Racing Weekly: Dante Festival Preview

Rishi Persad returns to hosting duties and is joined, as ever, by Steve Ryder and is accompanied this week by racing broadcaster – Steve Mellish.

We begin the show with a recap of the action at Chester with a look at Michael Owen’s Chester Cup winning Zoffee as well as the other big winners from the weekend.

Later we discuss the racing from York ahead of the Dante Meeteing as our panel go in search of some winners.

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hello everyone and welcome along to racing weekly a podcast and YouTube show brought to you by odds Checker in association with bet 365 delighted to be back in this chair although I feel somewhat of a fraud because the man to my left uh Steve Ryder last week tipped Up Wizard of eye in this chair hopefully his skills remain as brilliant as they do in that chair and in the chair on my right Steve Mel back once again with us Steve how have you enjoyed the flat season so far yeah good looking forward to a period of of um some decent ground I suppose but we had that at at Chester last week the ground was pretty good and I’ve enjoyed it yeah I think it’s a great time of year because you know you’re all making early predictions about who you think will win various Classics I think it’s a really interesting time of year all right uh Steve are you reflecting on the glory of Wizard of eyes performance what price when you tipped him up originally on the show last week what price was he so 20 to1 16s we bet 365 yeah nice and then well gambled did you enjoy the race I mean it must have been quite thrilling to watch it yeah having backed him in the week at Big prices so thankfully Charlie fellow did his interview before and said right we’re going to change tactics we’re going to held him up because if not you’d have thought oh no what are you doing to mark one but yeah absolutely fabulous got the gaps brilliant ride and yeah looking at the handicapping only gone up three pounds today so All Leads on to the woking him hopefully yeah we’ll talk more about wizard of I specifically in just a moment but Steve if we could get one horse that has perhaps made an impression on you so far this season or maybe something that hasn’t run yet something to follow uh for for people watching the show made an impression Che those made the biggest impression those who sadly passed away last week I thought that was the hidden law who we were going to touch on there but I thought that’s been the best arbit trial I think it’s a real sense of I think we’ve lost a real good one there real good one yeah um I think that nether the classic didn’t particularly uh float my boat as in anything that was you know stunning the dolphin wi of the 2000 G was was very good um but I I can’t say I’ve been completely blown away by anything handicappers but they’re you know which what I tend to bet in mainly and I’m interested in a number of them a whole list of H I’m but I’m not going to bore people here with with because they want specific things as well you know all right briting on a on a Monday sort of thing keep that up your sleeve and Steve is there anything that is in the Wizard of AR category that you think you’ve got lined up for this week yeah I love York as a meeting uh particularly course of distance form York’s a bit of a weird track where if you run well at York you often run well at York and there’s there’s some horses that just don’t don’t handle it so yeah I’ve got plenty to come brilliant well that sets up nicely for what’s to come a bit later on in the show now though it’s time for this week’s racing recap and we start at Chester obviously some very good racing at Chester over the last week or so um and zofie won the big race the Chester cup give credit to connections particularly the owner Alan Peterson who um obviously hasn’t got quite as much credit as as Michael Owen has done for for the but hug go palman Harry Davis um a plan that clearly was in the making for a long time what did you think of the race I thought it’s a great that’s a great story first of all it’s a very important meeting to the whole team the whole for proven at the track which is a good thing got a great ride got the breakes but you need that to win at Chester uh I thought I thought it was a good Chester C it was a good Chester cap and a good constellation actually for for very I I thought they were good this year they were they were interesting races and um yeah it’s a plan well done I think you could easily see the huls running well but I think you can argue it’s the best performance he’s put up for a little while so yeah it was it was good it was good and a good story obviously he had run well in the race the year before I believe the north umland plate will be the target for him is that right yeah logical Lo logical step I was actually there first time at Chester what did you make Chester Cup Day loved it I’ve wanted to go for the last few years and the last couple of years have been horrendous weather so I’ve missed it but yeah the sun was out and it was it was a really good atmosphere um I thought it was a brilliant ride by Harry Davies rode him for a bit of luck but yeah up up the inside at Chester and just managed to get out in time uh I thought it was really nice the fact that his his mom is is Hugo Palmer’s assistant so that there was emotional scenes afterwards Hugo Palmer was under a bit of pressure he had 17 losers at the meeting before that um man of house stables and yeah I think I think they’ a bit in your hand off to have just that one winner for the whole week but yeah good performance from the from the horse I think this was probably the big day obviously finished second in it off a three pound higher Mark yeah the year before so yeah he’s he’s won his won his race for the season I think one one I do think I don’t think a race we talking about I do think the constellation race think the horses who dominated that are will proof A Cut Above the average STS I think I think that’s a better race I really do I think in terms of part of this is projecting the future I anything in particular that I thought I thought Alon the winner who’s off a very low Mark 73 or 74 but is that Rarity is a stay with a turn of foot I thought I thought that was I think that’s can be really they races like the north umberland play the will go obviously was going the race he he probably only get in the consolation but I think he’s a really dangerous horse he totally unexposed of that trip he’d been running over shelter and he got it really well and I thought that was that was the times were similar I thought was a really good I thought hamu ran second um um there was a moment where um the horse or blank of the horse um lore um the hor was in the black and white turn turn for home in front who’ run really well in the race before and the race was all over and these two just pick them up like like they were standing still and I do think that might be a race that really works out in the St of races this year probably different direction Al probably doesn’t want any further but Haman probably does alons l grand um running running up a sequence okay uh keep that in mind let’s switch our attention to the classic trials that we saw um Steve has already alluded to One race we’ll talk about that in just a moment but Forest fery um I believe she is going to head to the Oaks 14 to1 with bet 365 for the Oaks uh what did you make of a performance and how convincing a trial do you think that was I thought it was one of the better trials a few of the the trials you kind of look at and you go I don’t really think that’s got a chance I think she has got a chance at Epsom she traveled well into the race and I thought she was actually going to win it quite comfortably but I think a bit of inexperience she’d only had one previous run before that kind of showed a bit late on but yeah she was unraced at two ended up being an impressive debut winner and and I thought yeah I thought it was a good performance to then to to win this ra Becket obviously has a few yeah to go to war with in the Oaks he’s got a good good record in the Oaks obviously one it with look here and talent um and yeah I’d probably have her top of the list for for his team heading into o all right what did you make of it and by the way this this phrase that kept keeps getting brought up now almost incessantly this season because of what’s happened with notable speech Etc and El Mala people go oh here comes another horse from the all weather that’s now doing it’s been going on for a long time it’s not just this season hes good horses have been running on the old weather Ena sh on the old weather thank you I mean it’s the list is Relentless but obviously now everyone’s going well everybody’s now take it’s a new thing okay so I’m it’s just one of my bug Bears good luck with them spotting the right way with them yeah I thought I think her biggest asset I thought she stayed really well uh she had to wait briefly for a run and then she was really strong at the finish and I think it’s an underrated quality uh at Epsom a real thing that a mile and a half ENT is a stiff mile and a half and so I think that’s an asset I think the actual level of form is some way below what’s required but she’s lightly RAC as Steve was pointing out open to any amount of improvement so I can certainly see the logic in running her uh the Chester fars was one by hidden law who sadly suffered unfortunate injury uh or commiserations to all connections involved with that horse it was a it was a brutal moment watching it happen Steve alluded to at the top of the show it was an impressive performance um from a horse who clearly improved very quickly and it’s obviously sad that he he’s met a demise um what can we make of of the race as a guide to the Future yeah I got I was I was on the school run I was at the park with my daughter after picking her up and watched the race on my phone brilliant right excellent performance put it away and then suddenly went back onto Twitter about 20 minutes after and went who I didn’t see that happening um I then watched it back I thought Richard Halls dealt with it superbly was obviously on the show last week yeah absolutely brilliant in what can only be described as a freak accident um I thought as the performance was was really impressive I thought Tom Maran gave a agender a brilliant ride thought he’d stolen it from the front and then suddenly hidden law stayed on really well and won comfortably it’d be interesting to see what they do with with agenda going forward I I then looked through and saw if he was entered into the Derby because if if Balor need a pacemaker or want to truly Run Race for City try I thought he would be be the perfect um perfect horse to do that but I don’t think he’s in the derby um but yeah whe whether whether they decide to supplement him but yeah he could have a bit of a a serpentine about him if he got if he got away on the I I thought that was the interesting thing about his performance agenda is the fact that groer square traveled quite nicely behind could never lay a glove on him no yet hidden law who was also held up just flew past him yeah I think he was by a long way the best I mean I I think agenda is interesting and I agree he’d be exactly it be an interesting P but I think I think hidden law was just a real Class Act I mean in all the trial we’ve had to the guine i’ I definitely think that by long sorry for the Darby I think by some margin up the best performance but sadly we’re not going to see it which is a a real shame the D Stakes obviously took place at Chester last week and capula overturned the form with bracken’s laugh from the all weather um excellent ride from from Ryan Moore um but are we seeing Derby contenders for Epsom or we seeing Darby contenders for perhaps elsewhere yeah I’m I wouldn’t be confident to get them out on the half by justify is there there is Stam in the family but I’d be I’d be more confident about French derby again and she’s going to be a a mant I’m going to be repeating I think in terms of what he ran to I think he’s got Mark 109 or something I’m not sure he improved massively on that um I just don’t think that’s classic standards I thought he given a really good ride but prior if we’ve been if I’ve been doing this uh last week I would have been against capul I I had my doubts about her being very straightforward I thought she looked a bit iffy at New Market a couple of times I think ridden that way she was he was much more genuine but in terms of quality I I don’t think he’s a a topse no and I I also thought that on a more conventionally Run Track and race I think Bracken laugh might beat C again yeah he was my big eye Catcher from the race um yeah just got caught in a pocket it wasn’t Finly Marsh’s fault you kind of look at these four-runner races and a lot of people go how can you find trouble in a four-runner race but he was just caught in the pocket it happens at Chester goes to the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot next I I hope finny Marsh keeps the ride it’ be the be a nice thing for him easy and we saw it with Richard Kings a couple of times last year as soon as you find trouble in races some of the owners are quick to take take jockeys off but yeah I I thought at Royal Ascot I thought Bracken laugh yeah that was nice but Capulet I I thought yeah the Derby would be relatively interesting Ryan Mo seems seemed to think afterwards that 10 fongs would be his bag that might change with how well Diego Velasquez then ran in the French 2000 guine yeah because he might then become their French Derby Contender so whether they kind of Reagle the pack is is another one but you’d be disappointed to see him hit the frame in the derby yeah well he’s 10 to one with bet 365 for the French derby Capulet uh around 16 to1 with B 365 for Epsom um we’ll talk bit more about the Derby picture after we’ve discussed uh the lingfield race and also the Oaks obiously spoken about those two contests but just sticking with chester for the moment and point Lonsdale won the Almond um what sort of guide it is to the Future I’m not entirely certain because I get the impression that they might want to have a go over further with Point Londale um he’s 12 to1 with bet 365 for the coronation cup but I Aiden O’Brian’s still talking about August Rodan for that race and obviously there be a Gap a huge gap between the two in terms of ability I think he’s a bit underrated and he’s a really versatile horse like he’s a five-time group winner now ranging from Seven furlongs to a mile and five so Nicholas Abby won the coronation cup after winning the Alman Stakes so they have got got that in the past it’s where you want him to fit fit in as a second string do you want him to go to the coronation cup behind augustro down or do you want to go behind the liks of K prios in the Ascot Gold Cup but I think he always runs his race I’d kind of underestimated him I think I’d kind of thought oh you’ve you’ve fallen out of love because he does take some rousting along yeah Ryan Mo got a lot of plaudit for his ride on Capulet but I thought he was brilliant only half an hour later on this horse a different ride but still yeah really strong in the finish and yeah it was a nice performance but he’ll always be the second string I think for the ad no’ Bryant team Fair summary completely and thinking back of the two you mentioned I’d much rather have a second string for Anton Rodan on given it 5050 which Anton rodan’s going to turn up keep his like he a R’s RAC in the Gold Cup and I think he’s better yeah whereas Anton Rodan could come first could come last could he August Rodan absolutely sorry Anton might be the first maybe one yeah what a name you you’re giving names to the cor more team already they need help they’re good be names they all good with names uh a good name for a horse who clearly travels very well oh Stakes uh passenger was very impressive on his return to action first run since he won at Windsor after a disappointing run in the derby what did you make of that performance dismissing his thought he superb and I think if you watch MCH tell on television pictures he took an absolute age to pull up he was full of running at the Finish full of running uh he things went wrong in the dantey last year and uh he unlucky and obviously der whatever but I think one of the first Theses I he a class think Michael St improving horse well he the horse has got loads and loads of miles left in him yeah I think you really saw um a more mature horse literally and you know in the way he demonstrated it uh he’s a group one horse for sure a group one horse and he is 8 to one for the Prince of Wales at Stakes at the Royal meeting with bet 365 what sort of impression did he create for you I loved him in the parade ring I I stood with Ken and he yeah there was no excuses he was fair he looked brilliant and that was a performance that you wanted to see from him I then looked back at his form and the the form of that Dante hasn’t actually worked out too badly the win of the foxes is probably the one that’s done the least he finished second in Belmont Derby but if you look back at it the second White Birch is won his two starts this year at group two and group three level uh the horse that he finished third and dead heated with continuous obviously then went on to win the Great voler and the St ledger so at the time it was disappointing because of that brilliant debut win in the wood dson but actually the form has worked out quite well the Derby just came too soon he was a bit Keen but he was a lot more professional in this race I actually really liked his run at Windor I went back and watched it because I kind of I underestimated at the time but I like the fact that I think Richard Kings could have waited a bit longer but he was in front a long way but really battled back at the finish and this was kind of his coming to age performance I think I imagine when Richard King went to bed on Thursday night and went through the the race in his head that would BR pretty much as it had hoped track through isra pulled out one Challenge and was strong at the Finish but yeah I I think he’d have a a brilliant chance in the prince of Wells to St I also Imagine when he went to bed on Friday night he probably went through what horses might line up in the prince of well Stakes to make sure that Ryan MO is going to be on one of aens um because obviously it is Ryan Moore’s ride if he’s available but yeah um I imagine that Richard King will be hoping and praying that Ryan doesn’t have a ride he does have a ride and that he can sit on passenger cuz he’s exciting for the for the season fingers crossed much I’m not going to add any more to what’s been said U but long live so Michael Stout yeah the Victoria cup at ascet on the weekend wizard of I I’ll let Steve AB enjoy the glory of this moment terrific tip at the start of the show last week um or the during the show last week 20 to1 when you and uh when you tipped it and you had to endure a little bit of waiting for a gap Etc but Tom maron’s the right man to have on board to to deliver for a moment like that yeah and it was quite an easy case to be made it sounds a bit harsh but I I’d say that Charlie fellow is definitely a trainer upgrade from Stan Moore first run after being gilded he dropped below a mark of 100 for the first time in his career like you look back at his form he was running in lock injes St James traving well in races well you thought the dro in trip would then yeah would then help him I actually think a further drop back in trip to six fongs would be exactly what he want I was thrilled when I then checked the the BHA site this morning and saw that he’s only Up 3 pounds to 102 I’m sure that will then ensure that he goes for the woking they obviously have the the option over seven fongs and the Jubilee Stakes for which is 33 to1 with bet 365 but yeah I think they’d have definitely taken that three pound rise and yeah I think Charlie fellows is pretty keen on the working would you be happy that he hasn’t run over six f for three years has he that’s fine yeah you’d be confident about the would you okay fair enough six as I wouldn’t be so sure six F Longs somewhere else I’d be concerned myself but I I certainly has a better option than the Jubilee personally you got you you’ll get a guaranteed strong Pace in wome they’ be a big field won’t they yeah you you know you know the horse you’re probably right just from the outside I wasn’t entirely sure about the trip anything else in the race that you no not particularly I thought the right horse won I really do I think he would value for more than he won by as well he won well then I agree about the three pound rise that’s terrific going to say I’m disappointed with mosab I think he’s a horse I thought this time when he won at the Dante meeting last season I thought it’s nice but he’s he’s been so disappointing I mean he should have won on the all weather and then that was I thought he had a nice position in the race and found very little so issues for him let’s move to lingfield and talk about the two classic trials and first of all the Oaks trial won by you got me uh where obviously excellent ride uh from Hector crouch on you got me rubies are R Awkward on the track what did you make of her performance and either likely to be a player Epson uh yeah I’m I’m not sure I particularly agree with either of the comedy from just for for the second I thought I I honestly thought they went a bit too fast on you got me I thought he was exhausted she was exhausted at the end think the first three um would were well the first three in who who were battling from two rubies of red came late were out on their feet in the final two fongs I thought she you know she’s held on and she’s a very game Hawks she clearly stays well because she’s gone plenty hard enough Ruby Z I’ve watched that race about five or six times because everyone said it didn’t come down the a or maybe she didn’t probably right but I think she would absolute guaranteed turn the form around at Epsom I think a stiffer track definitely will suit her and it’s a much stiffer M and a half compared with one M three and a half at Epson the similarities are overplayed um I I I think it’s there was there is more Galloping EPS than there is at lingfield so if there is a horse to take out of for the Oaks I’d definitely have rubies a red I I certainly agree with you for rubies are red I I don’t think she was that inconvenienced by the track almost almost it seemed as if the front three got away yeah and then suddenly Those Behind realized that they’d got away I thought Ron half accepted it going down there I think he half going too fast that’s my and then they they they then had a a bit of a bust up for the final three for Daniel come on the outside and um yeah I I was disappointed with her I thought she was a very looked a really good off she w at weatherbe maybe the ground was too fast for but I I think I don’t think they were going anywhere in the closing stages um certainly think if there is a if there is an oak FR I do think it’s rubies are R I would agree with that what did you think Steve I would agree with that as well I think the market has as well the fact that yeah the win is 16 to1 for the Oaks and and uh rubies are red is is nine to one kind of says it all really um yeah she’s Ruby’s are red full sister to to found and best in the world who’s the dam of snowfall who went on to win the yolks impressively so so the breeding’s definitely there as as any of the the valo uh horses obviously are in the with the team that they’ve got this was only her third start she’s not actually won a race yet she looked out paced I thought on the good ground if there was a bit of rain in the buildup that would definitely H help her at Epsom um yeah you they can get away from you at lingfield if at that point and I think yeah if Ryan had the had the ride back he’d prefer that first day of the of the Epson Tuesday meeting they ensure the ground is is is always just on the slow side of good for safety reasons understand it’ll definitely be less less it it was proper good to firm ground on times at lingfield it’ll be less than that epom should we get a little snapshot oh sorry yeah I was just going to say the fact that y Lang yangang is shortened Yeah by standing in a box at home probably says it all around these trials and the fact that we’re all probably highlighting and seemed more confident on a horse that’s finished second in a trial Point probably says it all around the Oak Market that’s a fair point um obviously there’s still the musidora to come as we record this and there’s the dantey um but I think maybe worth getting a little snapshot from the team for the Oaks and the Derby so the Oaks yangang y Lang as you say 9 to4 favorite rubies are red 9 to1 this is obviously all with bet 365 Tam 9 to1 opera singer I’m not even sure she’s going to make it she’s 12 to1 I didn’t see her on the list of horses exercising at Bal Doyle earlier this week uh ezelia 14 to1 Forest fery who spoken about 14 to1 you got me 16s Danielle 20s couple that are running this week classical s 25s we’ll talk more about that but at this stage Steve for a an Oaks selection where would you go uh the PRI you’re giv me given that you know the French 1,000 G isn’t supplemented at the last age I thought she was nice yeah ruia um I I like rub i r I think I think I think it’s a more certain stay than langal Lang personally beting it’s taken a dread that Ryan will be on yeah that isn’t guaranteed um it’s also taken his R everyone seems to believe that y y yangang is going to stay and want a half I think she’ll sell out and a quarter wouldn’t be guaranteed whereas certainly at the the price you’re giving me um I I think I think that’s actually I think that’s reasonable I think she’s going to be very hard to kick out the frame I’m I’m s side with that what about you I’d be on the I’d be with the y y Lang to be honest with with the U the strength of these trials I’d always think that the the guiney is always the best trial for the Oaks and the Darby and the way that she was staying on at the finish and the way that she stayed on at the Finish over in the Phillies mile last season I I do think is’s a worthy favorite at this time would I be in a rush to take the price no I wouldn’t the only I I get the point everyone makes about her being proper stay and she’s a stand out and form the only thing is she’s run at New Market three times now and yes it could just be down to the fact that she wants further but each time she’s run a new market she’s come down the dip with a little bit of awkwardness so I’m not saying that that means she can’t handle Epsom but you would like to see them down there because epom is going to be much tougher test so that would be my one caveat if you’re going to back y Lang y Lang okay so that’s a look at the Oaks um the lingfield Derby trial Was Won by ambiant friendly very impressive in the gredley colors pleased to see James Fel with a very good horse a good good three-year-old and a three-year-old that clearly they’ve always believed in and he’s always thought this is a very very good horse needs to get him to settle but he did it yeah I was disappointed with him in the field and I thought he’d have a chance in that and then kind of dismissed him on the back of that performance when it came into this but we used somich out cliche earlier but what price would he be if he was trained by Eden O’Brien this was a really really impressive performance um I’d question the form Illinois looked really awkward hung badly in second um but yeah um ambient friendly yeah finished third last season behind ancient wisdom so the form kind of was there y but is that going to be good enough going into the Derby is a slight question mark I was really pleased for Callum Shepard he’s he’s kind of he’s had a good couple of weeks um and I think this will be his first derby ride so yeah yeah all right nice nice off but yeah would positive about ambient friendly uh who is 8 to one with bet 365 for the great race still the great race um without a doubt Steve ambient friendly appealed as a Derby winner to you um no I I think I mainly agree with steeve my my only slight issue with sassy I was talking to you about this beforehand uh and it’s it’s only a real slight niggle there was a marked Advantage uh at lingfield on Saturday to race near the stand we see that we’re going to talk about one the group three Phillies race later which I thought was you you had no chance if you were three horses off the rail now amb didn’t come right the way over but he did race the closest and there’s something in the back of my mind that suggest he was racing on better ground than one or two of the others I’m I’m I’m loed to take it completely literally what I saw I believe what I mean do I think I it was a very good performance and ab abely I’d be excited if I would then the connection about running the horse and you’d think the horse would stay I’m just not sure I’d take that race completely at face value yeah and Steve’s pointed about Illinois and the strength of form just leaves you a little bit shall Hollow for just how good a race that was as a guide to to the to the best race hopefully for the three olds for the season I also thought it was really interesting so I I dismissed him for the fact that he raced Keeny over a mile and one in a hood they took the hood off he went up in I was like you stand absolutely no chance of settling and Callum shefer did an unbelievable job of getting him settled in the race that was a massive thing um and I think in recent articles they’ve spoken about that being the main thing trying to get him to settle so they’re on the right track Arabian Crown is the 7-2 joint favorite for the Derby with I still find it hard to say city of Troy I know August Rodan won the Derby off the back of a blow out last year but it’s a different story uh ambient friendly 8 to1 ancient wisdom 8 to1 ahead of the danty uh Los Angeles 8 to1 Diego Velasquez 14s Capulet 16s caviar Heights 20s and some others bellam Justin 25s who won the race um Epsom dcing Gemini ran well in France 33 to one okay who’s the Derby winner at this stage I’m bearing in mind that the Dante is still to come yeah the Dante might be running soft grounds I think ancient Wiston May will if that’s the case may will win but if you could guarantee me soft round to Epsom um I think it would be he’ be a play I think the best is about right in terms of the Arabian Crown I think it’s got least to prove that he’s impressive at sand down I think stamina is definitely not going to be a problem he looks a real straightforward professional horse which I quite like yeah um I mean City Ro may win but um I’d backed 30 horses before about city of dra just because another one from the yard did that it now accepted that’s what I don’t think Aiden IUN set out to have the Run terribly in the 2000 GES as of his master plan I mean he ran absolutely awful in the Guinness okay so I’ll put it to both of you Aiden o Brian’s point about the horse going in the stores becoming upset and his heart rate going from 125 to 150 and then 200 and so by the time he gets the halfway there’s nothing to give because he’ got upset in the stores and that being one of the reasons along with the fact that perhaps he hadn’t done enough because he treated I’m using his quote he treated the horse like a god um he was beat four outage he wasn’t beat he wasn’t it wasn’t like he’s run well for six furong he was he was beaten miles out so with that in mind that’s what I’m saying those comments that Aiden has made in relation to has got to be the main reason why city of Troy is 7 to two because if you remove the comments and just look at the performance there’s no way he should be 7even to2 for the Derby he say no Bri everyone know either fantastic trainer and that that’s but if Aiden had come out of the racing I’m baffled I have no idea what happened that’s what he said on the day that’s exactly what he said today so which one do we take well I don’t know it’s up to it depends on what you know his two he’s a great two-year-old Terri if if if he’s right and if he’s got it back to his two-year-old for yeah absolutely he should be a favorite for the Derby but it all depend what you are as a uh as a as a punter I mean I I will applaud if the horse wins but I it wouldn’t even be remotely on my mind just remember he’s 161 he’s 161 he enormous heart look back at theame he he he was last in he was in for what two seconds like I’m not I’m not having that as an excuse I’m more than happy to to excuse one run but you’d you’d want a bigger price to be able to do that there’s also the Spectre of his Dam not training on and there’s that as well so there’s enough of that so who is your likeliest winner of the Derby then right now I actually like one from the Dante so I’m going to keep my uh close to my chest good all right you’re going to have to keep scrolling r not God’s window no not elma’s M okay we come we’ll save it we’ll save it we’ll save it okay all right so that’s a little look at some of what we’ve seen in terms of what we saw ascar lingfield Chester um should also mention I mean Los Angeles was very impressive winning the Derby trial and he’s putting together a nice profile are you I he sounds like he’s going to be part of Aiden’s team which is also interesting when you considered that it was just city of Troy lining up in the guine cuz that’s all they needed now it’s possible they might need some back yeah I thought he was entitled to to win as he did um didn’t look the strongest race on paper but it was a nice performance I don’t think he’s ever going to be flashy with what he did um again 8 to1 is is fair for the Derby but I’d be looking at some at the bigger prices um I’m sure you you were pleased to see never so brave win impressively for for S Michael Stout I thought he stable flying yeah I thought he’d uh he’d be a nice one for the britania yeah I heard people mention the jersey for him as well I’m not sure I want to do that step yeah I I didn’t this morning actually check what what Marky got given I’ll do that while Steve’s going through uh and I’ve got a bit of a left field one that I’ll I’ll touch on at the end if that’s right okay um mention the two horses in Fr or the two races in France St can the French 1,000 guine and the 2,000 guine uh rohia steeped as all the aakhan horses in in in that agakhan family I thought she was really impressive yeah primarily because of how the race was run and romantic style sat on her outside and I think um ideally rahier would have been in a slightly better position but had to seed it to romantic style so I thought she was a very smart winner the great picture you can see they show overhead later I think she’s quite I like I liked her attitude there was there was Phillies Who would thought would would maybe think twice about it now the time’s going be misleading because they had a huge rain shower in between the two guins so I’m not taking it literally but just for what it’s worth it was it was 1.85 seconds faster than the Colts um everything about her her run style uh and her breeding she by Lake Daga out of a middle distance winner I mean the race they’re going to go for is the French Oaks for sure and I think she’s she’s got a really really strong claim to that she’s lightly raced she’s a typical arakan uh middle distance improver I love I love the families that they’ve got and I I was really taken but I thought she’s did very well to win at a mile cuz I think that’s not a distance she’ be running at too many more times she’s exciting Philly isn’t she she everything about her suggests there’s going to be progression the family the pedigree with the Run style yeah I thought that was more more a race to take out than the than the Cults equivalent to be honest I thought that was Stronger form with VES petio and romantic styling behind I thought the French 2000 guine was was a little bit of a mess I thought Metropolitan was entitled to win and was probably a worthy winner on the day I don’t think it’s going to be one of these races that if you ran again there’d be a different result I do think he was a worthy winner on the day but you look at the lights of ding Gemini Diego Vas in behind and I wouldn’t think it’s the strongest form going forward I did actually flick forward to have a look at the Royal Ascot market for the James’s Palace in the hope that bet 365 would have pushed him out to a bit of a ridiculous price because it was pretty much a piece of work like he just didn’t get involved um but he’s still four to one for that and I I’d want bigger bigger than that he’s only a point bigger than rosalion who’s finished second in the 2000 guine like if you ask me who I want to P out of those two it’s definitely going to be rosalion indeed I would agree with that um obviously notable speech hangs over that for the St James’s Palace St six to four favor with bet 365 rosalion 3 to1 Henry Longfellow 4 to1 um on that 2,000 guine in France Steve uh dancing Gemini might be a possible for the Derby itself Roger Tel was saying he’s quite open about it before the race saying he’s not sure whether he’s an Epsom Derby horse or a French Derby horse but he thinks he is going to be better of further and this is he made it quite clear this is a a prep run for one of those races when in the context of it I thought was quite good considering what Steve pointed out about the fact it was a messy race they crawled sprinted yeah slightly unsatisfactory in that aspect it was a really good run yeah I I given his run so well there and obviously found the traveling not a problem um I’d be tempted to run to go up slightly you to go up to the French D personally um rather rather than somewhere you know bit of an unknown about the track for him that where I would go but he certainly earned his right to run in one yeah uh was there anything else from the last week I mean you mentioned obviously never so brave which would be one that I was going to mention um stole that off me just just quickly on that he’s up7 to 101 so okay that pushes him into Jersey rather than you see I just thought you rich really I thought the Wendler yes I thought You’ love the family I mean by the family of banks heeld into it’s a fabulous family I’m not at all surprised um I know that it was a she dominated who knows the strength of the race but that’s the first time the horse had a chance to run on top of ground which is what the family vert from Dan silly onward they’ve got form on soft ground I’ve got their good horses but their Peak form almost without bill in particular was a you liked it like a road yeah she won the Breeders Cup at some amazing time because it was like absolutely it’s a brilliant family and all her previous runs have been on soft ground so cuz a lot was made about I know other horses in the race I think I think people might underestimate um Wendler given those conditions you two keep stealing my thunder um cuz that was yes the family but also I think J the thing that struck me was J Lions mentioned after the race said I didn’t realize she was that quick he thought she was going slow yeah um which is ironic considering that all that family were at their best on Fast ground and they all had speed Dan silly InterContinental Banks Hill they’re all their best on that ground so um looking forward um the buttons was the horse and one look could won the sales race of the two horses that that were behind I thought that was one that was disappointing yeah whatever way buttons You could argue to still run okay still green I think she’s got more to come agree good race you be pushed to say that me positive about one look one look that was disappoint anything else yeah just yeah my my kind of one from leftfield if you go back and watch shant t on Saturday the opening race delus right was really impressive it’s well worth going back and having a watch he’s a massive horse he didn’t run at two he’s named after the former Chaser do you remember I do remember this absolutely I do yeah big horse takes his time to get going he’s by Frank trained by jncl rouer ridden by Christian demero unraced at two made a winning debut at long Chomp over Maron 2 in April beat a subsequent winner that day that’s trained by Andre Fab this was over a mile and a half and he’s just the type to keep progressing through those French races and end up in the arc I looked it up be 65 is 40 to1 okay two from two in his career and yeah I think he’s a massive price I went through the Art Market like it’s it’s 20 to on the field there’s no standout Contender and he’s just the type that I think is’s going to impress through the year so delus I think he’s one to keep for the rest of the year we’ll be looking back at this be the Chester cups as a consolation race I think as a race that will work out briefly I’m there was there was a group three great uh great generation one at lingfield did well to overcome troubling running to win but that was a by then I think every jockey had realized you had to be on the rail and they were almost falling on top of each other to try and get the rail and I would TR some of that form we saw at the weekend though not I’m probably been unfair about the Derby trial because it wasn’t right over but I do think lingfield was was huge bi on a strike was massive huge bi absolutely massive okay well that brings us uh to a close for racing recap but lots more still to come on this show okay before we get into our York and weekend preview just to let you know that our sponsor bet 365 have a best odds guaranteed offer it is available on every single UK and Irish race from 8:00 a.m. on the day of the race if you take a price and the SP is bigger 365 will pay you at the bigger odds full teenes can be found on the website and so to the Dante Festival what isn’t a festival these days um and some good racing just looking at the potential feels that we’ve got for the three days of the meeting it looks exciting we start off talking about the Duke of York um Clipper Stakes I mean it looks a terrific race uh AO blue is back in action after a long layoff having looked a worldy at some points last season um but there are some other really good sprinters in there that I think could have a big part to play I mean Steve I I’ll start with you and how you would play this race as a punter with the uncertainty of being confident I she’s 5 to one bet 365 uh as your blue for the race yeah as a punter i’ have I’d swerve um her not surprised again she I just think that July cup isn’t it last time we saw it I don’t know um I think we had a clue for the race whether it’ll be whether we get the right um interpretation of the clu another matter but a new market with several of these met um Washington Heights mstream spy ccher I was taken with a run of spy ccher that day and I also taken with comment both pre and after uh the race where I remember cobber being very concerned about running the horse on Fast ground was surprised that these jockey chose spy catchu over a stable companion on the ground anyway I think out I think outrun expectations and from a very early stage they’ve book Ryan Mo to ride this horse and the rain overnight today which I think they guaranteed to get is going to ensure that the ground is livelier than it was at New Market so that would be the way I went personally well Kyle Burke’s got a quartet of sprinters in all four you can make a case for absolutely marshman though I he’s been pretty disappointing I’ve expected much better from him especially after a decent comeback run is K Burke the key to the race or do you look elsewhere Steve so my first thought was a you blue and then I saw an interview of Michael dods and said that he’s pretty sure that she’ll need this run um she had problems with her feet and bits and pieces after the July cup hence wise we didn’t see her again but is there anything in this race that could have beaten Highfield princess you’d probably say no but by the sounds of it this is going to be a work in progress for the year going forward I thought monib was the was the one to be with I thought he was really Progressive should appreciate the forecast reain that Steve touches on should AR raave today and tomorrow he has a few pounds to find on ratings but has the benefit of race Fitness over a BL and swing Along who both have good course and distance form he does as well though he won a 22 Runner handicap here last season won the camage trophy on his re appearance and I thought 7 to one I thought that was very fair yeah I there are a number I mean so many horses in this race you can make a case for I like mstream who I’ve always thought was a progressive horse last season obviously did well to win pattern race in France and then he’s had a comeback run second run after a wind up now as well no confidence because I think it’s a really tough race to to find the winner but I liked mstream um took about jockey bookings and will bu has been jocked up on him as well for for some time so that would be the play in the race for me sorry we to mention the fact that um Kieran F kept the ride on Mon which I think was deserved I’m Tom maran’s biggest fan don’t get me wrong but it was I think it was a really good ride donc was really really good ride that day and be unfortunate if you’re not rewarded by yeah he obviously built an affinity with the horse is what I’m saying yeah would it be fair to say just observing Kieran Fallon this season I think he’s riding better than he’s ever done undoubtedly yeah I really think he’s gone up a gear I think he’s probably being back at The Haus yard virtually full-time um I think he a really really big Prof I think you’ll have a very good year yeah I agree I’m very impressed with what I’ve seen so far um the musidora takes place uh on uh the naves meire and I’m excited about this race friendly Souls the 10 to 11 favorite uh with bet 365 second in the market is classical song at 13-2 Mayfair 7 to1 and then double figures well frankophones 9 to1 then double figures the remainder um Steve how impressed were you with friendly soult at New Market and what do you think I was really impressed um I was against her on the day because a lot of John and th gson have needed the first run of their season so I was against her she was weak in the market I was really impressed with what she’s done um C just in time was a notable absentee in the Declarations for this she has shortened up but the Stables record in this race is brilliant they’ve won it for the last two seasons with Emily upjn and soul sister they also won it three years in a row 2015 16 and 17 with star Seville s Dar and shutter speed um I think she’s definitely a worthy favorite like I said I was against her on the day in the pretty poly but she was really impressive the way that the market suggested calana was absolutely smashed off the boards went off four to six they pulled 12 length clear of the third that day and when friendly so got back into the pr she took a blow I think she’ll definitely come on for that run there’s going to be a bit of pressure on Kieran shumark this week on his rides and this is going to be the one that really starts the week well she’s shortened into I think she’s just a shade of odds on at the minute 10 to 11 I think with bet 365 I’d definitely rather be a backer than a layer at that price and I don’t often get stuck in at odds on but I’d happily back her at that price yeah I I thought it was a I’m agreeing with what Steve saying the performance at New Market I thought was huge considering the stable form at the time but also the fact that her and kalpana have pulled so far clear how kalpana we saw how impressive she was first time up this season and she traveled up to win her race she did again you get get some interesting comments reading between the lines uh from trainers one of the comments gr goon made afterwards after talking about friendly song he’s obviously got um a reasonable regard for Strutter and I think he was quite surprised that she was been as far as she was beaten I think he sees it was a stay I’m not saying it wasn’t he didn’t expect it her to be beaten I think that form is probably very very solid um she’s not in the Oaks is she um but I think she’s agree with everything I think she’s a worthy short priz favorite the second favorite is framed by ra Becka who’s got a fantastic angle in the Phillies and um classical song had good two-year-old form last year absolutely but I think um friendly s was should be extrem ex H unless the ground turns into something you know a complete bog I think she’s got outstanding claims are you surprised at all that it appears that Epson is not on her radar friendly S at the moment yeah I suppose I was surprised yeah yeah yeah my I am yeah yeah I think yeah you be you the way she finished the race off at New Market you’d be hopeful she’d get a bit further wouldn’t you well she’s um related to call the wi who was probably one of the the best stayers in Europe over the last couple absolutely um okay let’s move on and talk about the Middleton uh for which last year’s winner free wind is back blue stocking had a couple of options Steve is heading to this race as well yeah she was in the Aston Park Stakes at newb on Saturday but decided to come here we we touched on us some Michael Stout improving four-year-old earlier on the show in the shape of Passenger I’m really hoping that infinite Cosmos can kind of fill some of her early promise in this she was really impressive winner on her reappearance last year I absolutely love at New Market finished third in the midora behind soul sister and then clearly had issues she was off 126 days she ran at y she only finished third that day but I think that was really just just a run at the end of the season to see what they’ve got she was notably weak in the market that day she’s got about 10 pounds to find on ratings but with both blue stocking and free wind I feel like we we know their level and I think infinite Cosmos we don’t know how good she is and she could just progress past them I think 8 to one has formed fresh ryal back on board yeah I think that’s fair enough well three winners six to4 favorite bet 365 blue stocking 9 to4 saire se’s four to1 infinite Cosmos 8 to one and then Nova 16 and canaf and 20 Steve um how do you see it I think it’s a race I definitely wouldn’t be having a bet in I’m I’m I’m I’m I’m Luke war on both the two horses at the head of the market really can’t get out my mind blue stock and get beaten at Chester a race that she should have won and I think she wants a mile and a half really ideally anyway and free win for all there’s some very good piece of form don’t get me wrong he’s also capable of throwing in the odd not such good R so uh I will cheer on INF Cosmos for Steve I’m going to cheer on obviously I can see I can see the Argent I mean it’ be they’re taking up you know an awful lot of the market and I’ve got reasons for not being with either of the favorites on free win if the rain does come that’s also negative for her I think would it be fair to say lot of rain would be yeah yeah her better form is on I think it would be in favor of blue stocking to be fair it would be in favor of blue she does not win feel I mean that’s clearly the issue for her um right the danty Stakes obviously the big big trial the last big trial for the Derby ancient wisdom uh the winner of the fuity at Doner 11 to 10 favorite Al mmac 7-2 caviar Heights 4 to1 Cambridge 10 economics 12s God window Gods window 20s and War rooms 25 um ancient wisdom I think you’ve touched on it a couple of times now if the ground is on the soft side a good bet no wouldn’t be a good bet for me but I think I think for her to to God for him to run uh to his best I think I think the softer the better okay um if you could tell me what the ground definitely was on Thursday you know I mean I it’s just on the soft side are good not saying the horse wouldn’t perform wouldn’t run okay but I think he becomes much more vulnerable if it comes out very soft we have a lot of rain today and it carries on tomorrow then then I would argue he’s got a very good chance I know Steve likes one the race and he’s have a stronger view than me all I will say is I really like kavar heights’ win at new at New Market a good time yeah um I thought was a big Improvement on on the previous run and I think I think at form claims I think he’s got you know pretty sound claim because he seems to be getting better amand for I think might be his trip as well I know he end in the derby but I think that might be bang on his trip and I can see it look at an economics run who are like as a horse it’s just a big step up in class so I for for a tip for what it’s worth I’d go for cavier Heights unless the ground is extremely soft in which case I think the favor would be hard to be okay um and Steve what is it that you like in this race so we’ll touch on Ancient wisdom first I think we’ve got a lot of rain today and tomorrow but with the temperatures that we’ve got outside it could well dry up by the time this race comes off comes away I think what about 3:05 on on Thursday it could it could dry up to to good to soft and anent at the back end of last season showed his best form on soft and heavy ground I like Steve was was impressed with cavar Heights when I was at New Market last time but Alma’s Mack would be would be the horse for me this is his re appearance which again just like the John goon stable for Roger Varan they have been stepping forward for that first one so that would be a slight negative but it would also mean that he’s 50 to1 for the Derby so if he was finishing second here he could well step forward for that albeit that the trip of a mile and a half might be a slight question mark if you go back for his for form I was really impressed and it’s working out well he won on his debut finished second behind rosalion in that race at Ascot what a race that is if you know look back at that he had ancient wisdom alien Ari dancing Gemini and Sunway all behind him they all boosted the form since he then won at ha do beating MCD and rard they finished second and third behind Arabian Crown at Sandown and then finished second behind ghost riter in the Royal Lodge he obviously then went on to run well in the 2000 guine further back in that was Capulet who then went on to the wind and the D Stakes so the more I look back at his form the more I thought hang on a minute he’s got a proper chance if he’s ready to go on this reappearance now he’s been quite strong in the market anti poost and obviously now that we’ve got declarations I think he’s into 7even to two now 7even to two with better um which takes away the each way angle in the race but I think with ancient wisdom also making his reappearance and a slight question mark if they don’t get all that rain and it’s dried out a bit I do think he’s quite a likely winner at 7 to2 and I think if he was to win this connections are quite sporting and I do think they’ probably let him take his chance in the derby for which he 50 to1 bet 365 okay to brief mention uh just touch on on economics um you know fan of the H I think they have their he’s an excellent trainer is unlike him normally has a winner of a maiden I’d say nine times out of 10 he’d carry a penalty in a in a novice race and he had an entry at Salsbury F enough on the same day it’s um it’s not it’s not he normally does to pitch the horse like that straight into group two family which uh uh I take as a positive so I’m very interested in how he runs you couldn’t argue from a form point of view he can win I suspect it might be a fair bit better than we’ve seen so far not entirely certain how much of a betting race this is um I did do some deep diving into the form and uh pedigree of Al mmac the only I’d say is the pedigree suggests there’s nothing in there Beyond a mile I mean I’ve looked through the last three D his three dams and there’s nothing that screams he wants any further than a mile and then the two defeats that he he had last year behind ghost riter and obviously the one admittedly behind rosalion where he was long way behind rosalion he doesn’t hit the line hard looking like he’s going to be a strong Miler or step up in trip so it in the end it put me off him both for the D if I’m honest for the dantey and also for the Derby I can’t see it however he does have a touch of class that’s what I think will be on his side I mean he proved that that’s the form that you talk about it’s outstanding um and if ancient wisdom doesn’t run up to his best I can see him perhaps being too good for the rest but if ancient wisdom is is ready to roll I think he he’ll probably win uh the Yorkshire cup um on paper it looks like it could be an outstanding race Tower of London has looked a really improved performer for the Aden Bren team that’s the five to four favorite V Ban’s in there at 4 to one this is all with bet 365 kyos 9-2 heish 6 to1 Al Karim 1-2 last year’s winner Giotto 30 1-2 Gregory 13-2 I who knows exactly what’s going to line up but it’s possible Steve that we might get a a really good race but then who knows um but Tower of London has looked really good on his his two I doubt Tower of London and K to turn up I doubt not know he does run to but I can’t see that’s going to happen he’s looked um I mean a good last year to be fair ran in a lot of the races for embryo stayers didn’t he yeah he ran at new Mark he ran well in The Ledger so absolutely he carried on that Improvement he’s um he’s been impressive in in Dubai and he’s clearly the um I think the upand cominging stay I can see that and if if again if we’re talking about good to soft no worse uh then I think he’s yeah absolutely um I’d love heish to run well I’m massive fan of the horse yeah uh but I think that that probably does want them I’m on soon do you think he’ll definitely run at York or newb I’m not think R we bit softer softer yeah fair enough um how do you see the Yorkshire C so GTO obviously won this last year but beat Elder OV broom and quick Thorn and this is just a much stronger contest this year so I I I discount him tando I thought has looked good on his two starts this year I thought the interesting one was voban because it’s going to be interesting to see how they’re campaig him because if Willie Mullins and Rich richer wanted to win the Melbourne cup again do you want to be winning races like this with the eye on a handicap Mark so the one that I ended up coming down on was Gregory at the prices now he progressed really quickly last season he had three ring uh three runs in the space of two months ending up with a victory in the queen SARS at Royal Ascot he was beaten here in the great voler and again in the St Ledger but I just think that quick group of runs together probably paid for him they’ve given him plenty of time off he only actually has two pounds to find with tower on London on weight adjusted ratings and yeah I thought he was probably the eway player into the race he always looked the type to progress with age so I’d give a chance to Gregory all right Gregory uh in the Yorkshire cup might be the play um the Locking on Saturday it’s possible again we might get a very good race um clearly in spiral uh seems to be on target for the race um big rock Sharon’s been very good this season might be the return of um dear old Royal Scotsman um but at the moment in spirals a 6 to4 favorite with bet 365 big rocks 2 to1 fives Poker Face 13 to2 royal scotsman’s 12s 16’s Flight Plan real world who was obviously a runner up to bayed in the race a one time 20 to1 and then High royal placing the guine last year 25 to1 33 to1 bar those um how do you see it is uh is INSP spiral vulnerable big rock best Ming performance we saw last season in Q2 it was definitely the best miling performance but I’d be worried about the stable switch only a month ago I’d be against the top two in the market in this big Ro that would be a question mark for me and the ground I don’t think Newber is going to get as much rain as what we think looking at the forecast ahead so that would be a question mark for him in spiral this just isn’t the time of the year for her is it she missed the guies and then went to Royal Ascot she didn’t run in this last year before finishing second in the queen and so I’d be worried about her especially with the wet and cold winter I think she takes a while to to actually get into her training if You’ have told me that I was back in Ching for a locking at the start of the Year season I thought i’ have told you you were mad but it’s Chon and Pokerface that I’ve come down on um just for that form of that bet 365 mile Stakes at Sandown last time Pokerface has a three- pound swing from that day with Charon Royal Scotsman kind of faces question marks in this who was the other alternative but his season kind of peted out last year I’d probably Dutch the two and it’s not something I normally do in these races but I just think with the massive question marks around the others around them at the top of the market I thought 5 to1 and 13-2 you could happily back them both each way we’ rather Dutch 5 to1 and 13-2 sharid and Pokerface than in spiral and big rock big time I’d be I’d be well against those at the top of the market and I just think that the two are absolutely Rock Solid alternative you Steve or no I think a very easy rest to play personally um love it I’d back Sharon each way now um with with three then I think and then if the heavens happen to open I would make sure big rock wasn’t losing for me cuz I do think it’s an exceptional Miler but I think that the ground obviously is I think well it appears to be vital yeah um I’m agree with everything that St said about in spiral I fancy Sharon to confirm the form personally I thought I thought he won sort despite thing what I would love for him and he didn’t really get it at donc and he didn’t get it sand down he an actual proper truly run Mar I think that would really show I think he’s a strong stay in Miler uh but I he’s definitely going to run in the race barring things that can happen over the next few days I can’t see any reason shouldn’t run well um and there are doubts about horses who are making the market yeah well there’s doubts about the horse I like the Steve’s already referred to which is Royal Scotsman but I’m looking back at his runs in the duerst and the guins and it’s conceivable that you could be talking about horse who should have won the Jew Hurst M um and was a bit unlucky with the way the race panned out and he made part of his own luck by being a bit too Keen in the early part of the guies but I felt on both those occasions he might have just been about the best in the race you he picked up an injury disappointed after that and picked up an injury and has been off since but the stable are flying they remain convinced he’s a very good horse and he’s 12 to one for a race which I agree exactly the points that you both I think in sp’s vulnerable first time up um but the ground I think he does he’ll be better on the quicker ground so I’m hoping you’re right about that um so he would be my play in the lockage uh on the weekend now there are a host of other options for anything else that we like for the women there’s loads of good racing this week there newb New Market York Etc um do you want to give me something else now or do you want to wait till we do our best selections how do you do you want to wait I’ll wait I just say the same thing twice oh perfect I just say the same thing twice I’m going to give you two and then save my best bet and save the best bet great wow good um the first one isn’t going to be a bet but big EVS is well worth watching in the 415 on Thursday uh that’s the listed westow Stakes at York was one of the great stories last year for Mick applebe one at Royal Ascot one at the Breeders Cup should really make a winning reappearance he was odds on I think about 8 to 11 um obviously we haven’t had the revised betting up at the time of recording and then just one to keep an eye on uh York on Friday in the five F on handicap is mswat though The Whispers going around New Market for this horse were were significant ahead of the guine meeting he hared in price to 6 to1 and just didn’t handle the track at all if you ever want to go back and watch a replay of of a horse not handling New Market that was it he drops to five furong for the first time in his career crucially drops from a class two not to 100 handicap into a class three not to 90 handicap off top weight hopefully he gets declared and yeah a more conventional track I thought mwat would be a really strong selection on Friday okay uh so some good info hopefully about all of that but as they say the Best Is Yet To Come and before we get into our Best Bets of the upcoming week just to let you know of a free-to-play six horses challenge it’s available every weekend with priz pools available for five and four correct predictions as well as a jackpot for all six T’s and C’s apply time for our Best Bets of the week and Steve uh you are first on the Block okay yeah I really like the horse um if for some reason doesn’t run it’s still a horse I’d have in mind for good for good races I like good doy I really like the way the horse has been trained um again DAV is a trainer I look at quite a lot and I think it’s uh it’s fair to say he trains his horses they get fitter with runs I don’t think he a horse who gets horses buzzed up first time out so it took my eye first time winning at Salsbury on his SE on his on his first ever run that’s surprised me I thought he won in really good style thought he’s an interesting Runner and he brought him along this year run him on the all weather which would be a mile on the all weather was never going to be fine I thought he’d run very well uh behind a um a warm favorite and then he went to sand down last time out and LU is a you know a happy day for me he back it and he found so much trouble in running on the on the on the on the far rail stuck behind horses when he finally got out thought he’s going to run a really good second here and he’s absolutely mull them he’s picked up really well and I thought that this is way better than his handicap the handicap has gone bos7 which for the I think has taken literally what he won by I think he would value much much more than that and uh the London Cup’s always a very competitive handicap full of really interesting three year old who could develop into patent class horses yeah what I’m saying I think he’s one of those at the moment he’s an 8 to1 chance with bets 365 which is 13 to two now it wasn’t two minutes ago I mean this is the price I think he’s got a great chance I think he’s got a really good CH I think Nuri sues him I think a galloping track is what he wants um as long doesn’t the ground I don’t know yet both his run have taken place to be fair was good to soft at sand down um so I don’t know what he’d be like on very fast ground I don’t think that’s going to happen and if he didn’t run here I think it’d be interesting run for been the big handicap at Royal aset Goodwood Odyssey 132 bet 365 for the London Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday 8 one if you nice good it was there though I mean I’ve got good eyesight from here I’ve read your notes and put a bet on while you’re there what have you got for us so I I’m wary that I’m tipping a horse on Wednesday at 2:15 but you’ve had 24 hours to watch the show so if you are late sorry he’s probably already won um but in the jvic handicap on Wednesday the 2115 it’s Mahaba the champ uh he’s two from two from York in his career beat Marie Diamond of a mark of 90 in May on this card last season on his re appearance then won on nth day beating bagor by one and a half length off a mark of 91 that rival boosted the form winning at New Market on his reappearance and is’s rated eight pounds higher Mahaba The champ is now only six pounds higher so on those ratings he should have a massive chance disappointed at new mark on his final start but that can be excused he’s been gilded over the winter he’s unbeaten at the track he has formed fresh and he still looks competitively handicapped so at 4 to one I thought mava the champ would uh prove hard to beat in the jic handicap on Wednesday okay Moab the champ good what I see and I’m going for London City who runs uh on Thursday of York now he had two entries he was entered at York uh during the week and he was also entered in the London Gold Cup um I watched him win at dunor and he’s he’s a big horse he’s by justify out of winter so he’s got a terrific pedigree he’s a big gray horse he had two runs at the back end of last season in Ireland and he just looked to be all at Sea he looked a little bit more uh furnished but also so still a little bit at Sea I think there’s masses of improvement to come from him disappointingly he’s got rating in the in the low 90s but I think that he’s going to be a pattern horse in time um and I’m pleased that they’ve gone for the weaker option at York rather than taking the London Gold Cup um I’ve looked through the race at York and it looks a much more winnable race than the one obviously with Goodwood Odyssey and a few other Dark Horses so I think this is a horse that’s going to go on a steep upward curve having got his head in front uh a dor so London City uh in the 520 at York on Thursday so just a recap London City York Thursday 520 for me Mohamad the champ opening up proceedings at York at the Dante meeting uh for Steve and Goodwood Odyssey for Steve melish uh who is uh running in the London Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday and that’s the end of all the winners coming your way from this week’s show uh obviously much many more winners to come later on through the flat season um just to wrap things up Steve before we we say goodbye um the way that the the flat season has gone I know you talked about what an exciting time would the Derby be your favorite moment of the season on the FL I know we’ve been friends for a long time but I so question I mean is that your yeah I guess it is I certainly I’m I’m a traditionalist like that I love the buildup to the derby and I still think it’s a a fantastic race um I I wish it was more you know you’re not as old as me I know you love sort of the the deries of the 80s I I like I did like the idea where lots of different trainers could trade the Derby winner that’s become something which has been um it’s less obvious I mean if it’s not trained by ad O’Brien um galphin and maybe John Goen you’re you’re struggling that that’s a shame but I live in hope that the someone else will have a Darby horse and I think the race itself I think the race is brilliant I think it’s a it’s a proper test of a THD it’s a stiff track it’s very difficult it tests the horse’s temperament their balance their generosity and I think it stood the test in time of producing fantastic stallion so yeah it’s a great great race but say I wish it was spread a little more around who had some of the good horses but there you go kind of it all fair cool um Steve Chester ticked off the list the last week anywhere on the list for this week I ATT to go to New York on Friday first time no I’ve been yeah there so nothing to tick off the nothing to take off the list but yeah we’ll keep an eye on the weather forecast well see you at York on Friday if you make it um thank you very much for watching this episode of racing weekly brought to you by odds Checker in association with bet 365 thank you very much to Steve Ryder and Steve melish hopefully both of them are successful with all the selections uh thank you to them for joining me on the show as always if you like what you’ve heard uh or watched in this or any of our previous episodes then please leave us a cent review on Apple podcast or in the comments section on YouTube which have always been interesting I still find them extremely interesting so thank you for all the comments even the ones that you know aren’t always kindest even though we ask um we’re going to be back next week to have a look at the Irish guine and the temple Stakes uh up at York but for now from the racing weekly team bye-bye [Music]