If there is a so-called ‘group horse masquerading as a handicapper’ in the 28-strong Wokingham field (tomorrow, 5pm), then it is almost certainly the favourite, Orazio. Charlie Hills’ four-year-old grey colt has won his last two handicaps comfortably and this race has been the plan for some time.
However, my strong each way fancy for the race is an experienced handicapper in the form of APOLLO ONE. The Newmarket-trained five-year-old gelding ran in this race last year when he was only eighth of the 26 runners but I am confident he can do better this time around off a similar rating.
Apollo One comes into the race is much better form that he was last year, after a fine run when second in a competitive sprint handicap at Epsom. The official handicapper has raised him 3 lbs for that run but because this is an ‘early closing race’ he can run off his old mark tomorrow.
A year ago, he ran far too freely but jockey Richard Kingscote has got him to settle much better since then. Back him each way him at 16-1 with Sky Bet, paying eight places.
There are any number of dangers in this race, including the top weight Flaming Rib who, interestingly, is reunited with claiming jockey Pierre-Louis Jamin for the first time in nearly two years. Jamin is undefeated on Flaming Rib having ridden him to four successive victories in the summer and autumn of 2021 when the horse was trained, as a two-year-old, by Tom Dascombe.
I was tempted to go for Deauville Legend each way in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (tomorrow 4.20pm) over a mile and a half. James Ferguson’s gelding ran a fine race ‘down under’ to be fourth in the Melbourne Cup at the end of last season aged only three. He didn’t quite last out the two miles on soft ground and this trip and fast ground will suit him better.
However, on official figures he is rated fully 6 lbs inferior to the favourite Hukum and 8 lbs inferior to PYLEDRIVER. The latter has been plagued by a series of minor injury setbacks over the past year but his joint trainers, William Muir and Chris Grassick, would not be pitching him into a race as hot as this if they did not think he was fit enough to do himself justice.
Back him 2 points win at 15/2, the price offered by most bookies. Win only because if he is back to his best, he should land this contest but, if he is short of fitness or not the horse he once was, he could be among the also-rans.
Finally, the form of the Betfred Epsom Derby has started to work out well and I am going to give my fancy for that race, SPREWELL, another chance in the equivalent Group 1 at the Curragh a week tomorrow: the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.
Auguste Rodin is both the short-priced favourite and the most likely winner but nothing went right for Jessica Harrington’s colt at Epsom when he finished fourth. Sprewell weated up badly before the race and, in the straight, first got hampered and then unbalanced on the undulations. The Curragh’s galloping track should suit him better and so take the 7-1 each way now with William Hill as the horse is unlikely to be out of the first three.
John Joseph Murphy’s grey White Birch, who was third at Epsom, is also expected to line up at The Curragh and, if so, he is likely to be placed too. But his odds are shorter than those or Sprewell so I will stick with just the one ante-post bet in the race.
2023 flat season running total (up until Thursday’s racing): – 14.63 points.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
Pending bets:
1 pint each way Lezoo at 9-1 for the Commonwealth Cup, paying 1/5th odds, four places.
1 point each way Chelsea Green at 12-1 for the Sandringham Stakes, paying 1/5 odds, eight places.
2 points win Pyledriver at 15/2 for the Hardwicke Stakes.
1 point each way Apollo One at 16-1 for the Wokingham Stakes, 1/5th odds, paying eight places.
1 point each way Zoffee at 20-1 for the Northumberland Plate, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Sprewell at 7-1 for the Irish Derby, paying 1/5 odds, three places.
Settled bets:
1 point each way Royal Scotsman at 17/2 in the 2000 Guineas, 1/5 odds, paying four places. 3rd. + 0.5 points.
1 point each way Call My Bluff at 4-1 in the Chester Cup, paying six places, 1/5th odds. 3rd. – 0.2 points.
1 point each way Safe Voyage at 12-1 in the Victoria Cup, paying seven places, 1/5th odds. 5th. + 1.4 points.
1 point each way Popmaster at 6-1 in the Connect It Utility Services Handicap
Unplaced. – 2 points
1 point each way Royal Acclaim at 6-1 in the Temple Stakes. Unplaced. – 2 point.
1 point each way Sprewell at 10-1 for the Derby paying 1/5 odds, five places. 4th. + 1 point.
1 point each way Arrest at 4-1 for the Derby, paying 1/5 odds, four places. Unplaced. – 2 points. 2 points win Saga at 14-1 for the Royal Hunt Cup.
1 point each way Mokaatil at 12-1 for the Epsom Dash, paying 1/5th odds, seven places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
2 points win Saga at 14-1 for the Royal Hunt Cup. Non Runner. – 2 points.
1 point each way Twilight Calls at 16-1 for the King’s Stand Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. 4th but Rule 4 deduction of 15p in the £. + 1.97 points.
2 points win Royal Scotsman at 14-1 for the St James’s Palace Stakes. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Zoffee at 14-1 for the Ascot Stakes, paying ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Chillingham at 22-1 for the Copper Horse Handicap, paying 1/5 odds, 5 places. 4th. + 3.4 points.
1 point each way Tarrabb at 10-1 for the Kensington Palace Fillies’ Handicap, paying 1/5th odds, seven places. 3rd. + 1 point.
1 point each way Point Lynas at 33-1 for the Royal Hunt Cup, paying 1/5 odds, six places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Atrium at 20-1 for the Royal Hunt Cup, paying 1/5 odds, seven places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Circle of Fire at 13/2 for the Queen’s Vase, paying 1/5th odds, four places. 4th. + 0.3 points.
2 points win Yibir at 11-1 for the Ascot Gold Cup. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Rhoscolyn at 22-1 for the Buckingham Palace Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, six places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Physique at 40-1 for the Britannia Stakes, paying 1/4 odds, four places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
Comments