Horseracing Selections - Epsom, 20 July 2006
Epsom, 20 July 2006
6:15 E.b.f. Median Auction Maiden Stakes
The short list contains Billy Dane, Dee Jay Wells and Five A Side, with the vote going to Dee Jay Wells. Billy Dane's form stacks up in the context of this race so expect a bold show. Ditto re Dee Jay Wells and, given that he has proven that he can act on this kind of track, he gets the vote. From the in-form Mark Johnston yard, the 28,000 guineas purchase, Five A Side, gets a good mention, but Our Herbie probably needs to improve on his all-weather improved effort last, and Pagan Rules needs to keep the improvement coming, although he has shown promise. Revisionist looks the Hannon second string, while Zelos improved on the all-weather last time and has to be given some thought, a similar comment applying to Sweet Lilly. Overall, though, Dee Jay Wells gets the vote.
6:45 Mall Ashley Claiming Stakes
Our short list for the claimer consists of Serieux, Mandarin Spirit, Underscore and Envision, and the vote goes to Serieux. There are only five that can be seriously considered here. These are Bessemer, although he looks a slightly reluctant hero these days; Serieux, who has been running consistently in handicaps and deserves a crack at a winning opportunity such as this claimer can provide; Mandarin Spirit, who has also been running well in handicaps and is a course and distance winner; the lightly-raced Underscore, who increases his winning prospects by dropping to claiming company for the first time; and Envision comes firmly into it following his course win in a similar event last time, although the drop in trip today is a little curious. For us, the one to beat, though, is Serieux.
7:15 Sportsman Newspaper Handicap
Always Baileys gets the vote here ahead of Pagan Crest, Nedd Ludd and Cantabilly. Fresh from his reappearance Thirsk run, Always Baileys looks set to go well here, particularly as he is stepping up in trip. Expect a good run. Ned Ludd has been contesting better races in general than this and could enter handicap life on a reasonable mark. Nefski Alexander was beaten on his handicap debut last time and I guess the jury is out on him at the moment. In any case, Pagan Crest, who has now won two of his last three races, holds him based on recent Leicester form and he looks a big danger to the selection. Interestingly, he is blinkered for the first time today. Finally, Cantabilly improved at Brighton last time but maybe needs to improve a little more in order to score. Overall, though, Always Baileys gets the vote.
7:50 Compton Hellyer 60th Birthday Handicap
Blackmail gets the vote here ahead of Madhavi and Croon. Croon looks to be on a pretty fair mark and, lightly raced, he is open to improvement and can play his part in this race today. Desert Island Disc has winning form from today's mark and cannot be dismissed from a ratings point of view. Madhavi has a five pounds rise to defy following his Windsor win, but it is not a forlorn possibility, while much as Spring Dream's winning run came to an end at Haydock last time, she was beaten by an improved performer there and can run a fair race today. Tavalu remains a maiden on Turf, but course and distance winner, Blackmail, is due to go up three pounds in future ratings following on from his recent 10 furlong win here. Overall, that type of form makes him the one to beat, in our view, and Blackmail gets the vote.
8:20 London Focus Handicap
Scrummage gets the call here ahead of Fangorn Forest and Miss McGuire. Scrummage looked an improved performer in a first-time visor last time, winning at Yarmouth, and he looks to have got in here on a favourable mark. Miss McGuire looked promising based on her Brighton maiden win and is worth a look in the betting, while Mister Benedictine is at last dropping in the weights but still has a little to prove. Fangorn Forest is back to the mark from which he won at Warwick in May, so gets respect, while Arzaag came good in first-time blinkers on the all-weather last time and has to be given some thought if the headgear can work again. Blue Manruna's best recent efforts entitle him to some thought but Bollywood has not built on his Lingfield claiming win. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Scrummage.
8:50 Pioneer Maiden Handicap
In the finale, the vote goes to Final Tune ahead of Khyber Night and Snow Symphony. Final Tune's Catterick second to Cindertrack last time stacks up as form here and he gets a good mention. Snow Symphony's latest improved could by now have been boosted by Miss McGuire earlier on the card (Shinko was further behind). Carloman improved in first-time blinkers last time and can go well if they work again. Royal Tavira Girl has been knocking at the door of late and could get placed again, while Lady Duxyana showed improved form last time and, finally, given that he is set to go up by 13 pounds in the ratings following her Chepstow second to Dancing Storm, Khyber Night has to be seriously considered. Captain Bolsh might prove best of the others. We, though, will just side with Final Tune.
