Today's Racing - 24th June 2011

Well what a start that was to our summer with a winner in Parc De Lunay thanks to a great ride from Jamie Spencer and a notable coup for the notebook of 2yos when Citizens’ Choice came home infront at 16/1 on the first day of a very good Northumberland Plate meet. The most notable factor for those who are considering serious punting (especially on the Northumberland Plate, as the race run over that distance turned unto a real slog) and the ground is most definitely soft out there and it will stay that day.

The arguable highlight of day 2 (one of the strongest days’s racing at Newcastle for a good while) is the Hoppings Stakes (6.50 Newcastle) & it throws up a really interesting contender in Principal Role. Already a winner in this grade last summer, the 4-y-o made a reappearance full of promise when a close third against the boys at Goodwood recently and should find things easier taking on her own sex this evening, with only the ground as a possible worry.

Opera Gal deserves to land a good race, while Piano’s latest form (along with that of her trainer and jockey) entitles her to respect but the pick is useful enough filly who may be able to take another step forward tomorrow.

I’ve covered more sprint handicaps than ever this season and it’s no joke when I say that the Gosforth Park Cup (7.25) is one of the strongest and hardest races I’ve taken a look at this season, so I’m hoping that it’s a good sign that I’m more than hopeful of a bold bid from Racy despite having ignored the form of this year’s remarkable Epsom Dash for a few reasons.

The blanket finish in this year’s even means that all of those horses have run under a minute for sure, making their performances very noteworthy, notably that of Confessional  who ran a screamer to be second having dropped himself out a little early on. The cloud over the form is how it will translate over to the soft ground currently at Newcastle, and what it will be like in a different situation (although the pace should still be strong, testing ground brings stamina into play). The spanner in the works could be Perfect Blossom, who was in the firing line but was never close enough to land a proper blow (which she was last year) and would have needed the run badly.

Jamesway is a nice horse who has a good race in him but his run last time was certainly below his Epsom form and that would be a worry for me despite Hanagan again riding him. Ancient Cross’s weight isn’t offputting but the handicapper looks to have him where needed (a fact underlined by how strongly he travelled before finding little at York latest). The pace in the race will surely be Verinco, who has to be feared, but he could get taken on and in this ground that could be his undoing.

Of the Dandy Nicholls challenge, (always to be hugely respected having won this twice in the last 5 years) Cape Vale couldn't cling on to lead at Epsom since (and there are many to take him on here) while Silah may not be the most straightforward in the heat of battle.

As another festival hits it’s second day the Curragh kicks off some fine racing with the first day of the Irish Derby Festival & it’s typical that such a well-loved event should have a consistent horse as the pick. It’s hard to find anything bad about Famous Name (7.30), and he’s been as good as ever this year having landed a Listed race and a Group 3 - both over 1m at Leopardstown - on his first two starts this season. He may have been outclassed in the Tatts Gold Cup last time out but there are calmer waters and he’s well worth a good punt here. He has to give away 3lbs, so we should get a decent price for his standards.

Of the others, there has to be a doubt about just how much setting up the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (Let’s not forget a race that was run more than a second under standard) took out of Jan Vermeer and his running here is questionable to say the least. Elusive Pimpernel would be massive at 9/2 if at his best but I can’t touch him after his rank bad run last time (with no explanation since*). Nothing else really makes that much appeal on the card.

There’s just one more bet for the day and it could be an outstanding one if form is to believed. Had she not been headed on debut Gamilati would be going for Group races and being expected to win, such is the quality of her maiden which has produced the Albany winner (Samitar, 3^rd) the Chesham third (Self Centered, 5^th) & a 17 length winner next time (My Propeller, 8^th). She rates an abslolute banker with only the above average improvement of Proud Pearl from the Brian Meehan of any danger.

* Ed Dunlop has come out to say that bad ground contributed to the defeat of Elusive Pimpernel last time out.

Advice (to best price available if none below)

Newcastle

6.50 -1 pt win Principal Role (2/1 Ladbrokes)

7.25 - 1pt each/way Racy (15/2 William Hill)

Curragh

7.30 - 2 pts win Famous Name (8/11 Boylesports)

Newmarket (July)

6.30 – 4 pts win Gamilati