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Racing Post Trophy 2009 |
Pimpernel Popular Ahead of Racing Post Tilt
20/10/09
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Elusive Pimpernel has proven to be popular with punters ahead of Saturday’s Racing Post Trophy and John Dunlop’s colt is now a 7/2 shot (from 9/2) with totesport for the mile event. St Nicholas Abbey remains the favourite for the race at 2/1.
Elsewhere, Tataniano made a satisfactory start to his chasing career at Exeter and has been trimmed to 12/1 (from 14/1) for the Arkle with totesport following his victory under Ruby Walsh.
Racing Post Trophy – totesport bet: 2 St Nicholas Abbey, 7/2 (from 9/2) Elusive Pimpernel, 4 Al Zir, 6 Coordinated Cut, 11 Joshua Tree, 12 Shakespearean, 14 Dancing David, Jan Vermeer, Morana, 16 Marfach, Musaafer, 20 Al Ghazal, 25 Elusive Award, Midas Touch, 33 Air Chief Marshal, Big Audio, Hansond, Sharaayeen, 50 Dubawi Phantom, Free Judgement, 100 Philander, Utrillo. 1/5 1-2-3
Elusive Pimpernel Seeking Doncaster Glory as 70 Remain on Target for Racing Post Trophy 07/10/09
Exciting prospect Elusive Pimpernel will bid to continue a faultless start to his career with victory in the £200,000 Racing Post Trophy, the highlight of racing at Doncaster on Saturday, October 24, and the final Group One event of the British Flat season.
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The John Dunlop-trained colt is one of 70 entries remaining for the prestigious mile contest after the scratchings deadline, details of which are revealed today.
Elusive Pimpernel recorded an eye-catching debut victory when running on to take a seven-furlong maiden at Newmarket’s July course on July 8, beating Timely Jazz by half a length.
He built on that promising start to his career with another success over the same distance in the Group Three Acomb Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting on August 18, when he again finished strongly to defeat Emerald Commander by a head.
The two-year-old Elusive Quality colt, who was home-bred by owners Windflower Overseas Holdings, will now try to give his trainer a second triumph in the Racing Post Trophy following the success of Beauchamp King in 1995.
Marcus Hosgood, racing secretary to Dunlop, revealed: “The plan is certainly for Elusive Pimpernel to run in the Racing Post Trophy, barring accidents. He’s fine at the moment and he did his first piece since the Acomb Stakes last Friday. He worked again on Tuesday morning - and it’s so far, so good with him.
“The form of his York victory looks absolutely cast iron and it looks likely that he would enjoy the step up to a mile. He has won on good and fast going but I would be hopeful that we might get a bit of cut in the ground at Doncaster - racing over a mile on easier ground should be ideal for him.
“I know it’s a bit of a cliche, but we will take one step at a time before deciding where to aim him next year.”
The Godolphin operation has enjoyed a superb campaign with their juvenile runners this year and their eight remaining entries include Al Zir, who followed up an impressive debut victory at Newmarket with a comprehensive five-length success in the Sands Venue And State Club Gainsborough Conditions Stakes at the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival.
Saeed bin Suroor may also rely on recent recruits Kingsfort, who landed the Group One National Stakes at the Curragh for former handler Kevin Prendergast, and Acomb Stakes runner-up Emerald Commander, who subsequently was an easy winner of a Haydock Listed contest when trained by Richard Hannon.
Recent Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere third Buzzword and Vale Of York, who was third in the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot, could also bid to give Godolphin a third success in the Racing Post Trophy after Medaaly in 1996 and Ibn Khaldun two years ago.
Peter Chapple-Hyam is also seeking a third victory in the Racing Post Trophy after saddling Commander Collins to glory in 1998 and subsequent Derby hero Authorized three years ago when the race was run at Newbury during Doncaster’s redevelopment.
His three entries going forward for this year’s race consist of the unraced Bodkin Van Horn, Coordinated Cut, who made an impressive debut when taking a mile maiden at Doncaster’s Ladbrokes St Leger Festival and Morana, who has finished runner-up on his two starts so far.
Aidan O’Brien boasts a superb record in the Racing Post Trophy, with four victories to his name courtesy of Saratoga Springs (1997), Aristotle (1999), subsequent dual Derby winner High Chaparral (2001) and Brian Boru (2002), who returned to Doncaster the following season to triumph in the St Leger.
The Ballydoyle maestro looks set to have a strong hand once again this year with his 18 remaining entries including St Nicholas Abbey, who leapt to the head of the betting for next year’s Derby following a comfortable victory in the Group Two Beresford Stakes at the Curragh on September 27.
O’Brien may also be represented by recent Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes victor Joshua Tree, Group One Phoenix Stakes scorer Alfred Nobel and Cape Blanco, who landed the Group Two Futurity Stakes at Leopardstown on his latest start.
Listed scorer Viscount Nelson could return to Doncaster after taking second in the Group Two DFS Champagne Stakes at the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival, while impressive winners Steinbeck, Jan Vermeer and Fighting Brave may also make the trip over to Town Moor for the English and Irish champion trainer.
The potential Irish challenge of 24 is further enhanced by the Jim Bolger-trained quartet of Shintoh, Free Judgement, Goffs Million runner-up Marfach and Chabal, who was second to Kingsfort in the National Stakes.
Mark Johnston has kept in Layali Al Andalus, who powered to a seven-length success in a seven-furlong maiden at Doncaster at the end of June and was second to St Nicholas Abbey in the Beresford Stakes. The Middleham-based handler may also be represented by the progressive Shakespearean, who landed the Solario Stakes before going on to victory in the lucrative Goffs Million.
Other notable contenders include the Clive Cox-trained Xtension, successful in the Group Two Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, recent Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner-up Pounced, from the stable of John Gosden, and Treble Jig, who landed a Newmarket maiden for Sir Michael Stoute at the end of August.
