Good morning to you all from a rural Worcestershire where the pressing warm air still feels charged with the potential of release.
Cityscape with that distinctive white blaze….
Surprising really as like most, we have been deluged. From the Major’s windows I can see down the hill into the culvert where an impromptu lake has formed, as it does when system cannot cope.The Major loves the Sandown Coral Eclipse race. An opportunity for the three year olds and four year olds to battle it out. A chance for the upstarts, fresh from the Guineas exploits to meet their elders and see if the weight for age allowance and impertinence of youth can win over. It is a chance to judge the classic generation.Only not so this year. Bonfire may well be a fine horse but he is the sole representative of his age group today. This does not mean the race is diminished. In fact there are a number of intriguing angles for the Major, more of that in a moment.
Andy Murray has made the Wimbledon final and good luck to him. Twitter (the Major is @tdl123 by the way!) has a habit of repeating jokes and the line about him winning and being British and losing and being a sCot has done many the round.
The Major is happy for him to be Scottish if he loses and retain his miserable dour Scots Presbyterian outlook if he wins too. Entertainment is part of the modern sports persons brand. Being liked is as equal to what you have won. The pure of heart might balk at this – After all the olympian spirit is hardly about popularity n’est pas? Yet, we chew our lip when we hear that Beckham was not picked for the squad on the grounds of likely contribution…
Beckham has it, Murray does not. The Major acknowledges that this is nothing to do with the sport. If you are a tennis buff then you may be content enough to base your view of a man on his forearm smash. For those tourists of us though, we want more. Hence, I don’t like Murray… Given the choice of a beer with him or Federer after tomorrows proceedings, no contest. What you do as well as how you do it count.
To the sports…
Tips for Sandowns Coral Eclipse
Intriguing… The pace is likely to be generous with Nathaniel and Cityscape in the field. Sandown for me is a course where prominence can help. There are pointers.
Softer ground (good to soft officially) is also a big component. Cityscape, Farhh, Twice Over and Bonfire are confirmed toe-in sorts….
The most fascinating runner has to be Crackerjack King who apart from a run in the french Derby which you would have to ignore, has looked hugely impressive. Now an inmate of Botti, a massively interesting sort.
Let’s sift through a few. Bonfire was at one point a hot order for the Derby after taking in the Dante. That field though does not look as strong as it once did and I doubt that Bonfire measures up to other three year old winners of the Eclipse such as Hawk Wing or Sea the Stars…
Nathaniel would be of significant interest having won the race last year. The Major tipped him up that day. Having had no run this season and having been looked outpaced, I wonder if Nathaniel might be a bit caught for toe.
Of the bigger prices, I am attracted to Sri Putra who has run into the places in the last two runnings. That one will be fired up and Varian is in great form. 66/1 is a fine price and although not the tip, neither is 66/1 right.
Twice Over could also outrun 16/1, a lover of soft conditions and proven Group One performer. He needs to leave behind two poorer runs from this season and not a lot of excuses seem to offer themselves, perhaps at 7, the best days are gone, perhaps not.
Farhh looks of significant interest having finished really well when finally getting out of a pocket at Ascot last time out. Personally I wonder if the reaction to that performance is a little overboard but 5/2 seems reasonable. The horse will like conditions and this is a considered animal. Especially as he was supplemented for this.
The Major though has settled on Cityscape. As long as the international travel has not taken too much a toll then I think this horse has possibly the best form in the race having won the Dubai Duty Free from the front. Good to soft should have no major fears and the Major is going to offer my eclipse tip at 5/1 with Paddy Power who refund if you are second to Farhh.
Haydock – Old Newton Cup Tips
The presence of Allied Powers has shoved the weights up enough that he shoulders almost a stone more than the second in the handicap. The old timer loves testing conditions and cannot be ruled out stepping back into handicap company, although the Major looks elsewhere.
Lexi’s Boy will also relish conditions and McCain is in fine form stealing these flat handicap races having taken the Northumberland last weekend, considered.
The Major opts for 11/1 shot Easy Terms. The Old Newton tip has won both starts this term and has a penchant for the sot ground. An awkward draw has made the price honest but he overcame a shocker at Chester to come from the back and win there. The improvement may well still be ongoing… Have a slice.
3.10 Sandown – Tips for the Coral Distaff
I must have a look at this race because I simply believe evens shot Starscope is wholly the wrong price. I have a strong suspicion that we will find the form of her races not that strong. The Guineas race looked odd and with Homecoming Queen now not looking quite so hot a prospect, I think evens that Starscope gets her head in front for the first time this year is a crazily short price. I accept that I also have to find the Coronation form a bit misleading too…
That’s what I love about my sport, racing is opinion. Fact + Story = Belief and my instinct is that Starscope is over-rated massively here.
I am opting for a 16/1 shot instead in the lightly raced Kunooz. Only raced twice as a juvenile, I suspect that her second run was not magnificent (behind Falls of Lora) and then she was put away. I am taking a risk but I think progress could have been made with her being re-introduced at Listed level.
Tonight may your dinner be a simple home cooked pasta…. courage, roll those dice.
UK Horseracing Tips - The Major 