The pick of the prices at York, Haydock & Goodwood....

Friday, 26th May 2023

The pick of the prices at York, Haydock & Goodwood….

With the tracks at York, Haydock, and Goodwood already on the quick side….

…. and with no rain about today or tomorrow….

…. it’s going to be a Saturday afternoon for the quick-ground specialists. No doubt about that….

With Epsom next weekend – and Royal Ascot not so very far away either – it’s inevitable we get a bread-and-butter weekend in the build-up….

This is that weekend….

For me the feature is at York in the from of the William Hill Epic Boost Handicap at 2.40 – where 14 horses aged 3yo+ go at it over the 5f trip….

Up at Haydock we have the Silver Bowl at 2.25 – a race over the turning mile for the 3yos. Just 11 go to post….

And down at Goodwood we have the Harroways Handicap at 2.05 – a race for the 3yos over the right-handed 7f trip….

Like I say, it’s not exactly Super Saturday – but we work with what’s put in front of us….

Let’s get down to it….

• Up at York…. 

MONDAMMEJ is 0/9 at York….

…. but he has had excuses on occasions – when he’s bumped into one, been on the wrong ground, met trouble in running, or simply been too high in the handicap….

…. but he has produced decent performances at the track too….

…. and for my money his very best performances on the Knavesmire have been produced on a sound surface over the 5f trip….

…. exactly what he gets tomorrow in the William Hill Epic Boost Handicap at 2.40….

He hasn’t won a race since November 2021 – a losing sequence of 14 runs….

On one hand, that’s a concern….

…. but we’re dealing with handicaps here – and losing is an inevitable and unavoidable element of getting back to winning ways….

For the main part of that losing sequence Mondammej was rated 100+ – and he’s never managed to produce a win off a three-figure rating….

Tomorrow he runs off 95 – and that’s a mark he can win from….

I think he’s in good heart too. At the Dante meeting he showed up well in the Lindum – run over tomorrow’s course and distance…. 

Korker and Bedford Flyer – who reoppose tomorrow – beat him home. But he meets both on better terms and I reckon he’s a player at the 9s….

• At Haydock…. 

The Gosdens and Frankie Dettori team-up on race favourite Covey in the Silver Bowl at 2.25….

…. and who knows what he might be….

He’s one of five coming into this race off the back of a win….

…. and he’s one of three in the race running off an official rating for the first time….

Last time at Newcastle on the AW he won at a canter – beating the field by 4.75 lengths….

The form of a couple of those behind hasn’t stood up since….

…. but – even so – an opening mark of 90 might severely underestimate this son of Frankel running in the Juddmonte colours….

I guess plenty of punters will find much to like in the 3s about him this morning….

…. but my job isn’t to put up the favourite. Instead, my role is to find one that can run a race at a bigger price….

…. and I like ROYAL CAPE at the 7s….

He too won a novice event last time – at Windsor – coming out on top by 10-lengths….

Again, we can’t be sure at this stage exactly what he beat….

…. but he might also prove to be plenty better than his opening mark in handicaps – a mark of 88….

I’m not too concerned that the win came on ground described as soft (heavy in places) because the race times at Windsor that afternoon said the track was riding quite a bit quicker than that….

…. and this son of Gleneagles – out of a Danehill Dancer mare – could very well improve for a sounder surface….

He’s a prospect, I like the William Buick booking and he’s one to oppose the favourite with….

• At Goodwood…. 

In the Harroways Handicap at 2.05 Michael Dods’s PRAIRIE FALCON returns to the scene of his best win to date….

…. he won the 7f nursery handicap run at the Glorious meeting last term….

…. and I reckon he’s a nice bet at the generals 12s to run a big race tomorrow – back on a quick surface for the first time since that victory….

He’s 5lb higher but I’d expect him to have improved at least that much over the winter….

For sure, he hasn’t shown that improvement in two goes this term. But they were over 6f and a mile on ground that probably wasn’t ideal….

Tomorrow he returns to the 7f trip on ground that will suit….

…. and his proven ability to act on this idiosyncratic track cannot be underestimated in a field full of young horses – the majority of which are unproven at the venue….

• The last word….

That’s all for today….

I’ll be back next week

Meantime – contact me direct at nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk  

And remember – win, lose, or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned.

Against the Crowd