in the Singspiel three weeks ago. LORD GLITTERS was a convincing winner and has a 3 lb penalty which gives ZAKOUSKI a chance to reverse the places. 

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1 hour ago, stodge said:

It's been very cold here since the weekend and all turf racing has been flooded or frozen off until Thursday. The weather should improve from Sunday but I think that will be too late for the big Saturday meeting at Newbury as we have some brutally cold nights coming and even frost sheets may not save the meeting.

No such worries in Meydan where they race again this Thursday. 10 go in the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge over 1750m on the Dirt, The interesting one here is DUBAI WARRIOR who won the Churchill at Lingfield in November but was beaten in a tight finish by the useful SANGARIUS in the Quebec. That wasn't a bad effort and if he takes to the Dirt (as distinct from the Polytrack) he'll probably win. I thought the ex-South American AJUSTE FISCAL shaped well in round 1 of this series. BLOWN BY WIND won the Jebel Ali Mile last time but this is a tougher race.

The Al Rashidiya is a Group 2 over 1800m on the turf. Five of the seven ran in the Singspiel three weeks ago. LORD GLITTERS was a convincing winner and has a 3 lb penalty which gives ZAKOUSKI a chance to reverse the places. 

The full brother Mootasadir also goes in Maktoum Challenge , both those two have great AWT stats , 6 from 9 and 6 from 8 . The younger half sister won on sand last week and never unplaced in 4 career runs all on AW , dam 4 times on AWT for win and there  places in some decent company .No dirt runs in family I can see as dam ran on the Tapeta at Meydan 

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20 hours ago, Red Rum said:

The full brother Mootasadir also goes in Maktoum Challenge , both those two have great AWT stats , 6 from 9 and 6 from 8 . The younger half sister won on sand last week and never unplaced in 4 career runs all on AW , dam 4 times on AWT for win and there  places in some decent company .No dirt runs in family I can see as dam ran on the Tapeta at Meydan 

MOOTASADIR has been off a while but as you say excellent form on artificial surfaces - totally useless on grass. The long layoff is a concern and this has to be a sighter while DUBAI WARRIOR comes here in solid form despite being beaten in the Quebec last time. SANGARIUS is no mug and the second in that race was BANGKOK who won at Lingfield on Saturday.

Indeed, both SANGARIUS and BANGKOK are supposedly heading for the Saudi Cup in ten days.

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A quick look back at Day 2 of the Dublin Racing Festival last Sunday at Leopardstown. 

Willie Mullins had dominated the first day with a double in the Grade 1 races and he had another excellent day on the second. APPRECIATE IT won the 3200m Grade 1 Novice hurdle but he was workmanlike rather than spectacular and I just wonder if he has the speed for the Supreme at Cheltenham. Mullins followed up in the 4200m Novice Chase with MONKFISH who looked very good and is now short price favourite for the RSA Chase over 4800m with the 4200m novice chase looking set for ENVOI ALLEN who will be many people's idea of an Irish banker.

MONKFISH has been installed at 10/1 for the 2022 Gold Cup and I suspect AL BOUM PHOTO will be retired if he wins his third Gold Cup next month. Possibly his biggest opponent could be stable mate KEMBOY who went one place better than last year in the Irish Gold Cup making every yard. Jockey Danny Mullins poached a valuable few lengths at the start and took full advantage of a mistake by MINELLA INDO two out. KEMBOY loves Leopardstown but has been found out at Cheltenham on a couple of occasions. I thought the runner up THE STORYTELLER ran very well and could go for either the Gold Cup or the Stayers Hurdle.

Gordon Elliott has been Mullins' principal training rival in recent years but had a dreadful Christmas with his horses scoping badly and frankly most of his have looked second best to Mullins but in the juvenile hurdlers Elliott holds a lot of the big card and his unbeaten QUILIXIOS defied a 99-day layoff to hose up in the 3200m Grade 1 juvenile hurdle and goes to Cheltenham with strong claims.

It's only in its fourth year but rather like the Champions Weekend on the flat in September, it's become a firm fixture and sits well between Christmas and Cheltenham.

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Looking back at Meydan last Thursday, the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge, a Group 2 over 1950m on the Dirt, saw SALUTE THE SOLDIER put up a much improved performance running over this trip for the first time. He'd been campaigned at a mile and was third in the first round of this series but he saw the trip out really well.

He beat THEGREATCOLLECTION having finished four lengths behind him over the mile just before Christmas. My each way bet on AJUSTE FISCAL came in nicely as the ex-South American finished third at 7/1 so that made a few pounds.

The Al Rashidiya over 1800m on the turf saw ZAKOUSKI take advantage of a 3 lb change in the weights to reverse places with LORD GLITTERS. ZAKOUSKI was three lengths behind LORD GLITTERS in the Singspiel but finished a length in front this time which is what you'd expect. COURT HOUSE ran a better race to split the principals.

Elsewhere on the card, a very taking performance by SECRET PROTECTOR in the 1950m Conditions race coming home by five lengths and he looks set for bigger and better things.

The weather has played havoc with the turf jump cards this week and both Saturday's scheduled cards at Newbury and Warwick were abandoned or more accurately postponed. Warwick will try again on Monday while Newbury will run again on Sunday week, the 21st. Even the all weather courses have suffered in the extreme weather with Chelmsford, Newcastle and Kempton all losing cards. It's been below freezing for a week here and the problem has bene snow falling and freezing on the artificial surfaces which are different to the American Dirt which can function in much lower temperatures.

We're due to go much milder from Monday so I think subject to any issues with waterlogging, we'll have a full card of races from now on.

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As expected, the  cold spell ended on Sunday and it looks as though most racing will go ahead this week.

That means a busy weekend coming with big jumps cards at Ascot and Haydock on Saturday and at Newbury on Sunday as we build toward Cheltenham which is exactly a month away.

The feature at Ascot is the 4200m Grade 1 Ascot Chase. 10 have been entered including two on recovery missions after flopping in the King George at Christmas - CYRNAME and LOSTINTRANSLATION who were both pulled up behind FRODON. SAINT CALVADOS carried my each way money into fourth that day and you'd think over 600m less he'd have real claims but he tipped up at Sandown two weeks ago and I just think he'd be better on quicker ground. MASTER TOMMYTUCKER won a Grade 2 at Kempton last time but he's another who could do with drier ground. At a bigger price I quite like DASHEL DRASHER who has won his last two over course and distance albeit in handicap company.

If you want quality Flat racing in the northern hemisphere, it's off to the Middle East at this time of year. Thursday's Meydan meeting looks a notch better than a couple of the recent Carnival fixtures. 

There are three Group 2 races starting with the Sprint over 1000m on the grass. Only six have been declared but they are a decent bunch. Three of them met in a race over course and distance last month when EQUILATERAL beat LAZULI into third with CASPIAN PRINCE fifth. The last named ran a decent second in a handicap last week but this looks ambitious. EQUILATERAL is very good on his day but he's inconsistent and LAZULI could reverse places. A'ALI won the Sapphire in Ireland and was only four lengths behind BATTAASH in the Nunthorpe. However, he trailed home last in the Flying Five and this is a recovery mission. 

I really like WAADY who beat EQUILATERAL in this last year and ran a fine second over 1200m on the Dirt last time while the 3-y-o ACKLAM PRINCE was a speedy juvenile and gets all the weight allowances. It's WAADY for me in a very interesting contest.

Eleven go in the Group 2 Zabeel Mile on the grass. It looks wide open but I would choose D'BAI who ran well when second in the Al Fahidi Fort over 1400m. He hasn't gone over 1600m for a while but he did win over the trip as a juvenile. The interesting one against him is EPIC HERO who got to within two lengths of ZAKOUSKI last time at Newmarket and the latter won a Group 2 over 1800m last week.

Ten go in the Balanchine, also over 1600m but for the fillies and mares. Eight of them met in the Cap Verdi three weeks ago and ALTHIQA won that convincingly and it's hard to see why it should be different this time.

On to Saturday and we head off to Qatar for the Amir Trophy over 2400m. ASPETAR was last seen being well beaten in the Cox Plate but has fetched up here. BERKSHIRE ROCCO was second to SANTIAGO at Ascot and was also runner up in the Leger - that's class form and if he can bring the same form to 2400m he has shown at 2800m he has a real chance.

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3 hours ago, stodge said:

As expected, the  cold spell ended on Sunday and it looks as though most racing will go ahead this week.

That means a busy weekend coming with big jumps cards at Ascot and Haydock on Saturday and at Newbury on Sunday as we build toward Cheltenham which is exactly a month away.

The feature at Ascot is the 4200m Grade 1 Ascot Chase. 10 have been entered including two on recovery missions after flopping in the King George at Christmas - CYRNAME and LOSTINTRANSLATION who were both pulled up behind FRODON. SAINT CALVADOS carried my each way money into fourth that day and you'd think over 600m less he'd have real claims but he tipped up at Sandown two weeks ago and I just think he'd be better on quicker ground. MASTER TOMMYTUCKER won a Grade 2 at Kempton last time but he's another who could do with drier ground. At a bigger price I quite like DASHEL DRASHER who has won his last two over course and distance albeit in handicap company.

If you want quality Flat racing in the northern hemisphere, it's off to the Middle East at this time of year. Thursday's Meydan meeting looks a notch better than a couple of the recent Carnival fixtures. 

There are three Group 2 races starting with the Sprint over 1000m on the grass. Only six have been declared but they are a decent bunch. Three of them met in a race over course and distance last month when EQUILATERAL beat LAZULI into third with CASPIAN PRINCE fifth. The last named ran a decent second in a handicap last week but this looks ambitious. EQUILATERAL is very good on his day but he's inconsistent and LAZULI could reverse places. A'ALI won the Sapphire in Ireland and was only four lengths behind BATTAASH in the Nunthorpe. However, he trailed home last in the Flying Five and this is a recovery mission. 

I really like WAADY who beat EQUILATERAL in this last year and ran a fine second over 1200m on the Dirt last time while the 3-y-o ACKLAM PRINCE was a speedy juvenile and gets all the weight allowances. It's WAADY for me in a very interesting contest.

Eleven go in the Group 2 Zabeel Mile on the grass. It looks wide open but I would choose D'BAI who ran well when second in the Al Fahidi Fort over 1400m. He hasn't gone over 1600m for a while but he did win over the trip as a juvenile. The interesting one against him is EPIC HERO who got to within two lengths of ZAKOUSKI last time at Newmarket and the latter won a Group 2 over 1800m last week.

Ten go in the Balanchine, also over 1600m but for the fillies and mares. Eight of them met in the Cap Verdi three weeks ago and ALTHIQA won that convincingly and it's hard to see why it should be different this time.

On to Saturday and we head off to Qatar for the Amir Trophy over 2400m. ASPETAR was last seen being well beaten in the Cox Plate but has fetched up here. BERKSHIRE ROCCO was second to SANTIAGO at Ascot and was also runner up in the Leger - that's class form and if he can bring the same form to 2400m he has shown at 2800m he has a real chance.

Boynton in first Meydan , 16s at William Hill. Won over CD few years back . Slowly away after big layoff fresh up and ran 4th had decent gap to recover from that race , might bob into place or better at odds . He's got a bit of ability and a glimmer of it may be enough Thursday to get in frame .

He ran 3rd in Vintage Stakes as 2 year old behind Thunder Snow in 2nd and a horse called War Decree . War Decree now standing in South Island at 4.5k serving decent sized books.  

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Plenty happening this weekend in the northern hemisphere.

Just five go in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase and the question really is which CYRNAME is going to turn up. He was brilliant in this race last year and if he's anywhere near that he wins and indeed 8/11 will be a steal but he flopped badly at Kempton and has questions to answer. He's rated 172 and DRASHEL DASHER is off 158 and they meet on levels so there should only be one result but I've punted on DRASHEL DASHER each way at 12s so it'll be champagne and caviar if he wins and steak and chips if he comes second. He's got proven course on track and ground but it's a big step up.

Further afield, I've mentioned Doha but there's the small matter of the Saudi Cup meeting at Riyadh. 

The Saudi Cup goes for $10 million (US) or £7.3 million and is the world's richest horse race currently. It is run over 1800m on the Dirt.

A full 14 go to post as you might expect with runners from the US and Europe taking on the locals. Three stand out to this observer, MISHRIFF was second in the Saudi Derby (of which more later) and then won the Jockey Club at Chantilly. He flopped in the heavy ground at Ascot in the autumn but comes here with the huge plus of course form. KNICKS GO won the Breeders Cup Mile and was an impressive winner of the Pegasus last time. He's my idea of the winner but the favourite is CHARLATAN from the Bob Baffert stable. This one won the Arkansas Derby by six lengths only to lose the race after returning a positive sample. He came back from a long break to win the Malibu at Santa Anita just after Christmas. You underestimate any of Bob Baffert's at your peril and he'll no doubt run close.

On the undercard, July Cup winner OXTED runs in the 1200m Dirt Sprint but will do well to live with the crack Japanese sprinter MATERA SKY and SWITZERLAND who won well at Meydan last time.  The Saudi Derby over 1600m on the Dirt looks dominated by Godolphin with the colt REBEL ROMANCE who won the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial taking on the 1000 Guineas winner SOFT WHISPER. 

The second most valuable race on the card, coming in at £1,074,000 to the winner is the 3000m handicap on the grass. 13 go headed by the top French stayer CALL THE WIND who will prefer this to 4000m in the Longchamp mud. He faces PRINCE OF ARRAN who was fourth in the Caulfield Cup and third in the Melbourne Cup and ran a fine trial for this at Kempton last time.  SECRET ADVISOR represents Godolphin but I'm uncertain he is good enough for this and I'm more interested in SPANISH MISSION who looks an interesting each way contender with Ryan Moore (four winners at Lingfield last Saturday) on board.

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Looking back at Meydan yesterday and the three Group 2 races.

The Sprint saw another fine performance by EQUILATERAL who beat a small but very strong field to go one better than his second place last year. The 3-y-o ACKLAM PRINCE ran a huge second while A'ALI under Dettori looked to have every chance 300m down but couldn't quicken through the line. WAADY was backed in to 7/4 favourite and broke well and possibly paid the price for trying to go with CASPIAN PRINCE and arguably both went a notch too quick for this class. 

The Zabeel Mile also on the grass went at a steady early gallop set by Jim Crowley on EQTIRAAN. He made a huge effort to make every yard as the challengers came and in a bunch finish was beaten barely a length into fourth. ART DU VAL was never far from the pace and came to challenge and led momentarily but was run down in the final 50m initially by outsider FIRST CONTACT but on the jamstick it was William Buick who produced D'BAI with an exquisitely-timed effort to win a head. The horse had been well back and didn't look to have much chance 400m down but Buick got a real run out of D'BAI who is decent in this grade.

The Balanchine was the equivalent for the fillies and mares. It was Buick's good friend and likely future champion jockey title rival James Doyle who showed the masterclass here making every yard on SUMMER ROMANCE who had once run eighth in the 1000 Guineas but who came back to form in a first time hood which certainly seemed to help her return to a decent form level. She found plenty from 400m out and won by two and a quarter lengths from STYLISTIQUE who had run second in the Cape Verdi when SUMMER ROMANCE was fifth. The Cape Verdi winner, ALTHIQA, ran on for third just in front of DUBAI LOVE.

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Time to look back at the weekend's action and I'll start with a reminder from last Thursday:

Just five go in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase and the question really is which CYRNAME is going to turn up. He was brilliant in this race last year and if he's anywhere near that he wins and indeed 8/11 will be a steal but he flopped badly at Kempton and has questions to answer. He's rated 172 and DRASHEL DASHER is off 158 and they meet on levels so there should only be one result but I've punted on DRASHEL DASHER each way at 12s so it'll be champagne and caviar if he wins and steak and chips if he comes second. He's got proven course on track and ground but it's a big step up.

You'll all be pleased to hear the lobster is coming at the end of the week thanks to DRASHEL DASHER who did the business (returned at 4s on the day, backed ante post each way at 12s). This was a huge win for trainer Jeremy Scott and jockey Matt Griffiths who are a long way from the top division of jump racing and to be honest it was sheer guts got the horse home. CYRNAME jumped well to halfway but spat out the dummy once headed and pulled up very quickly. His stable mate MASTER TOMMYTUCKER looked a real threat between the last two but DRASHEL DASHER jumped the last well and held on close home.

Further afield, I'll start at Riyadh with the world's richest race, the Saudi Cup, worth £7.3 million to the winner. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWnZMBl7hWQ

The two American favourites, CHARLATAN and KNICKS GO, went strong from the stalls as you might have expected but neither is proven at 1800m. KNICKS GO wilted on the home turn and CHARLATAN looked to have the race at this mercy but he weakened in the final 200m and was run down by MISHRIFF, who had run second in the Saudi derby before going on to win the Jockey Club at Chantilly. He's one of the true versatile greats on this evidence as there aren't many who can carry Group 1 form on both dirt and turf. I can't imagine what the plans might be - he'd not be out of place in either a Juddmonte or a Breeders Cup Classic on this evidence.

The second most valuable race on the card, coming in at £1,074,000 to the winner is the 3000m handicap on the grass. 13 go headed by the top French stayer CALL THE WIND who will prefer this to 4000m in the Longchamp mud. He faces PRINCE OF ARRAN who was fourth in the Caulfield Cup and third in the Melbourne Cup and ran a fine trial for this at Kempton last time.  SECRET ADVISOR represents Godolphin but I'm uncertain he is good enough for this and I'm more interested in SPANISH MISSION who looks an interesting each way contender with Ryan Moore (four winners at Lingfield last Saturday) on board.

That was my comment on the Red Sea Handicap over 3000m which carried a first prize of £1,095,000 which puts it well above the Ebor albeit a long way behind a certain race in Flemington. SPANISH MISSION got me my money back in second but this was a right boilover with GIFTS OF GOLD winning at 33/1. He won a small handicap at Chelmsford in August but had run last in his next two outings so you couldn't fancy him. As for SPANISH MISSION, I can't help but think he'd be an ideal type for Flemington and if Ryan Moore could ride, well, who knows?

TRUE SELF won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington last November and followed up in the 2050m handicap which opened the card running down the American CHANNEL MAKER in the final 50m. SPACE BLUES is a class act at 1400m and won the Maurice de Gheest at Deauville so this sharp 1400m was ideal and he won nicely suggesting he could have another useful campaign at this specialist trip. 

It was a very good night for the Japanese who won both the Saudi Derby and the Riyadh Sprint on the Dirt. PINK KAMEHAMEHA was a 22/1 winner of the Derby just holding off the late challenge of the American COWAN who isn't top of the top 3-y-o in the US and I imagine several US trainers will now be looking at this pot. In the Riyadh Sprint, it was a 1-2 for the Japanese but my cash on MATERA SKY went down as he was mugged close home by COPANO KICKING who completed a double for William Buick. 

The previous day and about 380 miles to the east at Doha, we had The Amir Trophy over 2400m on the grass which carried a first prize of £416,000. A strong British challenge from BERKSHIRE ROCCO and the ex-Roger Charlton trained ASPETAR who had flopped in the Cox Plate when last seen. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syCdkyoDBIo

Just enjoy the Arabic commentary and your first (and possibly only) opportunity to view racing from Doha which looks a nice little track. NOOR AL HAWA was always going to win this - he was in the catbird seat throughout and let's not forget he has run to a decent level in Europe - he was fourth in the Jacques le Marois in 2018 and that's decent. I could imagine they see him as the founder of a new stallion dynasty in Qatar. BERKSHIRE ROCCO ran really well in second - I just don't think he's quick enough for the 2400m division and I'd love to see him in the Cup races this season. This was a much better effort from ASPETAR as well who hasn't got many miles on the clock for a 6-y-o.

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A moderate card at Meydan this week and there's not a big jumps race scheduled for the coming weekend.

Saturday does see the first Group race of the English season - it's the Group 3 Winter Derby over 2000m on the Polytrack at Lingfield. To be honest, with the competition from Riyadh, Doha and Meydan, this race has really suffered - the Trial winner went to Riyadh for example. Just seven have been entered and it's really only a Listed class race.

Top rated is JOHNNY DRAMA who was well held in fifth behind SANGARIUS in the Quebec and I much prefer FELIX who was touched off by BANGKOK in the Trial three weeks ago. To be pair, he's closely matched with FOREST OF DEAN but FELIX is 2-0 up in their battles and I think it'll be 3-0 on Saturday.

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Just a few snippets this evening - the roadmap to the post-Covid life was announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday evening. 

As part of the gradual easing of restrictions, betting shops will probably re-open on Monday April 12th and tracks will be able to welcome limited numbers of spectators from May 17th with a full return from June 21st.

Racing is already pushing this with Chester aiming for its May meeting to take place with spectators - they clime they can accommodate up to 5,000 but i suspect they won't be allowed that number. They normally have upwards of 30,000 on Chester Cup day for example.

The other idea being discussed is moving the Grand National back one week to April 17th. This is not for spectators but for off-course bookmakers who would be hoping, with the re-opening of shops on the 12th, to see punters back for what is still the biggest betting race of the year and the nearest thing the UK has to the Melbourne Cup in terms of public appeal. The problem is those courses due to race on the 17th, Newbury and Ayr in particular, aren't keen to move but the bookmakers are arguing moving the National to accommodate off-course betting in shops will generate significant money for racing via the Levy.

It'll be interesting to see how this one goes. Full re-opening comes the week after Royal Ascot but limited spectators could still be present at the Royal meeting.

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The Jockey Club has reminded us all this afternoon it is still a power in the racing land by firmly slapping down calls to reschedule the Grand National meeting. The Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) called the move "a disappointing blow" but the Jockey Club, who owns Aintree Racecourse, are sceptical the planned re-opening of betting shops on April 12th will go ahead as planned.

That means for two successive years the bookmakers are going to lose out on their biggest trading day of the year and that includes the on-course bookies as well.

Elsewhere. Oisin Murphy has been telling us all of his emotional turmoil following his cocaine conviction. Murphy has a formidable management and PR team and unlike other jockeys who have been caught out by drugs, he's got away with it relatively unscathed though his reputation has suffered a knock or two.

Finally, we had the Irish apprentice Hugh Morgan riding the winner of a 4800m chase at Navan last Sunday without irons after the stirrup broke at the first fence and today we've had James Bowen riding a winner at Chepstow with only one rein. 

Real horsemanship.

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1 hour ago, stodge said:

The Jockey Club has reminded us all this afternoon it is still a power in the racing land by firmly slapping down calls to reschedule the Grand National meeting. The Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) called the move "a disappointing blow" but the Jockey Club, who owns Aintree Racecourse, are sceptical the planned re-opening of betting shops on April 12th will go ahead as planned.

That means for two successive years the bookmakers are going to lose out on their biggest trading day of the year and that includes the on-course bookies as well.

Elsewhere. Oisin Murphy has been telling us all of his emotional turmoil following his cocaine conviction. Murphy has a formidable management and PR team and unlike other jockeys who have been caught out by drugs, he's got away with it relatively unscathed though his reputation has suffered a knock or two.

Finally, we had the Irish apprentice Hugh Morgan riding the winner of a 4800m chase at Navan last Sunday without irons after the stirrup broke at the first fence and today we've had James Bowen riding a winner at Chepstow with only one rein. 

Real horsemanship.

Murphy was a victim of " environmental contamination " Stodge . If he lives like a monk for rest of his career and gets gelded he should be fine from now on .

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Weird stuff that  Gorden Elliot photo Stodge , if its real hes in deep shit  . Why he would allow himself to be photographed sitting on a dead horse on gallops god only knows . He might be glad no crowd at Cheltenham .He's a real factory trainer though,  volumes are massive.  He hasnt come staight out and said its a pnoto shop just hes co operating which is intetesting .

Easywork died heart attack on gallops in December , the two horses look similar .

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8 hours ago, Red Rum said:

Weird stuff that  Gorden Elliot photo Stodge , if its real hes in deep shit  . Why he would allow himself to be photographed sitting on a dead horse on gallops god only knows . He might be glad no crowd at Cheltenham .He's a real factory trainer though,  volumes are massive.  He hasnt come staight out and said its a pnoto shop just hes co operating which is intetesting .

Easywork died heart attack on gallops in December , the two horses look similar .

Elliott has admitted photo legit , bloody awful look for racing.  His Twitter feed is interesting , the gullible who were so convinced it was photoshopped giving shit to people . They will be eating their humble pie now he's rolled over so easy .The first statement by him was a giveaway really .

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