Research tells us that a horse typically peaks in terms of speed and performance at the aged of four or five and deteriorates after that. But there are plenty of exceptions to the rule. Indeed, for some thoroughbreds, age really is just a number.
Personally, because the horse spent time stabled near me when I was a youngster, I will never forget the achievements of a loveable old chaser called Mac Vidi. Incredibly, Mac Vidi – trained by his owner-breeder Pam Neal – was placed in the 1980 Cheltenham Gold Cup at the age of 15, doing something no horse aged older than 13 has done before or since.
For some thoroughbreds, age really is just a number
Mac Vidi passed the post third at the Festival behind Tied Cottage but, after that horse was disqualified, he was promoted to the runner-up spot. That run, at odds of 66-1, came near the end of a remarkable season that saw him, despite his advanced years, show much-improved form and win seven races, including a sequence of six successive handicaps.
The oldest horse to win a race in the post-war era is Sonny Somers, who won handicap chases at Southwell and Lingfield in February 1980 at the age of 18. Those wins, by coincidence or otherwise, came just a month before Mac Vidi’s astonishing Gold Cup run.
Anyway, enough reminiscing: it’s time to take a look at the Ascot card for tomorrow. BLESS HIM is a veteran racehorse by most standards despite being ‘only’ nine years old. However, David Simcock’s gelding keeps his form pretty well for a horse that likes to ply his trade over seven furlongs or a mile on the flat.
There is no secret to when and why he runs well: he needs ‘good’ ground or firmer and a fast-run, big-field handicap, ideally at Ascot or Newmarket. At his peak three years ago, Bless Him was rated 107 but, even at the age of nine, he will run off a rating of 100 tomorrow.
Bless Him’s last two runs were on his preferred ground and his two preferred tracks but, after a slow start in both races, neither contest was run at the break-neck speed he needs in order to reel the rest of the field in and get his head in front on the line.
I am hoping that changes in the 18-runner Howden Challenge Cup at Ascot tomorrow (3.35 p.m.), where he should get a good tow into the race from stall 3 with the likes of Quinault (stall 1) and other prominent runners nearby. Back Bless Him 1 point each way at 20-1 with bet365, paying five places.
I would prefer it if Jamie Spencer was in the saddle as he has won six times on the horse and rides hold-up horses better at Ascot than any other jockey. But Hayley Turner is no mug, rides Ascot well too and was denied a clear run on the horse on the one and only time she has ridden him, which was at Ascot last month.
I also put up Popmaster for this race in last week’s column and nothing has happened in the past week to put me off, other than the fact he would probably prefer slightly softer ground.
Over the past seven days too, Popmaster’s price has more than halved from 14-1 to around 6-1 and he seems well enough drawn in stall 11 as he chases this £90,000-plus pot for the winner. Tom Marquand’s presence in the saddle is certainly a plus as well.
The excellent Marquand also has a chance of landing the Group 3 John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes over six furlongs tomorrow (Ascot 3 p.m.) for his main trainer, William Haggas. Pink Crystal landed a listed race at Ayr on his most recent run last month and is lightly raced this season.
The Mick Appleby pair of Annaf and Juan Les Pins have strong chances too, with the latter certain to appreciate the drying ground, while Commanche Falls is the highest-rated horse in the race and has won three times already this season.
However, my preference at the odds is for Ed Walker’s improving three-year-old gelding, DARK TROOPER, who has won both his most recent starts, both at this course with Saffie Osborne in the saddle. With Osborne committed to riding at Newmarket, Paul Mulrennan comes in for the ride tomorrow, and it could be a winning one too.
In his excellent weekly Racing Post Weekender column, Walker reports that his horse ‘takes a big step up in class’ but then adds, ‘I wouldn’t bet against him taking it in his stride. He’s in flying form after completing a four-timer in handicaps and is extremely progressive.’ Back Dark Trooper 2 points win at 7-1 with bet365, Betfred, Bet Victor, Paddy Power or Betfair.
Dark Trooper’s recent four wins have come on ground varying from ‘heavy’ to ‘good to firm’. However, his trainer thinks he ‘coped’ with the faster terrain last time rather than relished it and so I am hoping the ground goes no quicker than ‘good’ before the off with two sunny days ahead.
Next weekend it is my favourite flat race handicap of the year, the Club Godolphin Cesarewitch. Normally, I am loaded up with ante-post bets on the race by this stage but not this year. With a likely maximum field of 34 runners, I will wait now until next Friday to assess the race, when there will almost certainly be several bookies offering up to eight places.
2023 flat season running total: – 37.62 points.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
Pending:
2 points win Dark Trooper at 7-1 in the John Geest Racing Bengough Stakes.
2 points win Popmaster at 14-1 for the Howden Challenge Cup.
1 point each way Bless Him at 20-1 for the Howden Challenge Cup, paying five places.
Settled bets from last week:
2 points win Oviedo at 16-1 for the bet365 Cambridgeshire. 4th. – 2 points.
1 point each way Zozimus at 25-1 for the bet365 Cambridgeshire, paying six places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
2 points win Westover at 9-1 for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. 2nd. – 2 points.
1 point each way Makarova at 33-1 for the Prix de l’Abbaye, paying 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
My gambling record for the seven and a half years: I have made a profit in 14 of the past 15 seasons to recommended bets. To a one point level stake over this period, the profit of has been just over 523 points. All bets are either 1 point each way or 2 points win (a ‘point’ is your chosen regular stake).
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