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Captain's Blog - 20th July 2010

An evening shift for me today at Racing UK HQ helping out with the coverage from Bangor and Kempton. This means that I have ample time today to make a lasagne for my better half to enjoy with some mates tonight. Yes while the cat is away and all that except in this case the cat is not just away he is also providing the sustinence. There better be some left when I get home though because a late night covering action from the Sunbury venue can at times drive you to lasagne. In truth this week on Racing UK we are merely limbering up for a week of Glorious Goodwood. Before that excellent meeting kicks into gear there is the small matter of the King George at Ascot which we are not covering unfortunately, but as a race it certainly deserves some thought and analysis.

Eight horses will go to post and I have had a look at how fast all eight can run and here are the findings of the McNae Jury.

At First Sight 120
Cape Blanco 121
Confront 87
Da Re Mi 115
Daryakana 111
Harbinger 125
Workforce 132
Youmzain 114

Firstly, the figures show us that the race is well above average. Secondly, Workforce is clear top rated and a repeat of his effort in the Derby will see him in the winners enclosure. The question remains though, can he run as fast again? Ryan Moore told me after the Derby that he had given him a very hard race and whether he can go through the pain barrier to such an extent again remains an unknown. Harbinger is an improver and has form at Ascot which can be so important. I believe he his main asset is his speed and if he is tracking Workforce into the straight he may be able to do him for a turn of foot. Cape Blanco is interesting. He beat Workforce in the Dante albeit with the Derby winner having excuses and then was beaten in the falsely run French Derby. He bounced back to win the Irish equivalent and providing he gets fast ground he will run well. With that in mind I see Ascot have watered the track despite heavy rain being forecast on Wednesday and Thursday, rain on top of watered ground could ruin this race and I do hope they refrain from putting any more on. All in all I want Workforce to prove that the Derby win was not a fluke, but I am a Harbinger fan and believe he will have the speed to do his stable companion. His ability to act on the green polytrack at Ascot could prove to be invaluable, but he has put together three big runs in a row now and has run three big speed figures. Andy Beyer the speed figure guru in the States would describe him as a three strikes and out candidate, in other words, he has run so fast three times in a row that physically he will not be able to repeat the feat. Beyer has been the biggest influence in my racing life, but on this occasion I am going to ignore the three strikes and out rule and make Harbinger the bet.

No joy with our selections yesterday which in all honesty ran badly but we are still in credit after Five Star Junior won on Saturday so we can kick on and hopefully find a winner or two today.

Time for me to make that Lasagne.

Today’s Selections

7.50 Kempton – Tigress Hill (each way 16/1 Sky Bet )

6.50 Kempton – Resplendent Ace (each way 20/1 Betfred )