We are treated to some fantastic sprint races today and we will be looking at the following :
Golden Jubilee Stakes
Wokingham Stakes
Land of Burns Fiiles Stakes at Ayr
32 Red.com Handicap at Newmarket
CRUK Supported by Betfred Handicap at Haydock
Jeremy Noseda has the chance of a big race double at Royal Ascot and at the other meetings Franny Norton has his own chance at a double, more of that later.
THE GOLDEN JUBILEE - This Group 1 has 24 runners ! You wont get many of those with this size of field. Once again the draw will be to the fore and the far side which has been popular for winners all week will probably be no different today. Drawn on the far side we have as follows :
Lord Shanakil drawn 24 - 33/1
War Artist 23 - 18/1
Serious Attitude 22 - 33/1
Fleeting Spirit 21 - 8/1
Total Gallery 20 - 50/1
High Standing 19 - 12/1
Alverta 18 - 20/1
Varenar 17 - 33/1
Main Aim 16 - 16/1
Prime Defender 15 - 25/1
Up the nearside the pace may well come from Kinsale King and Starspangledbanner, the latter has apparently been recording amazing sectionals at home. I have no particular preference for anything and I would suggest backing one from each side if your going to have a go. As although high numbers look to be best all the pace may well come up the stands side, so its a tricky one. At a push I would do Marchand D'or EW.
WOKINGHAM STAKES
Another massive field and historically a difficult race to solve, over the far side we have as follows :
Noverre to Go 27 - 16/1
Marching 26 - 40/1
Jimmy Styles 24 - 16/1
Able Master 23 - 33/1
Genki 22 - 9/1
Mac Gille Eoin 21 - 50/1
Valery Borzov 20 - 40/1
Johannes 19 - 25/1
Judd Street 18 - 66/1
Kaldoun Kingdom 17 - 16/1
Evens and Odds 16 - 25/1
Knot in Wood 15 - 40/1
Damien 14 - 25/1
Others may well follow them over to that side but if your in the lower half you will be wasting a lot of ground tacking over in such a competitive race. There are some good horses drawn low and one that has been subject of heavy support in recent days is Laddies Poker Two (2) who receorded a very good time the last time she ran here, albeit it was 2 years ago. But if she records a time of anything like that then it wont matter what side she is on she should win. Genki has been put aside for this and ran a good trial last time at Newmarket when having a poor draw, he must go close as Roger Charlton's horses are going well at the moment. The race won by Medicean Man last time may have a say on the outcome, however Wildcat Wizard who I thought had the best chance from that race was unable to get in as a reserve. Its a wide open race as you would expect but the 2 at the head of the market are drawn on either side so I would go with both of those with an ew on Evens and Odds whose drawn in the middle and William Buick is a good booking by Nicholls.
LAND O' BURNS FILLIES STAKES
Sees Franny Norton start his day at Ayr aboard City Dancer and she has a great chance of winning this on her fourth start for Dandy Nicholls. She ran a cracker last time in the Epsom Dash where she was absalutely flying at the finish behind Hawkeyethenoo who would have been fav for the Wokingham had he got in it. She has been hinting at a return to form on all her runs and Glamorous Spirit will ensure a very fast pace today. I know she's not very well in with some in the context of this race but she has speed and horses can only go so fast and as we know there is not much between top handicappers and Listed performers and 14/1 represents a great price in my view with Norton's strength in the saddle.
32 RED.COM HANDICAP
Averoo came form last to first last time out and continued his rapid improvement and he certainly doesnt look like he's finished just yet. He's not got Kieren on today but the hill at Newmarket is sure to suit and he should be flying up it come the finish under Luke Morris, lets just hope he doesnt leave it too late.
CRUK SUPPORTED BY BETFRED HANDICAP
Franny norton finishes his day at his home track by getting down to Haydock from Ayr to ride 4 and Timber Treasure could be the one to be on. He showed improved form last time to finish 4th on what was unsuitable ground and he should go well today on Good to Firm over 6f for the Paul Green stable who are in fine form.
So thats it, hope you all have a good punting day.
