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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 _ THE WINNER?), as well as any runners who could run well at eachway odds;
(E/W
ALTERNATIVE) . Any runner from our features are shown before each race's analysis.
ASCOT
Sunday 29th September
2:00 Young Vic Theatre Cumberland Lodge Stakes (Group 3) £52000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 4f, penalty £30940, 5 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>-
¦ 1er. _ THE WINNER?¹ ¦:¬>-Systematic,
¦ 2nd place?² ¦:¬>-Warrsan
¦ 3rd place?³ ¦:¬>-Frankies Dream,
2:35 JRA London Office's 10th Anniversary Conditions Stakes £20000 added, 2yo only colts and geldings, 7f, penalty £12803, 4 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>-
¦ 1er. _ THE WINNER?¹ ¦:¬>-Love You Always (USA)
¦ 2nd place?² ¦:¬>-Captain Saif,
¦ 3rd place?³ ¦:¬>-Weavers Pride (FR)
3:10 Riggs Bank Rated Stakes (H' cap) £25000 added, 3yo plus, 5f, penalty £15378.69, 16 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>-
¦ 1er. _ THE WINNER?¹ ¦:¬>-The Tatling
¦ 2nd place?² ¦:¬>-Dancing Mystery
¦ 3rd place?³ ¦:¬>-Bali Royal
3:45 The Mail On Sunday/Tote Mile Final Stakes (H' cap) £50000 added, 3yo plus, 1m, penalty £29000, 30 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>-
¦ 1er. _ THE WINNER?¹ ¦:¬>-Perfect Storm,
¦ 2nd place?² ¦:¬>-Swynford Welcome
¦ 3rd place?³ ¦:¬>-Tony Tie
4:20 Tote Exacta Stakes (H' cap) £70000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 4f, penalty £40600, 15 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>-
¦ 1er. _ THE WINNER?¹ ¦:¬>-Dune,
¦ 2nd place?² ¦:¬>-Scott's View,
¦ 3rd place?³ ¦:¬>-Charley Bates [USA],
4:55 Sodexho Nursery, [a 2-Y-O H' cap] £20000 added, 2yo only, 7f, penalty £13845, 12 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. .r.o.o.k. ¦:¬>-
¦ 1er. _ THE WINNER?¹ ¦:¬>-Itemise (USA)
¦ 2nd place?² ¦:¬>-To The Rescue (USA)
¦ 3rd place?³ ¦:¬>-Juste Pour L'Amour
ASCOT
Saturday 28th September
Holes in the turf.... False ground .. mot my idea of fun .... I'm very put off frankly by the poor state of the ground, however he are my thoughts for what they're worth.
¦ Iª ¯ ASCOT ¦:>- 2:00 Hackney Empire Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2)
£120000 added, 2yo only colts and geldings, 1m, penalty £69600, 9 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. .r.o.o.k. ¦:>-Van Nistelrooy, Al Jadeed, Norse Dancer, Newfoundland, Magistretti, and Puma, make most appeal in the opening Group Two event on the card. All eyes will be on poor Van Nistelrooy - who will forever have to carry his $6,400,000 purchase tag round his impressive neck. After three easy wins he was widely expected to "deliver" in the National Stakes (Group 1), however could only stay on at one pace behind eventual winner Refuse To Bend (beaten
¾lengths). Considering the difficulties, which had beset the yard, it wasn't that bad a run and sets a fair standard here. Al Jadeed, [the winner of his last two starts, most recently at Sandown where he beat Statement by 3lengths] and Magistretti, [put in his place by Maghanim at Doncaster last time] provide stern opposition , however I'd be hopeful that Van Nistelrooy can oblige.
¦ 1er. _ THE WINNER?¹ ¦:>-Van Nistelrooy (USA)
¦ 2nd place?² ¦:>-Al Jadeed (USA)
¦ 3rd place?³ ¦:>-Magistretti (USA)
¦ IIª ¯ ASCOT ¦:>- 2:35 Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile (Group 1) £200000 added, 2yo only fillies, 1m, penalty £116000, 10 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. .r.o.o.k. ¦:>-Soviet Song, Rainbow Queen, Reach For The Moon, Summitville, Approach, Huja, Hold To Ransom, and Air Adair all have chances in an open looking mile event. Summitville, and Approach renew rivalry, having battled out the finish of the May Hill Stakes (Group 3) at the St. Leger Meeting. On that occasion , Summitville took the spoils though in my view, that was more to do with Approach's greenness, [some commentators suggested lack of resolution]. I'm sure they'll be thereabouts, however Soviet Song, and Rainbow Queen give the impression of being capable of more than they've so far shown and are more interesting. Rainbow Queen did nothing wrong when scooting away from a big field of maiden at Warwick on her debut, however such was the ease that Soviet Song landed the Sweet Solera Stakes (Class A) (Listed Race) , [putting 3lengths between her and Summitville] that I find it impossible to oppose her here.
¦ 1er. _ THE WINNER?¹ ¦:>- Soviet Song,
¦ 2nd place?² ¦:>- Approach, [e/w]
¦ 3rd place?³ ¦:>- Rainbow Queen,
¦ IIIª ¯ ASCOT ¦:>- 3:05 Brunswick Diadem Stakes (Group 2) £100000 added, 3yo plus, 6f, penalty £58000, 11 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. .r.o.o.k. ¦:>- Polar Way, Crystal Castle, Malhub, Three Points, Sartorial, Bahamian Pirate, Chercheuse, and Acclamation, are the horses to concentrate on in the third. Malhub sets a fair standard here. Bar Kyllachy, he has [in my view] made the greatest impact in the sprint Division this season After landing the Golden Jubilee Stakes (Group 1), he has raced creditable in all of our major sprints and lost noting in defeat last time when finishing second to Invincible Spirit in the Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup (Group 1) at Haydock, where he came home ahead of Three Points and Bahamian Pirate, who reoppose him here. His penalties for winning his Group 1 prize make things very interesting between him and Three Points and there may be nothing between these. He should go well however in Polar Way, [an easy winner of the Aon MacDonagh Boland Stakes (Group 3) at the Curragh last time out), Crystal Castle, [The winner of the Tote International Stakes here over 7f in July, he landed the Prix de Meautry (Group 3) at Deauville on his latest start], and Chercheuse, [only a length behind Crystal Castle last time out at Deauville], he meets three new opponents who are progressing, when his level of form may have plateaued. Polar Way is one to stay on the right side on and I'd hope he'd oblige if he runs, however as that isn't certain I'll take Chercheuse, [eachway] to cause a surprise
¦ 1er. _ THE WINNER?¹ ¦:>- Chercheuse (USA), [e/w]
¦ 2nd place?² ¦:>- Polar Way,
¦ 3rd place?³ ¦:>- Malhub,
¦ IVª ¯ ASCOT ¦:>- 3:40 Tote Trifecta Stakes (H' cap) £75000 added, 3yo plus, 7f, penalty £43500, 24 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. .r.o.o.k. ¦:>- One look at this was nearly enough for me to give it the swerve...for what its worth Demonstrate, Wixoe Express, Inchdura, Mr Mahoose, One More Round, True Night, Millennium Force, Mister Cosmi, Royal Millennium, Colisay, Kool, Mine, Scotty's Future, and Surprise Encounter, all can be given chances of sorts. The likely front two in the market; Demonstrate, and Wixoe Express, caught the eye. They have shown progressive form this season, however it is Demonstrate that makes most appeal, having run great races from unfavourable draws on his last two starts. Although the bare form may suggest a below-par effort last time in the Bradford & Bingley Handicap at York, it is worth noting that Demonstrate was given an adventurous ride, being switched to race on the rail from his wide draw. The effort to get this good posse told in the straight because although he looked threatening, he faded out of contention to finish 3lengths behind the well-handicapped Funfair. He is drawn high with many of the fancied runners and he worth taking one more chance with, [his previous form suggests that he may be up to Group three standard]. Course and distance winner Scotty's Future, seems to reserve his best form for this course and could go well at eachway odds.
¦ 1er. _ THE WINNER?¹ ¦:>- Demonstrate (USA)
¦ 2nd place?² ¦:>- Mine,
¦ 3rd place?³ ¦:>- Wixoe Express,
¦ 3rd place?³ ¦:>-Scotty's Future, [e/w]
¦ Vª ¯ ASCOT ¦:>- 4:20 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1) -
(Sponsored by NetJets) £300000 added, 3yo plus, 1m, penalty £174000, 8 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. .r.o.o.k. ¦:>- The big race of the day and it is descending into farce.... Eight were declared, however Rock of Gibraltar is unlikely to run [very unlikely]. Gossamer, is unlikely to be risked on this false ground, Noverre, has been withdrawn, and Tillerman regular jockey Richard Hughes, has confirmed today that he very unlikely to race of this uneven surface... This could leave Hawk Wing, Best Of The Bests, Where Or When, and Sholokhov, to "fight" out the race With Hawk Wing's temperament being question, it is almost certain that "the opposition" will no doubt be messing around waiting for Mick Kinane to play his hand on Hawk Wing... If you over-do this tactic and Sholokhov become a sensible option [he has a very good chance of picking up decent place money]. This is one of the best races for pacemakers and it wouldn't surprise me if there wasn't a false result.... however Hawk Wing gets the vote... because it has been overlooked how much condition he seemed to be carrying at Leopardstown in the Ireland The Food Island Champion Stakes (Group 1) and to my mind it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't come on for that run.... Anybody laying him will be taking a huge risk .. [unless of course Gossamer was to run or stablemate Rock of Gibraltar!!!]
¦ 1er. _ THE WINNER?¹ ¦:>- Hawk Wing (USA)
¦ 2nd place?² ¦:>- Tillerman, [if absent Where Or When,]
¦ 3rd place?³ ¦:>- Sholokhov.
¦ VIª ¯ ASCOT ¦:>- 4:55 Kleenex Tissues Rosemary Rated Stakes (H' cap) (Listed Race) £32000 added, 3yo plus fillies, 1m, penalty £18560, 8 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. .r.o.o.k. ¦:>- Silent Crystal, Lady Bear, Welsh Diva, Lady High Havens, Sandy Lady, Silence Is Golden, and Sonorous, all have chances in the sixth. This is another event, which makes little appeal. The two least-exposed runners Sonorous, [the winner of her last two starts] and Welsh Diva, [who ran well having been raised 10lbs for winning a Salisbury maiden] shouldn't be too far away.... Welsh Diva gets the vote.
¦ 1er. _ THE WINNER?¹ ¦:>- Welsh Diva,
¦ 2nd place?² ¦:>- Sonorous,
¦ 3rd place?³ ¦:>- Lady Bear,
¦ VIIª ¯ ASCOT ¦:>- 5:30 Caplan Gordon Carter Stakes (H' cap) £20000 added, 3yo plus, 2m 45yds, penalty £13845, 12 runners.
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¦ .t.h.e. .r.o.o.k. ¦:>- Hawkwind, Mana D'Argent, Miss Fara, Alrida, Establishment, High And Mighty, Moon Emperor, and Cotopaxi, make most appeal in the finale. Course specialist Mana D'Argent will be fancied to bag another win on the course, however the progressive Hawkwind, (bet he and Hawk Wing figure in many a double!!) gets my vote. This grey son of El Prado took his time to be get his head in front however a visor has made him far more tractable. He has won his last two races easily and makes plenty of appeal off of only 8st 4lbs... he is the selection.
¦ 1er. _ THE WINNER?¹ ¦:>- Hawkwind (USA)
¦ 2nd place?² ¦:>- Mana D'Argent,
¦ 3rd place?³ ¦:>- Cotopaxi, [e/w]
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