Equity cashes in at York
Shared Equity dominated from start to finish to win the Coral Sprint Cup at York last Saturday. Having been well-supported before the race from double figure prices, the 7/1 shot burst out of the gates and won with plenty to spare.
Trainer Jedd O’Keeffe told me after the race: “He has been performing well in big handicaps all year, we have just been unlucky with the ground or the draw.”
The Qipco Champions Day at Ascot this Saturday will finally bring the flat season to a close.
With a combined prize fund of over £4.2 million and four Group One races on the card, you can expect this to attract some of the best horses in the world.
The Qipco Champions Long Distance Cup at 12.45pm is a Group Two race run at two mile.
The ground will be key for most runners but not Agent Murphy, who seems equally effective on all surfaces.
His second last time out behind Order Of St George looks probably the best piece of form on offer.
The step up to two-mile is a concern but I do feel the Brian Meehan trained fouryear-old has the class to go close. Clever Cookie and Pallasator should follow him home.
The first Group One on the card will be the Qipco Champion Sprint Stakes at 1.20pm.
Muhaarar will go off a short priced favourite and deservedly so after such an impressive season.
Twilight Son demands plenty of respect, he made a mockery of the field in the Betfred Sprint Cup last month.
Conditions may just suit him and if he gets a good draw, 7/1 could look generous.
The 1.55pm Fillies and Mares’ Group One at Ascot is extremely competitive on paper. Simple Verse, who won the St Ledger is a filly that keeps on improving, she will be a danger but Sea Calisi will be my selection.
The three-year-old filly has some fine form to her name, notably finishing third to Treve in her last race. Odds of around 7/1 should be supported.
Solow will take some catching in Queen Elizabeth Stakes at 2.30pm. This superb filly will dominate the headlines in the build up.
Trainer Freddy Head is adamant of a big showing and from the races I have seen her compete in, she looks to have the best chance on paper.
I will be hoping Gleneagles gets the ground she wants which will make it a fantastic race.
Although the ground will have to dry out significantly for this to materialise.
The Balmoral Handicap is the finale at the meeting. This is a minefield for punters, you could make a case for at least 10 runners.
I think backing two horses in this type of race is ideal as it does take plenty of luck in running.
Ayaar and Bronze Angel are my fancies. Ayaar fell out of the gate last time out and ran well enough to suggest he can win this type of race.
Bronze Angel seems to run well in this type of race and could finish fast late on. Wally’s Wagers Ascot 12.45pm Agent Murphy 5/1. Ascot 1.20pm Twilight Son 7/1. Ascot 1.55pm Sea Calisi 13/2.