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Captain's Blog - Racing UK |
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Captain's Blog - 16th October 2010
Morning everyone. We have a tremendous day of action in store for you today on and as promised yesterday here is my take on all of the contenders for the Champion Stakes at Newmarket today.
A pocket Guide to the Champion Stakes:
1. Alwaary : Off the track a long time before finishing 4th in Listed event on reappearance. Maybe better at further than 10 furlongs. Well drawn and if there is to be a shock?
2. Debussy : Winner of Arlington Million where race fell apart around him. A repeat of Huxley Stakes performance at Chester gives him place prospects at least. Each way chance.
3. Fuisse : Group 1 performer who won the Moulin last time, form that has been franked since. Best efforts at a mile but stays 10 furlongs and is an improving type with a classy trainer.
4. Gitano Hernando : Best form on synthetic surfaces. Easy win at Dundalk last time after a break with a splint problem. Very talented but surface is a worry.
5. Glass Harmonium : Won Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown. Luckless run since at Royal Ascot. Has run some big figures and acts at the track. A lively outsider for Ryan Moore.
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7. Twice Over : Last years winner of this race and has run well in five Group 1 races this year. Looked laboured in Ireland last time and may be feeling the effects of a tough year.
8. Vison D’Etat : A class act at 10 furlongs. He is a fresh horse who has had this as his target since running poorly in Dubai. Swerved the Arc for this race. Has a turn of foot, big chance.
9. Await the Dawn : Impressive Group 3 win last time beating a decent horse by nine lengths. Could be anything and is lightly raced after a setback last winter. Could easily be top class.
10. Poet’s Voice : Beat ‘The Rip’ in the QUE11 at Ascot in a fast time. The big question is will he stay 10 furlongs. Will need to settle to get the trip and that is not certain. Strong traveller.
11. Wigmore Hall : Grade 1 placed in USA. Should have won conditions race at Doncaster last time. Level of form shown so far not good enough for this race.
So what are we to conclude after reading the above?. My instincts tell me to oppose Twice Over. He has had some hard races this year and looked particularly laboured last time in Ireland. He may recapture his best form, after all he is trained by Henry Cecil but he is too short a price for such a competitive race. This time of year it often pays to be with fresh horses and with this in mind both Await the Dawn and Vision D’Etat look to be major players and if I was going to have a bet in the race these two would both be on my ticket, but in truth my interest in the race will centre around laying Twice Over after all you have got plenty of horses running for you.
The action on your favourite Racing Channel today is superb. Newmarket, Cheltenham and Catterick will be on your screens this afternoon and if you were planning to do anything it would be best to cancel and settle back with us for some top class action. Nick Luck is in charge for us at Newmarket and Lydia is at Cheltenham. I will be in the Studio for Mark your Card from 12.30pm with Dave Nevison as my guest. Please join us all I can ensure you it is going to be an exciting day.
I am up at 6.00am today to watch some Rugby League with England taking on the New Zealand Maoris. It has just finished 18-18 with England giving up an 18 point lead. The pundits are saying that we played well and should be satisfied with our performance, once again mediocrity is good enough for us where other Nations consider it to be as good as failure. Next up we play New Zealand and then Australia thereafter and given how we got on today we are going to need all the help we can get.
Time for me to get ready to make my way into the office. Enjoy your weekend.
Today's Selections
5.25 Newmarket – Motrice (each way 7/2 Stan James )
1.50 Newmarket – Delegator (2/1 Ladbrokes )
