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Preview
26 May 2008
3:50 Redcar TOTESPORT
BETXTRA ZETLAND GOLD CUP (HERITAGE HANDICAP) (CLASS 2) (3yo+,0-105)
Winner £32,380.00 1m2f GD-FM
Class
A decent heritage handicap this year and a race that could be
very informative to up coming handicaps over this trip at Epsom and
Royal Ascot and there is a few class performers in this race and if
you look far enough back you will see that Capable Guest had Group 2
form as a 2yo and even though he is very exposed over a mile trip he
hasn't been tried too often over this 10 furlong trip and could run
a big race from under nine stone in this handicap and from a wide
draw he really needs to be at his best. Grand Passion is another
that has a touch of class about him, but that form mainly comes on
the all weather these days and at nearing the top of the handicap is
likely to be below this type of race at 8yo on turf.
The one that may go well from the head of the weights is Smart
Enough who has been crying out for this longer trip and could well
improve to be better then handicap class and with the ground very
much in his favour he should go well despite the weight he has to
carry and draw 3 can only benefit his front running tactics and have
them all stacking up in behind.
Class Selection - Smart Enough
Runs & Improvement
Re Barolo is the lightest raced horse in the race and will be
looking to improve further for the return to turf after flopping
badly on the soft conditions of Doncaster last month and with the
ground on the quick side of good he should improve further with the
trip in favour, however he is usually held up to get this trip and
with draw 1 a little bit of a disadvantage with recent years those
stuck on the fence finding trouble in running. Smart Enough from top
of the weights should make the running and this trip is likely to
bring further improvement from that horse and is the one to aim at.
From further down the weights Frequency very much catches the eye as
she hasn't had to stand to much racing and is going the right way
and is another who has a look of improving for this long trip being
by Singspiel and is very much one to note with Draw 2 suiting her
style of running and Philip Robinson is likely to hunt the pace
around with Smart Enough likely to lead. The ground is ideal.
The lightly raced Smart Instinct is interesting for the shrewd
handicapping yard of Richard Fahey but has to prove that this trip
suits as he has often failed to muster enough speed when needed and
may want a bit further then this even though the pace is likely to
be good in this handicap and he will be staying on and maybe softer
conditions would suit him better.
Runs & Improvement Selection - Frequency
Recent Form
Re Barolo has shown that the turf at Doncaster didn't suit with a
very strong performance in a 3 runner affair at Great Leighs and
even though it wasn't the strongest of fields and potentially could
have been a false piece of form in terms of handicapping but you
cant help but be impressed by the way he finished that race and
there is certainly more to come on turf.
This handicap has links with quite a lot of strong pieces of form
and the Cambridgeshire runner up doc of the bay would be a strong
selection based on that performance if the handicapper hadn't had
his say and looks up against as far as handicaps go this season.
Smart Instinct recent form looks to be slightly below this level,
while Snoqualmie Boy needs to bounce back to form but has plenty in
favour today and Smart Enough could be another to build on the below
par efforts recently with the potential improvement this season for
the longer trip.
Michael Jarvis Frequency effort over a mile here last season
reads well with his low weight and favourable draw, while Jewelled
Dagger can hold much credit with his performance last time against
Laa Rayab as he kept on well after cutting out the running to go
down fighting, he remains in good form and will need to jump the
gates to help cut out this running today from a draw out in the car
park and may struggle to last out home with a lot of early work
likely.
Recent form - Frequency
In Favour
Apart from the draw Jewelled Dagger has plenty in favour today
with the ground very much in his favour and already proving to hold
his form at this level well and if he does get to the front he may
run well, but it is likely to be tough and maybe Snoqualmie Boy is
the more solid option with a likely return to form with good form
about this time of year and conditions very much in his favour, his
recent form has been poor since leaving the Elsworth Yard and that
has resulted in him being very well handicapped for this race.
The one that really catches my eye is the grey Heaven Knows that
has started a short price on to many occasions and been found out,
however this gelding is still in the owners colours despite the
breeding avenue coming to the end and this is very much his target
for the season I feel as he has proven form over this trip and top
of the ground is still what I feel he needs rather then the soft
conditions he is led to believe him needing, he has a nice racing
weight and has to make the shortlist for this with plenty of cover
likely from stall 6 in this race.
In favour Selection - Heaven Knows
Verdict - A low draw I feel will
play key today and it does usually pay to be drawn in single figures
with the draw in the last 10 years giving 8 winners drawn 7 or
lower. Smart Enough has a touch of class and has to carry top weight
with Docofthebay in this handicap, but may do enough under Micky
Fenton to get in the money here, However the master Tactician Philip
Robinson should get the run of the race today and she looks
dangerously handicapped in this even today, Heaven knows has been
found a race in which he should go close in and failure to make the
frame in this will be a big disappointment for connections,
especially with the yard going so well at present.
1st Heaven Knows 2nd Fragrancy 3rd Smart Enough
Selection(s) –
Heaven Knows 2
pts win @ 10-1 (BF11's) & Fragrancy
1 pt win @ 13/2 (BF6.6/1)
Well Chief
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