Morning folks
Nothing more to follow on a very, very tough looking day. Final mail issued as below
5:15 York
BRAZEN BOLT – 1 Pt Win @ 8/1 Bet365, 11/2 generally
A very smooth traveller, the drop back in trip from 7 furlongs, which has just found him out the last twice, promises to suit admirably and he should run a big race
4:25 Newmarket
DOUBLE OR BUBBLE – 1/2 Pt Each way @ 66/1 4 places generally
Ran very well for us when tipped at these big odds at Ascot, probably finding that stiff 6 furlongs in the company a little too much. She loves this track though, thoughts echoed by her trainer below, and hopefully she can hit the frame and maybe better at monster odds and worth a tickle.
QUOTE
Chris Wall, trainer: “She came out of Ascot very well, and did a nice piece of work last week. She wasn’t too far behind at Ascot, and the track at Newmarket should play more to her strengths. We’re perfectly realistic about the task she faces, but if she did manage to finish third the Group 1 status would enhance her paddock value no end.”
2:40 Newmarket
JIMI HENDRIX – 1.25 Pt Win @ 7/2 Bet365 (bog) 100/30 generally
Versatile and improving colt who came from off the pace to win at Haydock (handicap debut) in May, then ran well from the front in the Britannia at Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm; finished third); The clock backs that up as a smart effort and he is major player in this especially if adopting those prominent racing tactics.
3:00 Ascot
TONE THE BARONE – 1/2 Pt Each way @ 18/1 5 places Bet365 (B.O.G) 16/1 5 places generally
We all know that Stuart Williams’ six-year-old is far better on the all-weather than on turf, and his last two runs on artificial surfaces resulted in wins, the second of them over Highfield Princess, who has since won on All-Weather Championships finals day at Newcastle and the Group 2 Duke of York.
Tone The Barone is rated 105 on the all-weather though, so the difference in his ability compared to turf is fully taken into account with a mark of just 89 for Saturday. He is 16lb lower on turf than on the all-weather, but he has won twice at Ascot from only four attempts and he shaped well at Sandown last weekend.
That mark is 1lb lower than it was on Saturday, when he turned in his best turf performance of the year so far when a three-length fifth to runaway winner Lovely Mana at Sandown.He’s got a bit to make up on that one despite her 6lb penalty, but it surely won’t come as a surprise that the three best turf runs of Tone The Barone’s life, two of them wins, have all come on Ascot’s sand-based straight track.
His one defeat at the track came after the handicapper decided to move his turf mark in tandem with his all-weather rating and he had to run off 100 at the Shergar Cup.He certainly wasn’t disgraced in being beaten just over three lengths though, and those two marks have gone in opposite directions since then. He can definitely be competitive here off 89.
4:25 York
CERTAIN LAD – 1/2 Pt Each way @ 20/1 6 places generally
ACHELOIS – 1/2 Pt Each way @ 20/1 6 places generally
CERTAIN LAD was Group 3 winner in 2020 when tipped at this track. He was off 18 months when tipped again LTO at Ascot but showed that he retains plenty of ability when second in Huxley at Chester and wasn’t disgraced in Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot since so I can see him going well.
ACHELOIS has progressed into a very useful 4 year old filly and improved again when runner-up on return at Epsom, travelling strongly looking all over the winner, going for home too soon then nailed late by a C & D specialist. Seemingly amiss in listed company on soft ground since but i feel she could get back on track in this well run handicap, for her useful 5lb claimer and a trainer who has Won 2 of the last 3 runnings of this prestigious handicap.
3:50 Newmarket
RHOSCOLYN – 3/4 Pt Win @ 12/1 generally
STAR OF ORION – 1.25 Pt Win @ 12/1 generally
TITAN ROCK – 3/4 Pt Win @ 33/1 generally
A seriously progressive three-year-old last season, he has run with credit on three of his four starts this season and he was two places and half a length ahead of Montassib when they were third and fifth in the Buckingham Palace.
The difference in price between that pair makes little sense then, and what I like about Rhoscolyn is the fact he is so versatile when it comes to tactics.
He was dropped out at Ascot as that is invariably the best way to ride the track in big-field handicaps, but it doesn’t always work out that way at Newmarket.
Rhoscolyn has won from more prominent positions in the past, including when front-running, and he clearly handles these valuable big-field handicaps well.
He has run in only three, finishing second in the Golden Mile off 104 at Goodwood last year, and ninth when not quite getting home in the Balmoral off 106. He remains on the same mark as for the Buckingham Palace and should not be 20-1.
STAR OF ORION needs no introduction after a luckless run LTO when tipped at Ascot. Loves this C & D and looks well drawn so handicapped to run a biggie, as is old friend TITAN ROCK who is another 4 year old who should go very well in a seriously tough race at a very hard to predict track!