The pick of the prices in the Bronze Cup....

Thursday, 21st September 2023

The pick of the prices in the Bronze Cup….

It’s the Bronze Cup at Ayr tomorrow….

…. and I’ve got a selection for you – which you’ll find further down the page….

First, the answer to a question from a reader….

…. and a horse I took out of last Saturday’s Portland at Doncaster….

The question from reader R is this….

“Badri didn’t get the ground you expected in the Portland but he made a good fist of it in the circumstances. Would you say he is one for the ‘note book’ as they say?”

In response I say this….

You're right. Badri didn't get his preferred ground (I got that wrong) and he didn't run too bad....

He's not one I'd back automatically next time. He's not likely to get his ground for a start….

…. but I'd certainly be looking out for him on the AW over the winter. He's got a fine record at Newcastle….

The one I would take from the race is Hughie Morrison’s Haymaker….

He did easily the best of those that ran their race on the near side of the track (pace up the centre as predicted) and he will handle softer ground….

He might be finished for the year – but he can rate higher than his revised mark of 85….

Back in July the 4yo ran at Ascot and finished not so very far behind Popmaster….

…. a horse who loves Ascot….

…. and who was very well handicapped at the time….

Popmaster was officially rated 91 that day but he’s up to 100 now

…. having lost narrowly in good handicaps at Newbury and Ascot since….

That’s form that pays Haymaker a real compliment – and he’s one for the notebook (as they say)….

Just be aware that it might be next term when he strikes….

• In the Bronze Cup – 3.25….

There are loads of really exposed horses that make no appeal at all….

…. for one reason or another….

…. in tomorrow’s Bronze Cup at Ayr (2.25)….

I thought about Cold Stare as the bet….

David O’Meara’s charge is getting on now….

…. and sits on a losing sequence of 25 races….

He almost got the job done on soft ground at Doncaster at the weekend….

…. and he might just be coming into his own now autumn has arrived….

…. but I just don’t think it’s going to be soft enough for him tomorrow….

I looked hard too at Ascot Adventure….

….  who could have more to give yet off a mark of 78….

…. but Tudhope’s preference for Cold Stare and Ben Curtis taking what looks like a spare ride put me off….

Harry’s Halo was another under consideration – but the form of his yard is a concern….

Sometimes it’s about being pragmatic….

The temptation is to always reach for horses at prices….

… but when you really can’t see those horses or make the proper case….

…. the next best thing to do is to go with a more fancied horse you can make a case for – and I’m going with ROCK MELODY at the 8s….

She’s had an odd season….

…. running mostly over 5f and even stepping up to 7f the time before last….

…. even though her better efforts – in my book at least – have been produced over the 6f trip on ground with some ease….

Those are the conditions she gets tomorrow….

…. and she gets a good opportunity to put right a beaten favourite performance last time out at Musselburgh just five days ago….

…. when the minimum trip found her out….

Backing a favourite is a rarity for me – but the price is the key thing….

…and 8s is more than acceptable given some of the company in this race….

• Finally….

That’s all for today….

I’ll be back tomorrow….

…. with my thoughts on the Saturday action at Ayr & York….

Meantime – enjoy the racing….

…. win, lose or draw….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd