Richard Fahey: Moon to shine
Last Updated: 25/07/14 1:01pm
Our star columnist Richard Fahey with a horse-by-horse guide to his team for Saturday.
We have runners at four tracks on Saturday. York is a special course for us and we have a good team heading there.
Cosmic Halo is first up in the Skybet Moneyback If Favourite Wins EBF Stallions Fillies' Handicap. She’s getting herself well handicapped and was a little unlucky last time at Ayr. She’s won at the track which is a plus but needs a race with plenty of pace to aim at. If she gets that I’d give her a chance.
Sir Reginald ran a good race in the Scottish Stewards’ Cup last time and won his maiden at York as a two-year-old. He’s in great order and capable of winning off this mark and I hope he gets a bit of luck in the Skybet Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap.
Tiger Twenty Two is also declared but runs on Friday and we’ll have to see how he goes there and how he comes out of it.
The Sky Bet Dash is competitive as ever. We run Rene Mathis who won at Newmarket first time out before finishing down the field at Royal Ascot. He’s a good, hardy horse who will run his race but he’s drawn 20 and I wouldn’t be coming out of that box given the choice.
We’re double handed in the sportinglife.com My Stable Tracking Service Median Auction Maiden Stakes. Third Time Lucky is a nice horse who will win a maiden. We like him and he shaped well at Newcastle first time. It’s hard to know what he’s in against though with a couple of interesting newcomers.
We introduce Phoenix Storm who is a good looking, well bred colt. He hasn’t shown a whole lot at home but is ready to run so we’ll give him a spin and learn more about him.
Finally Clouds Rest and Ventura Shadow run in the Skybet Supporting New Beginnings Nursery. The latter won a similar race by a nose at the last meeting here and is a tough, game, little thing who will run her race.
On her best form the handicapper has given Clouds Rest a bit of a chance. She could go well too but is only small and you just worry if others are going to strengthen up and improve past her.
Down at Ascot we have three in the Longines International Stakes.
While Heaven’s Guest goes on any ground his best form is on soft which is a bit of a worry. He runs off 103 here and the handicapper has reassessed him at 107 so theoretically we are four pounds well in. We’re taking five more off with Jack Garrity’s claim too but rain would help.
It would be in the favour of Brae Hill too but I can’t see much in the forecast. Do I think he’s well handicapped of 95? Not really but he’s capable of going well in races like this.
If I had to pick one of mine it would be Majestic Moon. He’ll love the ground and is in great order right now. He’s the sort of horse who could pop up at a price.
Marwan Koukash was keen to try Our Gabrial over a mile-and-a-half and we’re doing that in the Canisbay Bloodstock Handicap. He has the right demeanour to get the trip and if he does stay it could bring about a bit of improvement.
Over at Newmarket the Adnams Broadside Handicap is a valuable pot and we run two.
Eastern Impact is probably still improving and I thought he ran well to be fifth in a similar race at York last time. The track here will suit him. Foxy Clarets is on the upgrade and that’s a good thing going into a contest like this but his best form is with a bit of cut so rain would help.
Over at Newcastle Cosmic Statesman makes his debut in the Collingwood Insurance Company Maiden Auction Stakes. He’s a brother to Cosmic Son and goes well at home. He’ll definitely win a maiden although whether he’d know enough to win one like this on debut I wouldn’t know.
Crisis Averted is handicapped to win races and had a valid excuse for his run last time. If he’s back to his best in the Collingwood Fleet Insurance Handicap you’d have to give him a chance.