PRICEWISE BLUES: DAQMAN LEADS 17-8: Daqman went 17-8 ahead of Pricewise with his Fortune Cookie on French 1,000 Guineas winner, Blue Rose Cen (WON 3-5), but it hardly relieved the pain of the Killarney National when his 11-1 ‘hidden horse’, Birchdale, challenged to lead two out but stumbled and tumbled after the fence, then Thin Blue Line (2nd 7-1) went down a neck at Hamilton.
SPOTLIGHT ON YORK TRIALS THIS WEEK: Blue Rose Cen followed Daqman’s Lingfield Oaks Trial winner (WON 9-4 Eternal Hope) on Saturday, giving him 10 strikes since the start of Chester, as he now prepares for the York trials this week (preview below).
WINDSOR MONDAY: Three from Windsor on Monday.
BLUE ROSE IN DIANE BOOKING
THE STORY SO FAR: Just 19 days to the Derby and short three-year-old careers of colt and filly have precious time left to take shape.
Of the top 10 two-year-olds, only Chaldean and Royal Scotsman have performed to their rankings so far, first and third in the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas, with Chaldean’s official 119 rating likely to be ‘raised upward’ as one Fleet Street racing ‘expert’ puts it (maybe 122).
As big a flop as Auguste Rodin at Newmarket was American Flag, ‘nearest finish’, fourth, in yesterday’s French 2,000 Guineas, with the winner, Marhaba Ya Sanafi, turning round a couple of lengths defeat by that odds-on favourite when they met on the same track on similar soft-heavy ground in the Fontainebleau trial.
Brian Meehan’s Isaac Shelby, last of seven to Chaldean in the Dewhurst last October, failed only narrowly – a short neck – to hold off Marhaba yesterday, suggesting a max of 114 for the 26-1 winner.
But the fillies’ form from the Grotte of a month back – again same track similar ground – was borne out to within inches when Blue Rose Cen disposed of Lindy for a second time, and warrants 113 and a place in the Diane line-up.
⭕ 3.35 Musidora Stakes, York, Wednesday Snowfall took a 108 rating from winning this to the 2021 Oaks and proved it all wrong with a 120 performance; Last year Emily Upjohn was better regarded off 110 for her Musidora but was short-headed in the Oaks.
Sir Michael Stoute, whose Circle Of Fire finished late, third, in Saturday’s Lingfield Derby Trial – moved to AW – has Infinite Cosmos, who broke her maiden only 12 days ago, favourite for Wednesday’s trial.
⭕ 3.35 Dante Stakes, York, Thursday The Dante, which has recently produced Derby winners Golden Horn (2015) and Desert Crown (2022), has a history of setting up Epsom heroes for the trainers of that pair, John Gosden and Sir Michael Stoute.
Stoute will saddle Passenger, another who broke his maiden – in the Wood Ditton – just a few weeks back. His sire was an Eclipse winner as a four-year-old.
The 111-rated Epictetus (Gosden), winner of the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom, should give us a solid clue to the future, as runner-up (‘no chance with winner’) in the Futurity at Doncaster to Auguste Rodin.
HYDRATION BY THE THAMES
⭕ 6.35 Windsor tonight This class 2 over six furlongs stands out like a beacon on a day of generally low grade fare.
The top of the Betdaq Betting Exchange market is dominated by Ardad’s Great and Snuggle who both have similar profiles – consistent but struggling to get their heads in front. The pair are a combined 0-14 and have squandered easier chances than this.
Ardad’s Great also has a 200 day absence to overcome and for two horses that take so much out of the market they make limited appeal.
Of the remainder I prefer Hydration over another long term maiden Ultramarine (0-15).
We don’t know much about Hydration other than he improved considerably from his Sandown debut to win at Kempton next time out and surely there is more improvement to come from the Harry & Roger Charlton trained runner on just his third start? He only had to be pushed out to win at Kempton and is not without his supporters in morning exchanges.
ANGEL DELIGHT
⭕ 7.05 Windsor Azure Angel is taken to continue to build on the promise she showed as a two-year-old and complete her hat-trick over the more experienced Razeyna.
Roger Varian’s Azure Angel can make the most of the 8lb she receives from her older rival and continue the good recent form of the stable.
She scored at Newcastle and Kempton last season when sent off an odds-on favourite on both occasions but it was the manner of her last win in particular which suggested she has plenty of class and there is plenty more to come.
Razeyna has achieved more in form terms – but her better runs have come in defeat. Her handicap fourth at Haydock in September can also be upgraded as she didn’t get the clearest of runs.
SPARKS FLYING AGAIN
⭕ 8.35 Windsor I thought Sparks Fly was going to be too short but Betdaq offers of 1.84 have tempted me in.
It’s hard to know just how well handicapped the filly is at the moment and it’s certainly no surprise to see trainer David Loughnane back at the well after her six length romp at Thirsk last week under today’s pilot Laura Pearson.
All the ticks are in the right boxes: ground, distance, course, jockey and she is very hard to oppose.
DAQMAN’S BETS
6.35 Windsor (win 10)
BET 2pts win HYDRATION
7.05 Windsor (win 10)
BET 5pts win AZURE ANGEL
8.35 Windsor (win 10, nap)
BET 11.9pts win SPARKS FLY
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