The pick of the Saturday prices....

Friday, 26th July 2024

The pick of the Saturday prices….

Let’s get started today with a brief tribute to a wonderful old handicapper….

…. the evergreen Summerghand….

…. whose slated to run his 100th race under rules in tomorrow’s International Stakes at Ascot….

One of the best things about following the handicaps is that you get to know horses over a period of years….

…. figuring them out & learning their ways….

You see the ups, you see the downs, and you kind of get to live the whole story with them….

…. at least that’s how it is for me….

Summerghand’s been a fantastic servant for his owners and his trainer – David O’Meara….

…. the highlights consisting of wins in the Stewards’ Cup, the Ayr Gold Cup, and two big handicaps at York….

In all he’s won 17 races, gone close loads of other times, and won more than £600k….
 
The numbers speak for themselves….

…. and the fire still burns bright – it was only a fortnight back he finished 3rd in the Bunbury Cup….

What a star….

Salute you, Summerghand….

Goodwood starts on Tuesday – I’ll be in your email box with selections for Day 1 on Monday….

Before that I’m targeting tomorrow’s International Stakes at Ascot (3.00)….

…. and the Sky Bet Dash at York (2.40)

Let’s get on with it….

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In the International Stakes – 3.00….

Much as he’s a horse I’m very fond of….

…. I won’t be backing Summerghand in the International Stakes….

He got beaten more than 3-lengths by AALTO in the Bunbury Cup a fortnight back….

…. and that one turns out again tomorrow 4lb well-in at the weights under his 3lb penalty….

He’s basically running off a 2lb rise for what was a convincing winning performance….

…. one which saw him travel smoothly into contention….

…. before he put the race emphatically to bed when drawing clear of the field late on….

I’m going to assume 14 days is sufficient time to recover….

…. and that the 4yo will take to the track….

Luke Morris rides this time rather than Rossa Ryan….

…. but that’s the way of it with trainer Ian Williams – he engages whichever decent rider happens to be available at the track….

…. and Morris will be the sixth different pilot on the horse in its last seven runs….

You can’t get any better than 8s about Aalto this morning….

…. but he’s the pick of the prices for me….

He’s clearly in fine fettle right now….

…. I think he’s still well handicapped….

…. and his performance at Newmarket left me with the impression that there’s plenty more to come yet….

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In the Sky Bet Dash – 2.40….

I’m having a proper swing of the bat and backing Richard Fahey’s ROCK OPERA at the 25s & 20s….

He’s been going well since the ground quickened up earlier in the summer….

…. at least he was until finishing down the field at York last time….

I can draw a line through that run though….

…. because he was disadvantaged that day running on the wrong part of the track….

 This might not the strongest edition of the Dash….

…. there’s a distinct lack of early pace in the line-up….

…. and it could turn into a bit of a crawl with a rush to the line at the end….

So while, Richard Fahey’s charge has got plenty to find in a class of race he’s never contested before….

…. I’m mindful that he’s been running his best-ever performances this summer….

…. he’s got no weight whatsoever on his back under Andrew Mullen….

…. a diminished pace would enable him to stick with the classier horses early doors….

…. and he might just find it easier than some of the big guns to get going under a featherweight late on….

…. at a tasty each-way quote….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back on Monday with selections for Day 1 at Glorious Goodwood – look for me in your inbox around about midday….

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

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

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd