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Below are my selections for today's race meetings over jumps. For each race, I have given you who, in my view, is the likeliest winner, as well as horses who could run well at eachway odds. Key; (R*ecommended)
__ These horses have in our view the best chances of success each day; FTG HORSE TO FOLLOW - signifies a horse in our list of horses to follow
POSTING TIMES FOR SELECTIONS__ Selections for Monday - Friday should be available after 9:30pm the previous evening, however on Saturday and Sunday due to other commitments won't be posted until after 8:30am those respective mornings unless otherwise stated. Hopefully this helps
NEWMARKET GUINEAS MEETING - DAY THREE - Sunday 7th May 2000
2:00 Curtis Medical Rated Stakes (Handicap)
The Hill's yard aren't having the best Guineas Festival but they do have strong claims here with Sheer Viking , who was so unlucky at Doncaster on his debut. I hope he takes the first
2:30 The Mail On Sunday Mile Handicap (Qualifier)
The second race looks impossible but Kathir's 2 year old form suggested that there would be more to come at three. He's an eachway selection in this open 30 runner handicap
3:05 R. L. Davison Pretty Polly Stakes (Listed Race)
Hypnotize appeals more than her stable companion Naval Affair and the unraced Melikah in an open looking Pretty Polly Stakes
Sagitta 1000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1)
211- Agrippina218 A Bailey
1243-1 Amethyst21 A P O´Brien
137-3 Aunty Rose19 J L Dunlop
1- Bintalreef200 Saeed Bin Suroor
145- Chez Cherie217 L M Cumani
34-331 Claranet20 K Mahdi
2111-6 Halland Park Girl19 R Hannon
412- High Walden218 H R A Cecil
16214- Icicle204 J R Fanshawe
23140- Issey Rose217 T G Mills
11-4 Lahan23 J H M Gosden
72514- Miletrian217 M R Channon
3-2 Moselle27 W J Haggas
1-1 Petrushka19 Sir Michael Stoute
1195-8 Princess Ellen19 G A Butler
6121-2 Seazun19 M R Channon
16122- Torgau222 G C Bravery
2 Velvet Lady23 P F I Cole
Two performances caught my eye of those who turn up today. Petrushka's romp here 19 day's ago, and Amethyst's similar demolition job of her opponents in her trial at Leopardstown two days earlier. I'm fairly certain t hat one of these will win, although High Walden, Bintalreef, Torgau, and Lahan may well make their presence felt. Personally I was more impressed with Amethyst's running in Ireland, and I take her to win the 1000 Guineas.
SELECTION _ Amethyst
EACHWAY BET? _ Lahan
LONGSHOT? _ Aunty Rose
4:20 May Classified Stakes
Perugia has a good chance in this classified stakes race, but I am worried about the form of the Hill's yard
4:50 March Handicap
Pairunami Star has eachway claims in an open handicap. He is first choice. Ligne Gagnante is my second choice.
5:20 Hastings Maiden Stakes
Hobb Alwahtan should be up to taking this, if the Group 1 entries are realistic.
NEWMARKET GUINEAS MEETINGS - DAY TWO
Saturday 6th May 2000
1:50 Ruinart Champagne Conditions Stakes
Toss- up between the form horse of last season Anshaam, who 2nd to Barathea Guest looks better by the day, and Wellbeing who won well on his seasonal bow. I'd stick with him
2:25 Mayer Parry Maiden Stakes
Spettro, from a stable in form, and Midnight Arrow a speedily bred filly catch the eye. Preference is with Spettro
3:00 Countrywide Steel & Tubes Rated Stakes (Handicap)
Ex Gratia (eachway) ran with promise last term, and must have eachway claims at the very least in this wide open handicap
Sagitta 2000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1)
21- Alfini 205 D R C Elsworth 3 9-0
111d-1 Barathea Guest18 G G Margarson 3 9-0
115- Bernstein 230 A P O’Brien 3 9-01-7 Broche 42 Saeed Bin Suroor 3 9-0
12-1 Cape Town17 R Hannon 3 9-0
123-48 Compton Bolter42 G A Butler 3 9-0
111-2 Distant Music18 B W Hills 3 9-0
12- Fath219 Saeed Bin Suroor 3 9-0
221-2 Free Rider18 I A Balding 3 9-0
1211-2 French Fellow21 T D Easterby 3 9-0
111-1 Giant’s Causeway27 A P O’Brien 3 9-0115-2 King’s Best16 Sir Michael Stoute 3 9-0 1310-4 Lincoln Dancer14 M A Jarvis 3 9-0
21- Mana-Mou Bay267 R Hannon 3 9-0
21- Mastermind280 P F I Cole 3 9-0
614- Millenium Moonbeam217 M Pitman 3 9-0
41-1 Misraah18 Sir Michael Stoute 3 9-0
21-2 Onlyman22 Mme C Head O Doleuze
11111- Primo Valentino219 P W Harris 3 9-0
32-1 Race Leader21 B W Hills J Reid
3117-4 Scarteen Fox18 D R C Elsworth 3 9-0
421-6 Shamrock City16 P Howling 3 9-0
61-1 Summoner42 R Charlton 3 9-0
1151-1 Umistim16 R Hannon 3 9-0
1-4 Western Summer16 H R A Cecil 3 9-0
1322d-3Winning Venture 18 S P C Woods 3 9-0
5114-3 Zoning 76 Saeed Bin Suroor 3 9-0
Ridiculously open Guineas!!! Being a jump fan at heart, it interesting to observe how these horses have prepared for the race. There is so little strong visual (i.e. none of them of this season's form really stand out ahead o f their peers) to back any of these with any conviction. So for me to pick a selection I have to go on looks, and on course impression. Distant Music was very impressive in the Lanson Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, but not since. Giant's Causeway looks a bull of a horse and won well enough at the Currish. Scarteen Fox impressed last season and ran in the Craven like an extra furlong+ would assist. Then there's Alfini who looks open to any amount of improvement this season, Primo Valentino who tenaciously held onto his unbeaten record last term, and then there's Bern stein. For 7 furlongs of the National Stakes he looked special, but tied up dramatically to finish 5th beaten 3 lengths. These ones appeal the most but Cape Town, Kings Best, and Fath aren’t out of it anyway. I am really sweet on Bernstein and if he stays I can see him winning this, but I have a nagging doubt he wont quick get home, and Giant's Causeway, who I've also liked since his first ever run, can take the prize back to Ball
Doyle.
SELECTION - Giant’s Causeway
2ND CHOICE - BERNSTEIN
EACHWAY BET? ALFINI
LONGSHOT? ONLYMAN
4:15 Victor Chandler Palace House Stakes (Group 3)
The ground may be quick enough for Arkadian hero today and he gets the vote. EACHWAY BET? Mitcham
4:45 Ladbrokes Handicap
Tayseer has twice run like 1 mile was to far, and looks very interesting in this sprint. EACHWAY BET? Downland
5:20 John Mowlem Conditions Stakes
Azouz Pasha can get back to winning ways in the Last
NEWMARKET GUINEAS MEETING __DAY ONE
Friday 5th May 2000
2.05 Drakeford Cup (Handicap)
Inch Perfect's defeat of Roller has been made to look all the better after that horse's good performances behind Polish Spirit. He should go close in the first
2.35 Green Ridge Stables Newmarket Stakes (For The Kuwait Cup)
If Beat Hollow were 'the real McCoy' you’d expect him to win this. I am becoming weary though of horses hyped completely over the top, and I'd like to see him go and win with authority initially. Therefore I offer Akeed who ran well last term as the sporting alternative
3.10 Sagitta Jockey Club Stakes
An on form Ramruna will win tihs with authority, though I wouldn take a short price on her. The eachway value in the race is almost certainly Yavana's Pace who seems to still be on the upgrade, judging but his win in the John Porter, and does have a fitness advantage
3.40 H & K Commissions (Bookmakers) Stakes (Showcase Handicap)
Very competitive handicap. Strahan's victory here over a furlong shorter probably was a better performance than the head victory indicates. I prefer him to Rayyaan who also is in good form, and on a hat tick. Lagoon gets the eachway vote, having performed best of these at two, and still may have improvement in him
4.15 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Dahlia Stakes
Fairy Godmother looks a good bet to take this; it will be disappointing if she fails
4.50 Portland Lodge Maiden Stakes
Entail seems a logical choice in this rather than Godolphin's newcomer Meiosis
5.20 Newmarket Challenge Whip
If May Ball is any good you think she'd win this. I'd like to see them first but if he looked as well as one could Martin Pipe's colt Countryside Friend may well be the bet.
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