Paul jacobs
Naps wizard likes the look of Poetic Flare in the Sussex Stakes
After being lambasted by plenty of people on social media about my views on the Royal Ascot attendees and the prices they had to pay, I am fully prepared and ready to take on the day five Cheltenham festival merchants.
I already feel the class of action at Royal Ascot is diluted by having a fifth day, so what would it do to Cheltenham?
The one race that many punters and pundits alike have been shouting from the roof tops for is a two and a half mile championship hurdle event and like its twin over fences, the Ryanair Chase, it could very well work.
But what other six races, presuming there are seven a day, will enhance rather than adequately fit the Cheltenham jigsaw?
A mares three miler, a veterans staying chase, a mares only bumper? I could go on and on. Four days at the Festival is a real test of stamina, five could prove terminal to my energy levels!
And so onto the action in July, which centres around the Newmarket July Festival, the King George and the start of Glorious Goodwood.
When trying to predict these races I am going to presume that at the height of even an ‘English Summer’ we should experience top of the ground.
Newmarket’s Bunbury Cup is a handicap that always intrigues me and, of course, my best guess could easily be scuppered by the draw, but given the rub of the green in that area I have pinned my hopes on PIERRE LAPIN, currently available at 16/1.
Roger Varian’s charge bypassed both the Hunt Cup and Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot and although I thought that a test over a stiff six furlongs would be his optimum trip, seven should be well within his limits.
He had a lovely pipe-opener over seven furlongs at Thirsk which should have blown away the cobwebs and it is worth remembering that this will be only the seventh run of his career; not too many if any at all will be as unexposed as this son of Cappella Sansevero.
I see no reason why OXTED can’t retain his July Cup title at the expense of the new kid on the block, Starman. The Roger Teal trained gelding is arguably better off over six furlongs following his strong finishing success at Royal Ascot and granted decent ground he should secure the third Group One success of his career.
The King George was always the highlight of the Flat season for me when I was garnering an interest in this amazing sport, but small fields with no depth in the past few years have curtailed that excitement somewhat.
At this stage of proceedings, the Saudi Cup hero, MISHRIFF (5/1), remains top of my tipping tree, if he bypasses the Eclipse Stakes on the first Saturday of July at Sandown Park.
His one run at Ascot in the Champions Stakes can be safely written off as he hated the ground that day and raced way too keenly in the first third of the contest. Granted top of the ground he looks a huge player, while Derby hero ADAYAR (5/2) is an obvious danger as long as there is no sting in the turf.
The Glorious Goodwood meeting has always been a festival close to my heart. The beauty of the course, the social fun before and after racing and, of course, those wonderful athletes of the two and four legged kind.
At this stage the Sussex Stakes (July 28) is the race to focus on and the probable mouthwatering clash between Palace Pier, Poetic Flare and St Marks Basilica.
Despite the lack of strength in depth in the three-year-old, one mile division, I fancy that POETIC FLARE (3/1), could have the legs of his two market rivals. He is quite obviously a young horse that thrives on his racing and has that crucial combination at the highest level of a high cruising speed and a top class turn of foot.
The conclusion in the King’s Stand Stakes was that Jim Crowley got the fractions wrong on BATTAASH, but Goodwood is a second home to this speed bullet and even at 6/4 I think he looks a solid play to retain his crown in the King George Stakes and win this famous prize for a fifth consecutive season.
Finally a word on the John Smiths Cup at York on July 10 in which CARADOC (16/1) will most likely be on a retrieval mission. Sent off an 11/2 joint favourite 12 months ago, the Ed Walker charge lost all chance by running too freely through the first three furlongs. Set to race off a four pound lower mark here, this has been the aim all season.
His only run this season was a fair fourth at Haydock Park over a mile, a race which didn’t play to his strengths and with his stable on fire he could yet step up to the plate in this famous handicap.