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Analysis & Selections by
.t.h.e. r.o.o.k.
- Whether it be "the
race of the day" or a small prize round the gaffs, we will attempt to use our knowledge of the formbook to highlight the fancied horses participating each day and their characteristics and requirements. Hopefully this 'second opinion' provides you with a winner or two each day, or even reinforces your own view on a particular may even convince you to back some of those horses which we feel are the "ones to fear", or have decent eachway claims. whichever is the case, we hope the information is of use to you.
SELECTIONS - For each race, we have given you who, in our view, are the likeliest winners;
(1er CHOICE), as well as
the next best runners (in our view, this can include any horses who could run well at eachway
odds). Any runner from our features are shown before each race's analysis.
I thought
for a change that with the French Derby tomorrow, I'd review one of my
favourite day's racing today
STRATFORD
Saturday, June 1st 2002
2:00 Foxhunter At Snitterfield Novices' Hurdle £6000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 6f 110yds, penalty £4371.25, 14 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>Jay Bee Ell, Durlston Bay, Chater Flair, Trumpington and Know Thyne look to be the ones with chances in the opener on "Horse and Hound Cup" day. Recent course and distance winner Jay Bee Ell looks the safest option - his victory over Mighty Monty Falco here last month does appear to be the best line of form on offer. Chater Flair (who unshipped his pilot last time out) might be his main threat though Know Thyne is definitely better than he showed when tailed off behind Classified last time out and could go well at each-way odds.
¦ 1er CHOICE¹ ¦:¬>Jay Bee Ell
¦ 2nd Choice ¦:¬>Know Thyne (e/w)
¦ 3rd Choice ¦:¬>Chater Flair
2:30 Walls And Ceilings International H' cap Hurdle £10000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 110yds, penalty £6838, 7 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>Dick The Taxi, Firestone, Dabarpour, Guru, Knight's Emperor and Kaiserstoltz all have chances in this open handicap hurdle which comes next on the card. On their best lines of form, Dick The Taxi and Kaiserstoltz are well in here, however, neither have shown that level of form of late and Firestone (who stayed on nicely to beat Ruby Gale last time out over hurdles at Chepstow) makes more appeal. Dabarpour and Knight's Emperor who were in good form at the back end of last season look to be the main threats.
¦ 1er CHOICE¹ ¦:¬>Firestone (GER)
¦ 2nd Choice ¦:¬>Dabarpour
¦ 3rd Choice ¦:¬>Knight's Emperor
3:05 Final Fling Amateur Riders' H' cap Hurdle £4000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 3f, penalty £3094, 15 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>Another difficult race for punters is third on the card. A big field of amateur riders almost guaranteed to go too quick around this sharp circuit...one of those races that invariably throws up a surprise or two. For what it's worth, I could make cases for the following: Three Eagles, Bigwig, Mutadarra, Mighty Surprise, Bobosh, Lemon Bridge, Ghaazi, Three Weeks, Pridewood Fuggle and Lismeenan. A difficult decision for you...as arguably you could go with a horse like Three Eagles who will be amongst the front of the field, alternatively you could take the view that you could side with one of the experienced pilots who will ride a more considered race, hopefully picking off rivals as they weaken up the final
straight. With that in mind, the booking of Les Jefford on Lismeenan catches the eye. He ran a little better than the final eight placing suggests at Worcester last time out. If I was going to have a bet on this, it would be on a horse/jockey like this though in reality this is probably a race to swerve. Bigwig, Pridewood Fuggle and Lemon Bridge would be others I'd consider in the same vein.
¦ 1er CHOICE¹ ¦:¬>Lismeenan (e/w)
¦ 2nd Choice ¦:¬>Bigwig
¦ 3rd Choice ¦:¬>Pridewood Fuggle
3:40 Knight Frank H' cap Steeple Ch. £10000 added, 5yo plus, 2m 1f 110yds, penalty £6786, 7 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>Morris Barnes's The Negotiator - who was so impressive last week when winning at Wetherby goes for a quick follow-up here. He receives weight from recent easy Newton Abbot winner Special Agenda, top-weight Damus, Full Of Pep, Hisar (these last three were in good form on fast ground last season), Barnburgh Boy and Kassala (both of whom have been disappointing of late but have good claims on their best chase form). This is a little bit more competitive than that Wetherby race, however, The Negotiator could do no more than beat
Gottabe and Decisively and must go well off of his light weight here.
¦ 1er CHOICE¹ ¦:¬>The Negotiator
¦ 2nd Choice ¦:¬>Damus
¦ 3rd Choice ¦:¬>Special Agenda
4:15 44th Running Of The Intrum Justitia Cup Champion Hunters' Steeple Ch. £25000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 4f, penalty £17680, 16 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>This season's leading Hunter Chaser LAST
OPTION attempts to add the Intrum Justitia Cup to the Christie's Foxhunters Chase so bravely gained at the Cheltenham Festival. However, he'll meet stiff opposition here in the shape of SULPHUR SPRINGS, who finished in front him when they both
finished third and fourth to Gladiateur IV here in May; COUNTY DERRY, who outstayed Horus and Grecian Star at
Towcester 19 days ago; CHARLIE STRONG; a hunter who has always promised, but has yet to deliver. He was an impressive winner at Wincanton over 2m 5f last time out; JABIRU; who stayed on strongly to beat Longstone Lad at Newton
Abbot a week ago; Last years winner LOOK IN THE MIRROR who won at Exeter last
time out; the vastly improved PRIMATICCIO who has looked good in reeling off a quick
hat trick; ROCKET RADAR, a 25length winner at Hereford last time out; LORD HARRY,
Hasn't built on his win in the John Corbett Chase a couple of years ago, but is still useful on his day.
The race at Stratford on by Gladiateur IV surely is the clue here... In that Sulphur Springs gave Last Option 14lbs, yet beat him 3½lengths. There are some who win
say that Sulphur Spring wont stay .. I wont have that ... He ran creditably in
the 1999 Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (5yo+) over a furlong further, and stayed on
finished a creditable 6th in the National Hunt Chase after meeting interference at the final water.... He may
not be as effective over the trip as some of these but he possesses class and that may see
him home here
¦ 1er CHOICE¹ ¦:¬>Sulphur Springs (FR)
¦ 2nd Choice ¦:¬>Last Option
¦ 3rd Choice ¦:¬>Lord Harry, (e/w) - bound to be overlooked in the market
4:50 Llewellyn Humphreys H' cap Steeple Ch. (for the Gambling Prince Trophy) £15000 added, 5yo plus, 2m 5f 110yds, penalty £10108.80, 6 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>A trappy little handicap comes next. L'Epicurien with confidence restored after 2 bloodless wins at Bangor and Newton Abbot will take some pegging back if in the same frame of mind. Khatani, who beat Lord North (who re-opposes), Chevalier Errant and Hurricane Lamp (a good 2nd to Gladiateur IV ). All should stretch him, but should be found wanting where it matters most.
¦ 1er CHOICE¹ ¦:¬>L'Epicurien (FR)
¦ 2nd Choice ¦:¬>Lord North
¦ 3rd Choice ¦:¬>Hurricane Lamp
5:25 Mission Foods Ladies' Hunters' Steeple Ch. (for the Stratford Millennium Rose Bowl) £5000 added, 5yo plus, 3m, penalty £3562, 13 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>Silver Groom, Ozzie Jones, Noyan, Stretching, Vague Idea, Gray Ciseaux and Celtic Season all can be considered in this open-looking Ladies Hunter Chase. Silver Groom has been in good form "between the flags" most recently when winning at
Mordon. He has though not translated this ability under rules and looks worth taking on here. You'd like to think that Noyan or Ozzie Jones (who are proved over the larger regulation obstacles and also happen to have some of the best pilots in the race) should figure here. This may prove to be a little too competitive for Noyan and Ozzie Jones (who won here on his most recent start in handicap company) is just preferred. Stretching and Jazzman (who both have good form in Ladies Open's) are attractively priced at each-way odds.
¦ 1er CHOICE¹ ¦:¬>Ozzie Jones
¦ 2nd Choice ¦:¬>Stretching (e/w)
¦ 3rd Choice ¦:¬>Jazzman
5:55 Foxhunter At Snitterfield Novices' H' cap Hurdle £5000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 110yds, penalty £3614, 15 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>Dream With Me, My Legal Eagle, La Yolam, Egypt, Orlando Sunrise, Katiypour and High Ratio lead the market in this finale. Top-weight Dream With Me catches the eye. Formerly decent on the level in France, he has shown a bit of promise over obstacles when in the care of Charlie
Edgerton. Despite top-weight, he is potentially a blot on the handicap, however, I am prepared to risk frustration in not siding with him and instead I'll side with Egypt who has the size to physically improve this season over hurdles. He'd need to improve on his 8th placing behind Ettrick at Hereford three weeks ago, however he receives 24 lbs from the likely favourite and that could pay up the final straight.
¦ 1er CHOICE¹ ¦:¬>Egypt
¦ 2nd Choice ¦:¬>Dream With Me (FR)
¦ 3rd Choice ¦:¬>My Legal Eagle
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