Take a bow, SUMMERGHAND. Trainer David O’Meara’s gallant old warrior will be participating in his 100th race tomorrow when he contests the Moet & Chandon International Stakes over seven furlongs (Ascot, 3 p.m.).
The achievements of this gelding are remarkable since he made his racecourse debut at Doncaster in May 2017. He has won 17 of his 99 starts and amassed more than £624,000 in prize money. Those victories, all of them over six furlongs, include the Unibet Stewards’ Cup at Glorious Goodwood in 2020 and the Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup in 2022.
At the height of his powers, Summerghand was running off an official mark of 113 whereas tomorrow, aged ten, he will be running off just 91. That’s quite a drop considering all the evidence is that he still retains plenty of ability.
Last time out, earlier this month and at odds of 22-1, Summerghand was third to Aalto in the seven-furlong bet365 Bunbury Cup at Newmarket, with the unlucky-in-running Carrytheone just a place behind him in fourth. Aalto and Carrytheone will re-oppose tomorrow when they will both be close to the head of the market yet, despite being better off at the weights, Summerghand can be backed at far bigger prices. It’s a fact of life that most punters don’t like putting their money on old horses because they think, often irrationally, that they are too slow.
However, with Tom Marquand in the saddle and hoping that age is just a number, back Summerghand each way at 25-1 with bet365, BetVictor, Betfred, Ladbrokes or Coral, all offering five places. It’s not just a sentimental bet because he represents value in an open contest.
Unfortunately, my ante-post bet in the race, The Wizard of Eye, who was backed into 4-1 favouritism for this contest last weekend, is a non runner after bruising a foot. It’s not a serious setback and the horse should be back on the racetrack next month but, of course, it’s less than ideal for those of us who backed him at 12-1 earlier this month.
This is a red-hot contest for a prize of more than £77,000 to the winner. Carrytheone is a likely winner but his style of running, being held up in big fields, means he is always likely to encounter traffic problems so 5-1 is too short for a horse that does not win that often.
I had expected to tip Orazio in tomorrow’s race. He was another unlucky loser last time out, this time in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot. However, on Monday, after the five-day declarations, Orazio was trading at 14-1 but now he is a top priced 6-1. Given the horse has disappointed plenty of times in big-field handicaps and would prefer softer ground, I am going to swerve him too at his current odds.
Instead, I will go in double-handed with FRESH, who is a horse with plenty of decent course and distance form. James Fanshawe’s horse has dropped to a nice mark of 91 and he should go well tomorrow for up-and-coming young jockey Billy Loughnane, who is riding the seven-year-old gelding for the first time. Back Fresh each way at 11-1 with William Hill, offering five places.
The big race tomorrow, in terms of class horses, is the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (Ascot, 3.40 p.m.) over a distance of a mile and a half and for a first prize of more than £700,000.
Auguste Rodin is the right favourite because he is brilliant at his best but two of his last six runs have been shockers, including when he was a distant last of the ten runners in this race a year ago. In short, he’s not one to rely upon which makes it attractive finding something against him each way.
I think that Middle Earth will appreciate the likely fast-run race tomorrow and will therefore run better than he did in the slowly-run Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last month. Sunway ran well when runner-up in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and is described by his talented trainer David Menuisier as ‘potentially, the best I have trained’.
However, the seemingly rock-solid alternative to the favourite is the Charlie Appleby trained REBEL’S ROMANCE who, like Auguste Rodin, is officially rated on a lofty mark of 123.
Rebel’s Romance has done most of his running abroad but he is high class and this race has clearly been his target for some time. He comes into the contest on a potential five-timer and he will appreciate the fast ground. Back him each way at 4-1 with Coral, paying three places.
Next week I will turn my attention to the final two days of Glorious Goodwood which, if the weather forecast is correct, will certainly be living up to its name this year.
Pending:
1 point each way Summerghand at 25-1 for the International Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Fresh at 11-1 for the International Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way The Wizard of Eye at 12-1 for the International Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. Non runner.
1 point each way Rebel’s Romance at 4-1 for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Blue For You at 16-1 for the Coral Golden Mile, paying 1/4 odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Ghostwriter at 20-1 for the Juddmonte Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
Last weekend:
1 point each way Kyle Of Lochalsh at 9-2 for the Mettal UK Handicap, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. 3rd. – 0.1 points.
2024 flat season running total + 12.4 points.
2023-4 jumps season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
My gambling record for the past eight years: I have made a profit in 15 of the past 17 seasons to recommended bets. To a 1 point level stake over this period, the overall profit of has been 517 points. All bets are either 1 point each way or 2 points win (a ‘point’ is your chosen regular stake).
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