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Analysis & Selections by
i.l. .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.
We're previewing the card at Merano today, as we have a
couple of our foreign-trained runners from this year's ONE TO JUMP feature due to participate.
MERANO
Sabato 24 Agosto
¦ I° MERANO ¦¬>- Premio Fortezza - Cond E 19.800 - Mt. 3300 - Siepi, [Hurdles] - Trio
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¦ .i.l. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>-Five runners have been declared for the opening race, which is confined to three-year-olds... Owen making his debut over hurdle represents a Polish stable that produces winner in Italy, so would have to be respected, whilst Bellefemme makes his debut over hurdles having been placed on the level, most recently when finishing third over 3000m at Napoli in July. Sound Of Sand has experience but has shown very little, which suggest that the likeliest winners here should be Italian Legend or the German raider Shadow Kings. They met here in a similar event in June, when the race was won by Dalfors (arguably the best three year old seen in Italy so far). on that occasion Shadow Kings came out on top and whilst Italian Legend has run well again behind Dalfors on his latest start, I'd still be confident that Shadow King will come out on top.
¦ IL PRIMO PIAZZATO¹ ¦:¬>- Shadow Kings.
¦ 2ndo Scelta² ¦:¬>- Italian Legend
¦ 3rdo Scelta³ ¦:¬>-Owen (POL)
¦ II° MERANO ¦¬>- Premio Ortisei - Disc. G.R. E 7.000 - Mt. 1500 - P. Grande - Trio
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¦ .i.l. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>- Nine runners have been declared for the second, which is on the level. Blummer, Green Ocala, Miguel Torres, Bel Roi, Monacosevenhundred, Floot and Kaipirina look top be the likeliest scorers. I like Monacosevenhundred, who has beaten several of these on previous meeting this term - most recently when winning over 2100m at Varese in July. He was well beaten when upped in grade last time, however this appears to be his level and i'd expect him to go close Topweight Blummer, who was second last time out at Varese and Miguel Torres, (a winner over course and distance three weeks ago) look to be his main dangers.
¦ IL PRIMO PIAZZATO¹ ¦:¬>- Monacosevenhundred,
¦ 2ndo Scelta² ¦:¬>- Blummer,
¦ 3rdo Scelta³ ¦:¬>- Miguel Torres
¦ III° MERANO ¦¬>- Premio A.S.C.A.T. - Cond E 26.400 - Mt. 3500 - Siepi, [Hurdles] - Trio
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¦ (ONE TO JUMP 2003) - are there any horses from "one to jump 2003" our feature which; each season, provides a list of horses to follow during the national hunt season?¦:¬>-Negro (POL)
¦ .i.l. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>-Five runners have been declared for the third - a conditions hurdle for four year olds. You can make cases for each of Bel Feel, [placed in his most recent starts over hurdles], Houston Gold, [who ran his best race of late last time out (finishing in front of Bel Free) ], Ice Crystal, [who has been placed on his last three starts over hurdles, most recently behind Mambostar here three weeks ago], Negro, [transformed since going over hurdles, though failed when tried against the best opposition] and Windlight, [who finished in front of Negro when they met in a Grade 2 hurdle at
Capennelle in May]. Negro is the first of out ONE TO JUMP horses to run today and he has a good chance here. He is a decent recruit to hurdling, however this black son of Don Corleone is very headstrong and that has been his undoing in his last two starts; in the Premio Corsa Siepi Dei 4 Anni at
Capennelle and most recently when he was pipped on the post by Gold Generator , here over 3300m at the beginning of June. He has previous beaten Windlight convincing twice so if he gives himself a chance he should add to our tally... he is the selection
¦ IL PRIMO PIAZZATO¹ ¦:¬>- Negro (POL)
¦ 2ndo Scelta² ¦:¬>-Windlight
¦ 3rdo Scelta³ ¦:¬>- Ice Crystal,
¦ IV° MERANO ¦¬>- Premio Car. Di Insbunch. - Cond G.R. E 12.000 - Mt. 3500 - Steeple Ch. [X-Country] - Trio
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¦ .i.l. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>-Eight runners have been declared for the fourth, which is a cross-country steeplechase. Bluntly, this appears to be one of the least competitive races on the card as Melozzo, [who has won two of his last four starts (he was placed on the other two occasions)] appears to be head and shoulders above his rivals. He won his most recent start (a similar event here in July) with ease and surely only needs to jump round to oblige. Gran Risa (in good form at the beginning of the year, winning twice) and Brahe (a winner here in June), look next best.
¦ IL PRIMO PIAZZATO¹ ¦:¬>- Melozzo,
¦ 2ndo Scelta² ¦:¬>-Grand Risa
¦ 3rdo Scelta³ ¦:¬>-Brahe
¦ V° MERANO ¦¬>- Premio Az. Aut. Di Soggiorno - Cond E 30.000 - Mt. 3500 - Siepi, [Hurdles] - Trio
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¦ (ONE TO JUMP 2003) - are there any horses from "one to jump 2003" our feature which; each season, provides a list of horses to follow during the national hunt season?¦:¬>- Königsohn [GER],
¦ .i.l. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>-Race five is a fascinating clash between five useful hurdlers. Final Judgement heads the field, having his first race since winning at Pisa in March. His earlier form stands up to close inspection, particularly his second and fourth placing to Bagni Di Petriolo (Italy's best hurdler) on his previous starts ... He should go well. He has the beating of Gordon Pacha on previous meetings, however this runner has fitness on his side, having won a conditions event here three weeks ago, so who knows. Santiago Road was in good form at the beginning of the year but has gone off of the boil of late - will need to improve on recent efforts.
Valgano; [a son of Acatenango] hasn't been out since falling in the Premio Gran Corsa di Siepi [Grade 1] hurdle won by Bagni Di Petriolo. He was a good second to Jar at Torino in April (beaten 5length) on his previous starts, so the fact that Jar made Bagni Di Petriolo pull out all the stops in that Grade 1 hurdle, suggests he has strong claims here. He and Final Judgement set a high standard, however Königsohn gets the vote. This five year old has been transformed by trainer Werner Glanz from a decent German handicapper on the level to a highly promising hurdler. I've seen both of his starts at Naples in April;, and more recently here at the beginning of June, where he put 17lengths between himself and his nearest pursuer. Its difficult to gauge quite how good that form is against the calibre of opponent he takes on here, but as has only had the two starts, you'd hope that there was plenty of improvement to come.... He gets the vote here.
¦ IL PRIMO PIAZZATO¹ ¦:¬>- Königsohn [GER],
¦ 2ndo Scelta² ¦:¬>- Final Judgement
¦ 3rdo Scelta³ ¦:¬>-Valgano [GER],
¦ VI° MERANO ¦¬>- Premio Val Gardena - Vend. All E 18.000 - Mt. 3550 - Steeple Ch. - Trio
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¦ .i.l. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>- It is interesting to note how many horses that have become familiar names have ended up in Italy. Usually it is two year olds or handicappers off of the flat, but the occasion jumper has found his way here. Capitaine Leau who looked so promising on his initial starts when trained by Nicky Henderson, went into freefall afterwards. He has ended up here and makes his second appearance in this steeplechase. Quite how good he still is in unclear as he hit the deck on his Italian debut. however he'll need to retain some of that ability to be able to deal with Leo Le Lion and Nad Al Sheba [both of whom have won their last two starts]. Nad Al Sheba, who beat Monsieur Plume, [who reopposes] here in June is just preferred.
¦ IL PRIMO PIAZZATO¹ ¦:¬>- Nad Al Sheba,
¦ 2ndo Scelta² ¦:¬>- Leo Le Lion
¦ 3rdo Scelta³ ¦:¬>- Monsieur Plume,
¦ VII° MERANO ¦¬>- Premio Funes - Hunt G.R. E 7.000 - Mt. 3000 - Pu. - Trio
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¦ .i.l. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>- Ardent Passion, Bonvivant, Goustranville, Introbio, Jamais Sans Moi and The Marshall are the six runners that I'd single out in the seventh race of the card. Bonvivant a son of Sternkönig ran fours time in Germany without success, before beating Ardent Passion on Italian debut here over 2200m in July. That does appear to be the best form and he taken to confirm form with that rival and Jamais Sans Moi (another recent winner over the course ten days ago).
¦ IL PRIMO PIAZZATO¹ ¦:¬>- Bonvivant [GER],
¦ 2ndo Scelta² ¦:¬>- Jamais Sans Moi
¦ 3rdo Scelta³ ¦:¬>- Ardent Passion,
¦ VIII° MERANO ¦¬>- Premio Penegal - Asc.E G.R. E 14.000 - Mt. 3000 - Siepi, [Hurdles] - Trio
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¦ .i.l. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>- The last race of the meeting is particularly weak. Undercover, [the winner of two of his three starts] looks streets ahead of his rivals and is difficult to oppose
¦ IL PRIMO PIAZZATO¹ ¦:¬>- Undercover [GER],
¦ 2ndo Scelta² ¦:¬>- Hammerklavier
¦ 3rdo Scelta³ ¦:¬>- Cubaine Park
MERANO
Domenica 25 Agosto
¦ I° MERANO ¦¬>- 15.35 - Premio Bressanone - Disc. E 18.700 - Mt. 2200 - P. Grande - Trio
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¦ .i.l. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>-
¦ IL PRIMO PIAZZATO¹ ¦:¬>- Fedina
¦ 2ndo Scelta² ¦:¬>- Normand Legend
¦ 3rdo Scelta³ ¦:¬>-Bel Tag
¦ II° MERANO ¦¬>- 16.05 - Premio Europa - Cond. E 38.500 - Mt. 2200 - P. Grande
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¦ .i.l. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>-
¦ IL PRIMO PIAZZATO¹ ¦:¬>- Dunnella
¦ 2ndo Scelta² ¦:¬>- Pearl Of Rheinberg
¦ 3rdo Scelta³ ¦:¬>-Rossa Di Rugiada
¦ III° MERANO ¦¬>- 16.35 - Premio Val Di Fiemme - Maiden E 20.000 - Mt. 3550 - Steeple Ch. - Trio
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¦ .i.l. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>-
¦ IL PRIMO PIAZZATO¹ ¦:¬>- Seceda
¦ 2ndo Scelta² ¦:¬>- Les Areys
¦ 3rdo Scelta³ ¦:¬>- Kinzica
¦ IV° MERANO ¦¬>- 17.05 - Premio Prime Siepi, Femmine - Debu E 39.710,00 - Mt. 3000 - Siepi, [Hurdles] - Trio
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¦ .i.l. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>-
¦ IL PRIMO PIAZZATO¹ ¦:¬>- Blue Kris
¦ 2ndo Scelta² ¦:¬>- Green Socks
¦ 3rdo Scelta³ ¦:¬>-Over Ponz
¦ V° MERANO ¦¬>- 17.35 - Premio Raffaele Ammirato - Cond G.R. E 14.000 - Mt. 4100 - Steeple Ch X-Country - Trio
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¦ .i.l. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>-
¦ IL PRIMO PIAZZATO¹ ¦:¬>- Knock
¦ 2ndo Scelta² ¦:¬>- Igor Du Sentier
¦ 3rdo Scelta³ ¦:¬>-Dracston
¦ VI° MERANO ¦¬>- 18.05 - Premio Prime Siepi, [Hurdles] Maschi - Debu E 39.710 - Mt. 3000 - Siepi, [Hurdles] - Trio
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¦ .i.l. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>-
¦ IL PRIMO PIAZZATO¹ ¦:¬>- Marcel Duchamp
¦ 2ndo Scelta² ¦:¬>- Bel Tanz
¦ 3rdo Scelta³ ¦:¬>-Miki Tango
¦ VII° MERANO ¦¬>- 18.35 - Premio Rotary Club - Cond E 30.000 - Mt. 3800 - Steeple Ch. - Trio
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¦ .i.l. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>-
¦ IL PRIMO PIAZZATO¹ ¦:¬>- Registana [GER]
¦ 2ndo Scelta² ¦:¬>- Royal Nadir
¦ 3rdo Scelta³ ¦:¬>-Skywasser
¦ VIII° MERANO ¦¬>- 19.10 - Premio Cleto Borella - Disc. E 20.000 - Mt. 3300 - Siepi, [Hurdles] - Trio
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¦ .i.l. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>-
¦ IL PRIMO PIAZZATO¹ ¦:¬>- Prinz Felix
¦ 2ndo Scelta² ¦:¬>- Johnny Il Bello
¦ 3rdo Scelta³ ¦:¬>-Lackadaisical
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