Straight From The Trainers Mouth 28/7/12

Straight From The Trainers Mouth

Luca Cumani

3:10 York – Afsare 7/2

This looks a very tight race with little between six or seven runners and as such we can’t be confident. It still remains to be seen whether the Listed race Afsare won at Sandown last time is worth much - what can be said is that neither Cai Shen nor Cill Rialaig behind him that day have let the form down in their subsequent runs – but so long as there is a good gallop on, as well there might be with Ransom Note in the line up, Afsare should go very well as he looks an improved performer this year and this much quicker ground is very much in his favour.

2:05 York - Hippy Hippy Shake

she looks to have each-way claims in an open race. Certral and the unbeaten Godolphin filly Anjaz look dangerous opponents, but Hippy Hippy Shake has continued to work very well since her Salisbury success (for all we were disappointed to see the runner-up then beaten at Hamilton the other day) and the long Knavesmire straight should suit her very well. 

4:20 York – Ajmany

He hasn’t had a chance to show what he can do as yet having been run off his feet in the Windsor Castle Stakes before finding the slow pace against him at Yarmouth when going down to subsequent winner Hasopop. Tim Easterby’s string is going very well and his Bachotheque with an official rating of 82 looks the one to beat but there’s no way Ajmany will be dictated to this time if the early gallop is muddling and we will be disappointed if he’s not  good enough.     

2:20 Ascot - Fiery Lad

There has been no sinister reason for Fiery Lad’s absence from the track since Epsom other than the ground – he can’t cope with soft going and the weather this summer couldn’t have been worse for him. His Epsom win hasn’t worked out particularly well - though given that Epsom is something of a specialist’s track that’s not necessarily surprising - but Fiery Lad remains on a competitive mark and is still unexposed over this trip. That said, we would have preferred a few more runners in order to guarantee a strong gallop.

3:55 Ascot - Indian Jack

Indian Jack has his first try over a mile and a quarter which has been the plan for some time, but seeing as he ended up racing too freely at Doncaster when last seen he is another that will be best served by a truly-run race. He has some good form on Polytrack and there are still plenty of examples of horses with good Polytrack form winning on Ascot’s turf track, so there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

Brian Meehan

CATFISH (Ascot 2.55 p.m.) After excellent performances over the minimum at York and in the Dash at Epsom, Catfish seemed at odds with herself at Newmarket, rearing at the start and generally cantankerous. She reverts to another big-field over five furlongs and the hope is that she returns to her usual battling self and that a high draw does not prove disadvantageous. High hopes for a return to her best.
NELSON’S BAY (Newmarket 5.05 p.m.) Soft-ground disappointments on the two Newmarket courses sandwich a fast-finishing third at Haydock, the form of which is working out. We will be keeping an eye out for any thunderstorms, which could yet endanger his appearing.

Richard Fahey
1:45 Ascot - I expect Bayan Kasirga to end up running over a mile and further so I think the stiff seven will suit her in the Kelly Group Fillies' Nursery at Ascot. She's very brave and very tough and could go well in what looks a warm little contest.
2:05 York - Bridle Belle isn't very big, but she carries a big weight in the Sky Bet Mobile E.B.F. Fillies' Handicap at York so we're claiming seven pounds off her with George Chaloner. It looks a warm contest, there's some fillies in there that are improving fast and if she can finish placed I'd be delighted.
2:20 Ascot - High Office ran a good race in the Chester Cup and he's been running well all year. He'll like the trip and the ground in the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home Handicap at Ascot and everything's right for him. John Louis might take some pegging back, though, in another tough little race, but mine has a chance.
2:30 Newcastle - I'm finding it tough to get to grips with Personal Touch as I still don't know what trip he should be running over. He was very disappointing at York the other day over seven so we're dropping him in trip again to six in the New County Road Surfacing Handicap at Newcastle. On his best form he certainly has a chance, though, and I'm going to chance the drop in trip brings out the best in him. He's my each-way charity bet selection for the weekend.
2:35 York  - Justonefortheroad is another one the handicapper has. He's won his two races this year and we'll just have to wait until he drops down a bit again. He'll be an outsider and his price will reflect his chance in the sportinglife.com Handicap at York.
3:25 Ascot - It's a big jump up for Strange Magic in the Princess Margaret Juddmonte Stakes at Ascot. There's no winners races suitable for her and fair play to the owners, they're having a punt in a Group Three with her. A place would delight me, but she's got to step up on what she's done. That said I do like her, she's a nice filly and I hope she goes well.
3:45 York - El Viento 14/1 will love the ground in the Sky Bet Dash back at York. He's been waiting for it all year and on his best form I think he might have a chance. He's got a good draw too and I've seen more competitive renewals of this race so he definitely has a squeak. I'm a little bit worried about the ground for Kaldoun Kingdom 12/1. He was a little bit unlucky the other day, he should've been placed, and if he gets a bit of luck in-running he'd have a small chance as well. Wyatt Earp and Knot In Wood have won this race for us - it's a race we like to win as it's a good prize and we've got two good chances this year.
4:00 Newmarket - Gatepost ran well last time, we haven't had him that long, but it was a good first start for us and if he does improve for better ground in the boylesports.com Mobile Betting Handicap at Newmarket he must have a small chance.
4:20 York - Monkey Bar Flies has been badly programmed this season as he's been beaten by two Royal Ascot winners. He got a bit colty on us so we gelded him and we'll see what happens with him in the Sky Sports Median Auction Maiden Stakes at York. Khelman's a horse we like, by Kheleyf, and he does show a good level at home. If the penny dropped he could run well.
5:20 York - Bispham Green ran okay the other day in a nursery at York, it was a good solid run. He's got plenty of speed and he'll love the ground so he could run well in the Sky Bet Mobile For iPhone Nursery. Tatlisu is a decent work horse at home and we have gelded him. He had no chance in the Newbury sprint the other day as he went too fast and he's got to come back to his best to have a chance.

Roger Varian

3:10 York – Sri Putra 16/1

He was unsuited by the soft ground at Sandoen last time but prior to that he ran a teriffic race to be fifth in the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. He will be fitted with a hood for the first time and also blinkers. Roger said: "Ground conditions at York should be much more to his liking than they were at Sandown. He's in very good order and on the pick of his form he would have a good chance."Sri Putra faces ten rivals including Group 1 winners Planteur and Wigmore Hall.

Sri Putra

4:35 Newmarket – Rocky Ground

At Newmarket, William Buick will get the leg up on Rocky Ground in a 6f Conditions race. The son of Acclamation won his debut at Yarmouth and looks in good form at home. Roger added: "He is in good form and has been working nicely. He won his maiden well and this race is a logical step for him."

 

Godolphin

3:10 York – Hunters’ Light 16/1

Saeed bin Suroor said: “Hunter’s Light is doing well. He worked nicely earlier this week and looks happy. “He ran well at Sandown and the step back in trip will suit him.”

Richard Hannon

3:25 Ascot – Maureen 9/10

Everyone saw how unlucky Maureen was in the Cherry Hinton Stakes at Newmarket, and if she can reproduce that running she ought to be very hard to beat. It was just one of those things - she was stuck on the rails and when she did make the great escape she flew, but she ran out of ground and was beaten a neck. We think she might be a Cheveley Park filly, so, hopefully, she will cope with this faster ground and get back on track.

1:45 Ascot – Rebel Magic 7/2

Rebel Magic found five furlongs too sharp when beaten at Bath last time, and she will appreciate the step up to seven in the nursery at Ascot.

6:40 Salisbury – Mayo Lad

Richard Hughes could not ride Mayo Lad like he wanted to at Lingfield last time – "we were drawn wide and I had to make plenty of use of him to stay in the race, but, ideally, he needs holding up" said the jockey – so we are hopeful that Canford Cliffs's half-brother might win the claimer down there.

7:15 Salisbury – Bold Prediction

Bold Prediction, just touched off at Windsor last time, has the plum one draw in the maiden at Salisbury in the evening and could well make it third time lucky

Sir Henry Cecil

3:10 York – Jet Away 7/1

The son of Cape Cross has won twice this season including a Listed race at Goodwood. When last seen in action he was third behind Brown Panther in a Listed race at Pontefract.Tom Queally will ride and the pair face ten rivals. They include Group 1 winners Wigmore Hall and Planteur and also the likely favourite, Afsare who well at Sandown last time out. Jet Away will bid to give Henry and Tom back to back wins in the Group 2 contest as the pair combined to win it twelve months ago with Twice Over.

Ryan Moore

Newmarket

14:15 - Claim

Hoarding looks the one to beat on form here after a promising course and distance debut last month, though it is very interesting that William is on the stable's newcomer Bright Strike. He holds Group entries and has presumably shown a fair bit at home. Claim is an Acclamation half-brother to a few winners, notably a 1m6f Italian listed race winner but also 6f/7f performers too. He will hopefully go well - he has shown us ability at home - but all of our juveniles have been needing the experience and this could be quite a hot race, too. Hoarding sets a fair standard and you would think there will be plenty of newcomers from the top yards fancied in here, such as Bright Strike, Timoneer and the likes of Roger Varian's Royal Lodge entry Ersaal.

14:45 - Prussian

Bounced back from a couple of below par efforts when winning in the soft over course and distance last time. Beat a pair of well fancied horses there, so has definite prospects off a 3lb higher mark here. And he won on fast ground at Redcar in June as well, so the ground shouldn't be an issue either.

15:20 - Ultrasonic

Was too keen to do herself justice in her first three starts for me earlier this season but, in a first time hood, she did it really well for Pat in a soft-ground handicap over 6f here last week. In fact, I am the only jockey not to have won on her, as Tom was on board when she won her maiden at Yarmouth last season. A 9lb rise for last week's victory makes life a lot tougher today and she has been at her most impressive on soft ground. But let's hope that she is progressing enough to defy the rise and while it was officially fast ground at Yarmouth, it was raining when she won and it was not good to firm ground. Appeared to get the 7f well enough at Newbury last season, too, but drying ground would worry me.

16:00 - Duke of Firenze

He was tailed off on soft ground over a mile at Windsor in April but showed his true colours when stepped down in trip on better ground last time, winning over 6f at the same track. That race isn't working out too well, which leads to me to believe that an 8lb rise for that win is harsh on the bare form. And this race will take a lot of winning, with so many other in-form winners in the race as well as Gatepost, slowly coming back to form and potentially well treated. But I like my horse, he is obviously lightly-raced, and hopefully he can be competitive here.

16:35 - Miss Diva

With four once-raced maiden winners in here, this is pretty much a guessing game as to how they have progressed from their debuts. I liked the look of Rocky Ground at Yarmouth, Odooj did it well at Chester and the well-related Ollie Olga also impressed at Newbury. But, in fact, on form, the more experienced horses have the better form to date. Kimberella was a close third off 86 in a Newmarket nursery and the step back in trip will suit this strong traveller. And my mount, Miss Diva, beat Queen Mary runner-up Hoyam at Windsor in May and was just touched off at the same track last time. She steps up to 6f for the first time. But, quite honestly, a win for any of the six wouldn't surprise me.

17:05 - Campanology

Is 4lb higher than when winning over 7f here last time, and the jury is out on whether he gets this trip well enough as all three attempts over 1m have resulted in below par efforts stacked up against his best form. But, against that, he didn't run badly when outclassed in the Craven, and is also proven on this faster ground. Clearly has a shout in another open race.

17:35 - Bite of the Cherry

Ran her best race yet when second in a 1m4f maiden at Epsom last time. On the bare form I don't think a mark of 79 is any gimme whatsoever, but she is progressing and, being by Dalakhani out of a Moyglare winner, she is clearly bred to be useful. Any win would be very welcome given that breeding, so let's hope this is a good opportunity.

Michael Bell

13.45 Ascot

We Are City

I think the handicapper has given her a very fair mark for her handicap debut - her homework suggests she might be a bit better than 63. I suppose there has to be a slight concern over whether the stiff 7f will stretch her stamina but she has a lovely racing weight and ought to be competitive.

15.25 Ascot

Hoyam

She ran a cracker when she was second in the Queen Mary on her second start and I am a strong believer in course form, particularly at Ascot. She has come out of her Windsor race very well and although Maureen will be a worthy opponent, she has to have a cracking chance now tackling a trip that ought to suit her well.

15.10 York

Wigmore Hall

He seems to be in tip-top form at home - his recent work has been as good as anything he has ever done. His rating would have to give him a chance in a race like this and I would be hopeful that he would give a good account. This is his most realistic opening for a while and he has proven himself at this track in the past.

16.35 Newmarket

Kimberella

It looks a tough contest with some unexposed ones in the field but I am hoping that using the apprentice to take some weight off will help and he does have a smaller penalty than some of the other winners. It's possible that there could be a Group horse lurking in the field but you would have to give him a big chance at the weights and his experience and know-how should stand him in good stead.

17.35 Newmarket

Bite Of The Cherry

It looks an open race but she is improving, will stay very well and I don't think her opening mark is too bad. I think that the ground will suit her and she would have to go there with a solid each-way chance.

19.00 Lingfield

Operation Tracer

He's been a bit disappointing for one reason or another and has plenty to prove at the moment. I have always thought he had a bit of ability and this looks an ordinary contest but, as I said, he hasn't got his act together on the racecourse just yet.