Royal Acot - Day 4 - Team Inittowinit (24th June)

God loves a trier and if that's the case we will be getting well loved when we finally pop our clogs. I was pretty pleased how Thunder Blue ran yesterday finishing fifth in a decent race, I say decent but the winner was a huge price. 

Here we go again, Day 4.

CRAIGSBETTINGBLOG

14.30 Ascot 23 June 

Doesn't get easier with these two-year old races but we can try. JABAARA looks an exciting prospect after her debut race at Newmarket. Trainer Roger Varian won this race in 2019 with Daahyeh who also made her debut In a Newmarket maiden in May after starting favourite too. Settled well by David Egan, a touch keen in the middle of the pack cruising along. Caught behind a wall of horses, Jabaara had to be switched out coming into the dip but once David hit the button she finished well to win comfortably. Hands and heels finish and looks to have a decent motor on her. Looks like Roger has taken a similar path to 2019 winner Daahyeh, let's hope it's the same outcome. Looks to have a decent draw in 18 if the earlier races are too go by. Plenty of dangers Flaccianello could go well at a price, gonna do small each way 33s. 

Jabaara 6/1 Unp

PROHORSERACING

5.00 Sandringham Stakes - MARKSMAN QUEEN 8/1 Unp

The pace may decide who has a shot in this large field. There is a good chance that the pace side is going to be the stands’ side, with high numbers possibly able to dominate. That brings a filly into play that caught the eye earlier this month at Kempton.

Marksman Queen finished seriously well in a Handicap there over a mile, nearly overcoming a sluggish start as she travelled well off the pace and was held together until about 2f out before showing a strong response when asked for an effort to come home much the best.

She couldn’t quite get back the 4-year-old winner, who ran well for a long time in the Kensington Palace earlier this week. She wasn’t slowly away in any of her two starts prior, hence I hope it was just ‘one of those days’. A poor start would severely compromise her chances in this competitive field.

But if gets away, then she could be very well handicapped, off 86, only 2lb higher than at Kempton. She won well at Southwell on her seasonal reappearance as well. I reckon that perhaps the hood took off some of her early excitement at Kempton. She was keen in her previous races. Hopefully she is better used to it now.

Given her breeding Marksman Queen may have options to move up in trip, but a strongly run mile looks ideal for now. She should also improve for switching to turf on fast ground.

Marksman Queen

TITAC RACING

15.05 Commonwealth Cup NOBLE STYLE 

It is fairly obvious that Little Big Bear is going to be ridiculously hard to beat in this but hardly a betting proposition at around even money. With the big field it is easy to play an each way game or even without him market where he is as big as 8/1 which is interesting. 

I did a little analysis on the Listed Carnarvon Stakes from Newbury where Shaquille won and Noble Style came third at 8/11. It was clear to me that the race was not up to the kind of standard required to win a race of this nature and actually felt the rating was a bit over the top for the winner, having said that Noble Style would have preferred a stronger all round gallop and was disadvantaged by being held up in the small field and the front runner dictated matters and the 1-2 in running finished there..Still Noble Style ran the fastest final 3 furlongs and was doing his best work at the finish. 

Today is a completely different ball game. 

For that reason alone I would like to play him here as it should generally be a more all round solid gallop in my opinion here and it will suit him. 

Buick prefers Mischief Magic and Doyle rides but I am never put off by this and this Kingman colt deserves another chance to deliver on his 2yo promise with cheek pieces added that may aid him concentrate a bit more and sharpen him up early doors as he has been a bit of a monkey at times.

Big chance on peak form if back to anywhere near that and it’s too soon to write him off as his only previous start was in the Guineas in awful ground where he clearly failed to stay. Still he ran creditably despite that and his entry in there alone shows what he’s thought of and he has a valid excuse in my opinion for the lacklustre performance last time out and can do better.

Noble Style 12/1 9th

Finishing positions 0/0/9

Advised bet: Trixie 

Good luck to all.