Well Chief's Horse race Preview

1 – City of Tribes – Ran well in the Scurry stakes last time in which he had Sirens Gift in behind over the shorter trip of 5F. Pressed from half way, as the race started to turn the screw he stuck on well, even though no match for Hoh Mike. Likely to be held off the pace today back over this further trip and with the stiff finish his stamina should see him run on well from of the pace as was the case when 3rd to Prime Defender at Haydock in which the strong pace set for a small field played to his hands. Should get the run of the race again today in a big field and more then capable of conceding weight all round on form.

2 – Lipocco – Ran a blinder on the Rowley Mile over this trip and conditions and had a few of these in behind that day including Celtic Sultan who finished a close up 3rd. Given a 5lbs penalty for that 2nd his task is made harder by that climb in the weights here and may not confirm form with the 3rd this day. The pace of the race wasn’t anything special and Lipocco tracked the pace set by Celtic Sultan and must be regarded as slightly disappointing that he got collared so close home after enjoying the run of the race. The higher mark makes things slightly for him but with previous similar track form and conditions likely to suit then u can see him having some supporters.

3 – Mastership – Ran a cracker at Epsom when sticking on at the one pace to finish 4th in a small field there, but he did come with a challenge before levelling out over a quick 7F. The drop back in trip isn’t certain to suit and his handicap mark may be a little high after running so well in the Greenham Stakes over 7F at Newbury. Never can discount Clive Brittain but this horse looks handicapped up to his best form.

4 – Longquan – Won well latest from one of today’s rivals over the Rowley mile 6F on return to the track for this season back in may. Given plenty of time in between his races he was just to good for that handicap that day and benefited from Luscivious cutting out a very strong pace to in which he ran strongly off to pick that rival up and win going away, However there could be claims to have that form turned around on 9lbs worse terms as that rival did well to finish 2nd of a strong pace, but with a big field making the pace very solid, the race could well be ran to suit Longquan more then his rival from last race.

5 – Fares – a No shower at Ascot in the Jersey stakes latest, when beaten before entering the last furlong and may have ran out of steam that day of a solid gallop over a stiff 7F gallop. This drop back in trip may help her today over this straight 6F but she has to improve to be winning of her current mark in handicaps having put pay to her handicap chances in winning the international trial stakes at Lingfield on the Polly track back in April. A strong pace will suit her today as her stamina cuts in, but she hasn’t shown too much on stiff tracks to date.

6 – Celtic Sultan – Stuck on well after being headed on the Rowley mile after cutting out the running and finds himself weighted to reverse form with the 2nd that day. Not sure how much more there is to come from him in terms of improvement but quick ground on a stiff galloping track seems to suit him well. Maybe given a slightly easy time last time at Newmarket he did stick on well. The Haydock performance when beating fishingforcompliments was a very good effort as he was inexperienced at the start and still showed enough pace to pick them up early and make all the running in a minimum amount of fuss and if being able to dictate a big field here with his free running style then he may well go close today and can build on the 3rd last time out.

7 – Solid Rock – Another to have flopped in the Jersey stakes finishing well down the field and no surprise to see back into Handicap Company here today. Had previously shown good form at Ascot over 6F when 4th to Hoh Mike in the Pavilion Stakes which was ran in a small field and he finished off very one paced when the race fully developed but that was against some top rated 3yo sprinters so you can’t argue the form to much. Just denied at Epsom in another listed race and finished behind Fares at Lingfield over a mile. Hard to place over a trip, but with a stronger pace over 6F he may stick on to finish close up, but may just lack the turn of foot to win here.

8 – Siren’s Gift – Stayed on readily last time at Sandown after fluffing her lines in the Scurry stakes at the start but veering left as leaving the stalls. Stayed on slightly one paced to never real in the 2nd City of Tribes that day over 5F and both had no chance with the winner. William Buick rides today helping out with the handicap mark and he gives Siren’s Gift a big weight swing in the weights with City of Tribes who may improve for the change in likely tactics today. Has plenty of solid 2yo form in the book she ran a cracker when 4th in the Molecomb stakes on good ground behind Enticing and Wi Dud in which she travelled very well before sticking on at the one pace of the strong pace. This 6F on quicker ground should well suit her with a possible excuse on only try over 6F, which was a fair effort, but ground very much on the soft side and she should handle this quicker ground.

9 – He’s A Humbug – Has more to come after making all at Leicester. He won readily that day but there has to be some concerns about the horse willingness under pressure as when asked to win his race after dictating the pace he flashed his tail and may not be one to back in a battle to in which you would expect will be the case. Handled the trip and the ground well that day and in all fairness it wasn’t the greatest and he did have it his own way from quite some way out so with more challengers today and a dodgy attitude it may be best to avoid a clearly talented horse.

10- Slate – non-runner

11 – Annemasse – Ran well in the Britannia stakes over a mile in which he briefly lead before running out of steam and finishing at the one pace back in 6th. That effort was a good one and this is an interesting drop back to 6F for the first time since debut. Races up with the pace or at least close to it, it will be a surprising to see if he can get to the front in this race as they are sure to go hard and fast from the word go. The run at Epsom can be discounted as a number of things went against him this day. The Haydock run behind Tobasa he showed plenty of pace before tiring in the final 3rd and in fairness did enjoy the run of the race this day. Interesting runner.

12 – Luscivious – Stayed on well behind city of tribes at Chester over 5F and find himself very well weighted with that rival here today. Then was sent on from the front and was well lit up by wide open spaces in which he made a big bid from the front and done well to finish as close as he did. Has limited ability compared to a few of these but always runs well and cant be knocked for not lacking in heart. More exposed then others he finished behind Celtic Sultan & Lippocco on the Rowley mile course after reverting back to held up tactics to get the trip. Looks likely to apply the same tactics here with plenty of pace in the race. The Chester run gives him claims.

13 – Pretty Majestic – Nothing wrong with her return to the track in the Nell Gwyn in which she finished 2.5L behind Scarlet Runner and the then 1000 guineas winner Sander Camillio. She didn’t get home this day after starting to quicken up when asked and maybe the combination of trip and first run was the cause over 7F of the Rowley Mile. The drop back in trip should suit and she could potentially be well handicapped in this race today. She had previously run a cracker over CD when 3rd to Ponty Rossa. Coming from the rear and she certainly would have picked those off with a better pace in the race in which she encounters today.

14 – Vitznau – Beat a good yardstick in Genki in a maiden in which he had to battle to get home in which he quickened well to look the winner long before actually putting it to bed. On a hat-rick here after making use of a low mark at both Epsom and Chester and may now be in the grip of the handicapper in this much better race. Beat Solid rock at Sandown on better ground, which was a fair effort and has progressed since this day. He needs to find more but is certainly a sprinter in form.

15 – Utmost Respect – Has several things against it today in terms of the unknown. From the Richard Fahey yard who never seem to find days out at Newmarket to there liking with just 2 winners in their last 23 runners here. The ground is the main concern having shown so much promise on ground with cut in when beating the likes of Aahayson at Ayr. Sat of the pace and quickened up nicely to land the spoils. Hung Right after not getting a clear run and becoming unbalanced at Goodwood, he is most probably much better then that effort, but may be best when settled in a small field and allowed to run his own race. The first two in that Ayr race had it between them from start to finish so it will be interesting to see how he will far in a race full of potential challengers.

16 – Rainbow Mirage – Well beaten last time behind Express Wish at Haydock on good to firm ground in a race that is starting to work out well. Wasn’t helped by his inability to settle down as the pace was cut out at a moderate gallop and it was no surprise to see him one paced when the leader turned the screw. Better weighted today and no doubt more likely to be suited by a stronger pace as proving when staying on 2nd at Redcar in the massive field of the sales race and could well be up to reversing the form around on much better terms with Express wish today with a race more likely to suit.

17-Express Wish – Has a hike in the handicap to overcome here but is very much on the upgrade and has had the form franked by the 2nd and 3rd. Those horses in behind may have been a little unfortunate in the fact that Frankie Dettori was allowed to dictate the gallop at Haydock before quickening at the business end in which he had to dig deep when finally pressed in the final furlong. Rainbow Mirage is much better weighted for that race in which that rival wasn’t suited to the lack of early gallop. Gagged up at Brighton in a average race in which his class had it in the bag early. John Egan booked to ride today and lbs for lbs it isn’t a bad booking to have at the business end of the race, as he is certain to have to dig deep when tackled early on.

18 – Shmookh – Beat Prince Rossi at York over 7F in receipt of weight back in May and was firmly put in his place at Royal Ascot last time in which he never figured in the Britannia stakes that day. Dropping back to 6F in which he was beaten twice but not disgraced over as a 2yo and the Warwick Maiden in which he beat a fairly moderate bunch showed his liking for quicker ground even though never extended. Potentially a 7F specialist I am unsure this drop down to sprinting company is likely to suit as much as the breeding suggests.

19 - Off The Record – Comes into this race having progressed nicely along on the all weather over the winter months including beating older handicappers and is very much in form coming into this race. Several Fibresand specialists have failed after showing progression on this surface when encountering turf and there is every chance that the same could happen here. Based on performances put up on the all weather in comparison to only start on turf coming on soft he has improved in the last few months, but would be more suited to deeper ground.

20 -Sandrey – Well beaten behind Genki last time, which he finished last after being sent of favourite, showing good early season form at a lower level a Combination of quicker ground and a rise in weights and class looks to have found him out. Laid up close enough to the pace to do himself justice he couldn’t do anymore when asked for a effort and was found to be lame. Put away since he could easily bounce back to form given that he was a 7/4 favourite for a race that has many pointers towards today race.

Tissue Prices – Pretty Majestic 8/1, Sirens Gift, Utmost Respect 9/1, Express wish 10/1, Celtic Sultan 12/1, City Of Tribes 13/1, Sandrey 14/1, Lonqquan, Off The Record 16/1, Annemesse 18/1, Lipocco, He’s A Humbug, Solid Rock 20/1, Luscivious, Rainbow Mirage 22/1, Vitznu, Shmookh 25/1, Mastership 33/1, Fares 40/1.

Verdict – Open affair in which they will go a good clip and that should suit the come from behind brigade in this race. The top weighted City of Tribes is a big price at 22-1, while Pretty Majestic (16/1) and Sirens Gift (18/1) are also well respected, the two favourites in the market both have claims in what looks a very informative 3yo sprint. Celtic Sultan at 20/1 is another to have claims in this race also.

Selection – Pretty Majestic 1pt win @ 16-1(BF19-1), City of Tribes 1pt win @ 22-1(BF 28-1), Sirens Gift 1pt @ 18-1(BF 18.5-1), Celtic Sultan 1pt @ 20-1(BF24-1).

Well Chief