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Angus On Saturday
By Angus Loughran
Last updated: 15:32 Friday, July 4, 2008
Angus’ Best Bets - Saturday
Sandown (C4)
14:10 – Moorhouse Lad – 2pts e/w
Hoh Mike took this race 12 months ago and under Jamie Spencer this hold-up performer will certainly make a bold bid to repeat the feat. Wi Dud was second that day too and he bids to go one better, but the one I’m hoping can get the better of them both is Bryan Smart’s Moorhouse Lad. He’s not hit the heights he promised to yet this term but he landed a nice double around this time last season and his recent Ascot run was his first since last August, so will come on a bundle for it.
15:20 (Coral Eclipse) – Rob Roy 1pt e/w
Not the greatest Eclipse ever run, but all the same at least we’ve got a competitive affair with plenty of chances. As I’m sure most of you know by now Aidan O’Brien, Godolphin and Sir Michael Stoute have farmed this race between them in the last decade, winning 70% of the runnings. They are all represented again this year, despite only nine runners, but it could be Henry Cecil who spoils the party. The former champion trainer looks to have two great chances as Phoenix Tower and Multidimensional look sure to figure, with the former looking his best chance and likely to go off as favourite based on his 4 length second to Duke of Marmalade in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Ascot.
That is rock solid form, but I just think the Stoute team might be able to cause another minor shock - like they did last year. Notnowcato stole the prize 12 months ago from Derby winner Authorized, after a great tactical ride from Ryan Moore, and he can do so again. They team up with Rob Roy, and although he’s failed to win a race since April 2006, this one-time 2,000 Guineas flop has shown he retains plenty of ability at the age of six. Add in the fact he’s got a great record here at Sandown, with one win and a second from his two starts here, then at a double-figure price he could rate the each-way value in an intriguing event.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning Aidan O’Brien’s Mount Nelson. He will be near the top of the betting, after his staying on effort in the Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot recently, and the fact that his stable are in unstoppable form at present. However, to me, he’s still got a bit to find with some of these so Ballydoyle might just have to wait for another day to land a further Group One prize.
15:55 – Melodramatic 2pts win
Another race Sir Michael Stoute has a great record in here at this meeting, after winning it twice in the last five years, and in Visit they certainly have a good one to continue that trend. She’s not been out since flopping in the Cheveley Park Stakes at HQ at the backend of last season, but if the yard have her back to form she’s a high class filly and one for the short-list.
With those few question marks hanging over the Stoute runner, for me, it’s best to take a watching brief on her until she proves herself on the course again, so my pick here is going to be Roger Charlton’s Melodramatic. This Sadler’s Wells daughter drops back in trip after failing over 1m2f last time and although some might think she didn’t get home that day she was well clear of the third and in time that trip should be fine. However, for the moment, I think connections are doing the right thing putting her back over a mile, after she showed plenty of speed at the trip to win easily at Nottingham, and although this is tougher she looks sure to run her race.
17:05 – Firestreak 2pts win
Richard Hannon has taken this race for the past two seasons and can do so again with Firestreak. A winner here on his first racecourse outing back in June 07 he’s not won since but this Green Desert colt, who is owned by the Queen, showed in his last run that a return to form could be just around the corner and with the stable’s fine record in the race today looks like being his day.
Haydock (C4)
15:00 – Turbo Linn 2pts win
Godolphin’s Folk Opera might be a tough nut to crack here, but I’ll take Turbo Linn to follow up her win in this race 12 months ago. This decent mare started her career winning five NH Flat races in 2006/07 and then followed those wins up with three victories on the flat, including a Group Two at Newmarket. She’s not won since, but she’s been highly tried, running in the Group One Coronation Stakes at Epsom, and based on her 8 length seventh behind Soldier of Fortune she’ll certainly find this company a shade easier.
15:35 (Old Newton Cup) – Buccellati 2pts e/w
All eyes will be on Luca Cumani’s Mad Rush here as the trainer has won this race twice in the last four years, and although it will be a shock if he’s not in the shake-up he’s no real value at around 4/1. Clive Cox’s Dansili Dancer won this last year and he’ll make a bold bid to follow up, but the one I like here is Andrew Balding’s Buccellati. This chestnut landed the hat-trick at the backend of last season at Ascot in a competitive handicap and after two runs this term should be cherry-ripe for this contest. The ground conditions will be ideal and after his close fourth at Royal Ascot last month everything points to a big run from this 4 year-old.