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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; [¹ NØ.1 CHOICE], as well as any runners who could run well at eachway odds; [²E/W
ALTERNATIVE] . Any runner from our features are shown before each race's analysis.
Newbury
Saturday, May 18th 2002
1:45 Racing Review Magazine Maiden Stakes £7000 added, 2yo only, 6f 8yds, penalty £5538, 19 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>With 18 of the 19 runners in the opener here at Newbury not haven had a run, the market will almost certainly be the best guide. Crafty Calling, Marfooq,
Malapropism, Surbiton and Head Of College make most appeal. Surbiton is a tentative selection.
¦ 1è CHOICE ¹ ¦:¬>Surbiton
¦ e/w alternative² ¦:¬>Malapropism
2:15 TFM Cyntergy H' cap (For The London Gold Cup) £20000 added, 3yo only, 1m 3f 5yds, penalty £12934, 13 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>Shagraan (4th to Malacary at Newmarket on his latest start), Favourable Man (winner over 1m 4f at Catterick 24 days ago), Epicentre (the winner of a Bath maiden on his seasonal reappearance), Starzaan (a winner over 10f at Windsor 26 days ago),
Tertullian and Dune are my fancies for this 11 furlong event. Shagraan' s form was confirmed by the winner earlier in the week and he is just preferred to top-weight Fashionable Man.
¦ 1è CHOICE ¹ ¦:¬>Shagraan
¦ e/w alternative² ¦:¬>Tertullian
2:45 Grundon Stakes (Registered As The Aston Park Stakes) (Listed Race) £25000 added, 4yo plus, 1m 5f 61yds, penalty £15196, 6 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>A trappy little affair comes next. At their best, you could make a case for each of the 6 starters.
Dawari (last seen behind Mr Combustible at Chester 375 days ago) and Art Gale (who disappointed over hurdles this winter) both appear as though this effort will bring them on, however, I won't be surprised if this develops into a match between High-Pitched and First Ballot....for all of First Ballot's battling qualities (he really did impress under top-weight at the guineas meeting), I think that High Pitched who developed into a decent handicapper last year will have come on enough for his first effort behind Marian Bard at Newmarket to be able to concede 6lbs all round here.
¦ 1è CHOICE ¹ ¦:¬>High Pitched
¦ e/w alternative² ¦:¬>
3:20 LOCKINGE STAKES - {Group.1} £172000 added, 4yo plus, 1m, penalty £99760, 10 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>Assuming Summoner (or for that matter Atavus) sets out to make this a truly run affair, then this race should develop into a battle between Noverre (one of last season's better 3-year-old milers who was slightly unlucky to be pipped by Terre A Terre at Nad Al Sheba) , No Excuse Needed (another decent miler who needs to improve on his disappointing 15th behind Terre A Terre and Noverre at Nad Al Sheba), Olden Time (Not seen out since finishing behind Slickly at
Longchamp in September) and Keltos (who bounced back to somewhere like his best when winning at Saint Cloud last time out). There is no doubt that Noverre is a really useful individual, however, I believe Keltos is currently overpriced. The race should be run to suit this big nearly-white "grey" gelding and he appears to warrant (at the very least) each way consideration.
¦ 1è CHOICE ¹ ¦:¬>Keltos (FR) (e/w)
¦ e/w alternative² ¦:¬>Noverre
3:55 Tote Scoop6 Stakes Showcase H' cap £30000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 4f 5yds, penalty £17400, 18 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>Although 18 are declared for this showcase handicap over 1m 4f , very few of them (as things currently stand) make any real appeal. As a result, Tees Components (who just failed to land the Queen's Prize at Kempton on his latest start makes plenty of appeal and he is difficult to get
away from here. Amigo (who did so well on the all-weather earlier on in the season), Johnny Oscar and Prompt Payment look to be the best each-way options. Johnny Oscar (assuming he lines up) is preferred
¦ 1è CHOICE ¹ ¦:¬>Tees Components
¦ e/w alternative² ¦:¬>Johnny Oscar (is absent, Amigo)
4:25 Carnarvon Stakes (Listed Race) £25000 added, 3yo only, 6f 8yds, penalty £15196, 6 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>Golden Bounty (who quickened in the manner of a good horse at Sandown over 5f there weeks ago) is preferred to
Mizillablack who ran well at Bath last time out and Oasis who won over course and distance in October. Plenty have chances in an
open-looking 27 runner fillies handicap which ends the card.
¦ 1è CHOICE ¹ ¦:¬>Golden Bounty
¦ e/w alternative² ¦:¬>
4:55 Hamlet Miniatures Fillies' H' cap £6000 added, 3yo only fillies, 7f, penalty £5070, 27 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>Dowhatjen, Appleacre, Hideaway Heroine, Cloud Dancer, Diana
Panagaea, Brighter Future and Curfew would appear to have the best chances. The booking of Richard Hughes on Alec Stewart's filly Diana
Panagaea catches the eye . She hasn't been put since disappointing behind Madam
Boulangere at Ascot 232 days ago, however like many of Alec Stewart's inmates, she is likely to have done well
between seasons and should be better a 3...that's what I'm hoping anyway . Curfew (who ran into Gossamer and will try to lead last time out) has a similar profile to the selection and would be my each-way alternative.
¦ 1è CHOICE ¹ ¦:¬>Diana Panagaea
¦ e/w alternative² ¦:¬>Curfew
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