The pick of the Saturday prices....

Friday, 9th August 2024

The pick of the Saturday prices….

Like I said yesterday….

…. I’m breaking a 25-year habit this weekend and playing in the Shergar Cup handicaps….

I’m in good form….

…. I’m seeing things clearly….

…. and it’s a weekend to press on rather than hit the pause button….

There are good bets to be had….

…. and there’s good money to be won….

Let’s crack on….

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In the Dash – 1.35….

There’s plenty of early pace in the opener….

…. and that could well play into the hands of BADRI….

He ran his best race for a while last week at Hamilton….

…. when debuting for new trainer Michael Herrington….

It was the first time he’d produced a turf performance worth three figures on the RPR scale since the back end of last term….

…. and whatever Herrington has done in the short time he’s had the horse has clearly produced some positive effect….

Perhaps it’s just a change of air and surroundings that’s done the trick….

…. but last weekend the 7yo clearly indicated that he’s ready to strike off his diminished mark of 92….

As recently as the beginning of March he was rated 104….

…. and he’s now 8lb below the mark off which he won a valuable handicap over tomorrow’s course and distance in October….

He likes the track – his form figures read 219….

…. and he’s twice produced RPRs well in excess of 100 when running over tomorrow’s trip at the Berkshire venue….

He’s dangerously well-handicapped if he fires under Marie Velon….

…. and he’s going to get his ground….

…. which isn’t quite the case for Holkham Bay or Dream Composer….

…. who both went deep in my analysis….

Badri is the pick at the general 6s….
 
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In the Stayers – 2.10….

Not too many turn out for this in what you could say was good form….

…. and the favourite in the betting this morning – Samui – is the reserve horse and might not even get a run….

The one that appeals to me at the prices is SHERADANN – up at 6s & 11/2….

He was sent off at 100s last week in the Summer Handicap at Goodwood….

… and he outran that price by miles….

He only finished 7th of the 13 beaten 2.25 lengths – but the placings don’t tell the full story….

He had plenty of running left him in the closing stages but met with trouble in running….

…. without which he’d probably have finished closer….

That was only his second run for Ian Williams and a big improvement on his first…..

He’d previously plied his trade in France where he was a winner at trips between 11f and 15f….

Connections paid €250,000 for him and they clearly believe he’s a bit more than a ‘fun’ horse….

He’s already down to a mark of 91 from an opening British figure of 94….

…. and he’s surely got to be a ‘live’ proposition off that kind of mark….

You could make the case that all his good French work was produced on soft ground….

…. but quick ground didn’t bother him at Goodwood last week….

…. and I see him going well….

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In the Challenge – 2.45….

SET POINT is an interesting contender for Gordon Elliott at the general 7s….

He was supposed to run in last week’s consolation race for horses that didn’t get into the Galway Hurdle….

…. but the ground wasn’t right and he turns up here on the flat instead….

He’d run exclusively over hurdles for Elliott until last time at the Curragh in June when he won over 10f….

He needed every yard of the trip that afternoon….

…. and the step up to 12f tomorrow looks sure to benefit a horse that’s potentially well handicapped off a mark of just 82….

Whilst he’s certainly not the flagship progeny of his sire Sea The Stars….

…. he’s relatively lightly tried on the flat….

…. and could have more to come in this code….

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In the Mile – 4.30….

Just as I’m breaking a longstanding habit in playing the Shergar Cup races at all….

… I’m also going to break another habit and back a favourite – NEW IMAGE at 3s….

I put him up last week for the Golden Mile – but he was pulled out on account of the ground at Goodwood….

It will be that touch slower at Ascot this weekend and I can’t see him being beaten if he runs his race….

On top of that Hayley Turner – queen of the Shergar Cup – has the ride for David O’Meara….

…. and you know how these Shergar Cup scripts are apt to go….

…. you can see this being the last-gasp winner that secures the prize for ‘the girls’….

That’s by the by though….

…. this horse has run a couple of crackers in defeat in big-field events….

…. most notably last time in the International at Ascot – finding just Northern Express too good….

…. and the extra furlong tomorrow looks sure to suit….

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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