Weekend Selections: Team In It To Win It (27th May)

Here we go again, not much went right last week but we never give up! 

Let's look at this week's selections:

CraigNewton -SAYIDH KINGMAN 9/1 6th

14.10 York 27 May 

Bit of a dilemma here as my selection from the other week Boxing Alex runs at Chester, had a speculative each way at 20s. I'm sticking with my first thought the Charlie Johnston Kingman filly SAYIDH KINGMAN who is the only filly in the field, normally a negative for me but the 75,000 gns yearling is pretty well liked at the Johnston yard. I do enjoy taking on the short priced favourites but The Line did race with promise on his debut at Ascot when finishing third. The step up in distance should suit my selection after her debut race at Newmarket was at the minimum distance. It looked a decent race with Soprano winning and few potential nice ones in behind. Sayidh Kingman needs to settle better for sure and hopefully Daniel Muscutt can settle her into the race. Tictyboo another who should come on for the Tinkler yard.

Equinefutures

4:05 Chester – BOARDMAN 6/1 1st

I went with Paws For Thought on his last start here over CD but, on that occasion it was a lower grade (C4) and he was likely to get it easy upfront (which he did but got caught having slightly overdone the fractions). He is likely to get more pressure on his lead from Percy’s Lad, Red Mirage, Roudemental from the low berths and Street Kid probably goes forward from wide. As such, the race could be set up ideally for BOARDMAN to take it for the third year running. Looking like coming to the boil in his penultimate race  behind Rainbow Fire at Haydock (a decent contest), he didn’t enjoy the best of trips LTO where he finished behind a few of today’s rivals (where the race had a different shape to it). Phil Dennis is a capable pilot and connections are likely very aware of how to play this from stall 8 and see Boardman back at his best.

Racingtictac

16.10 Haydock BIG R 100/30 2nd

Caught the eye to quite an extent LTO when reappearing at Salisbury. Dropped in and wide and then made some stealthy headway to be in a challenging position but he was given the most considerate ride late on, shaping as if he would come on for the run. The form of the race has worked out fairly well already with Snuggle, who was all out trying to win the race with this one in, winning next time out. Snuggle was only in front nearly 2 lengths albeit giving BIG R six pounds but the comparison in effort is extreme. 

He appeals to me as one who could be well handicapped and it could be extremely generous that he dropped a lb for that last run when you consider the form of his last AW start as a 2yo when he pulled clear with two others. The winner has since come out and flopped in a C2 at Newmarket off 90 and the third, just behind him is now rated 82 and won his last two including his handicap debut off 70 where he bolted up. In theory BIG R is fairly weighted here off 69 on that evidence and eye catching that Wiliam Buick is booked for the ride, as he is 12-46 26% for the yard on turf in the last five seasons. 

The more I watch the run from last time, the more I like him. If he can take a step forward from that then he should be going well in my opinion. He strikes me as a horse that is better than 69.

Prohorseracing

3.40 Curragh: Hi Royal 11/2 3rd 

A sub-standard edition of the first Classic of the Irish Flat season. This seems to evolve around the British raiders for once because Aiden O’Brien’s horses are a surprisingly poor bunch, certainly judged on what they have done up until now.

After his excellent runner-up performance in the English 2000 Guineas, Hi Royal is an obvious contender but looks still somewhat underappreciated in the betting.

At Newmarket he clearly confirmed the promise shown as a juvenile as for the most part of the race he looked like the winner, and he may well have a Classic victory to his name if not hanging badly in the final furlong. 

He looks suited to the Curragh perhaps a bit more than the ups and downs of the Rowley Mile, in any case. Hi Royal has an engine, a turn of foot and should stay beyond a mile. The galloping Curragh and the uphill finish could be exactly the test he wants. 

Only question mark is the possible fastish ground. Newmarket was on officially soft ground. His sole career victory came with plenty of cut in the ground as well. On the other hand, the Curragh clerk has put on plenty of water as it was just confirmed that despite tropical conditions around the Kildare area the going was eased to good. That should work fine for Hi Royal. 

In any case what gives hope is his debut run, where he was an excellent third in a hot maiden on fast ground. In this open Guineas he’s the most solid choice and still slightly overpriced, given he has proven his class already, settled well, possesses good cruising speed and has plenty of upside.

Finishing positions: 6/1/2/3/

Advised bet Lucky 15

Good luck