More excellent jumping action at Ascot and Haydock this Saturday with the ITV cameras heading to both tracks. The Betfair Chase is the highlight from Haydock, while the main event at Ascot is the Chaenelle 1965 Chase – As always here at GeeGeez we are on hand with all the trends and stats…..
16/17 – Aged 8 or younger
14/17 – Returned 7/1 or shorter in the betting
13/17 – Had between 1-4 previous chase wins
13/17 – Finished in the top 4 last time out
12/17 – Winning distance – 4 lengths or less
12/17 – Favourites placed
12/17 – Won by a French-bred horse
12/17 – Had won over this trip (fences) 2m5f or further before
11/17 – Ran at Aintree (4) or Cheltenham (6) last time out
10/17 – Went onto run at the Cheltenham Festival that season
9/17 – Had raced within the last 5 weeks
9/17 – Winning favourites (3 joint)
8/17 – Won by trainer Paul Nicholls
8/17 – Won last time out
4/17 – Aged 5 years-old
3/17 – Won by trainer Nicky Henderson
2/17 – Won by trainer Alan King
2/17 – Won by trainer Philip Hobbs
2/17 – Went onto win at the Cheltenham Festival that season (Albertas Run & Vautour, RyanAir Chase 2009 & 2016)
Cyrname won the race in 2019
Politologue won the race in 2018
Top Notch won the race in 2017
Note: The 2002 running was at Wincanton and the 2004 renewal at Windsor
2.40 - Coral Hurdle (Registered As The Ascot Hurdle Race) (Grade 2) Cl1 2m3f58y ITV
18/18 – Priced 7/2 or less
16/18 – Won over at least 2m 1/2f (hurdles) previously
15/18 – Won a Grade 2 (or better) hurdle race previously
15/18 – Won by and Irish (12) or French (3) bred horse
14/18 – Favourites placed
11/18 – Won their latest race
11/18 – Won by a horse aged 7 or older
11/18 – Won a Grade 1 hurdle race previously
11/18 – Had their last race 3 months or longer ago
10/18 – Favourites that won (2 joint)
11/18 – Won between 3-5 times over hurdles previously
6/18 – Went onto run in that season’s World Hurdle after winning this (1 won)
5/18 – Went onto race in the Champion Hurdle that same season (4 of 5 finished 4th or better, Faugheen won both renewals in 2014-15
6/18 – Won a hurdles race at Ascot previously
4/18 – Raced at Cheltenham last time out
3/18 – Won by the Nicky Henderson stable
2/18 – Won by the Willie Mullins stable
4 of the last 14 winners were Irish-trained
If The Cap Fits won the race in 2018 & 2019
Lil Rockerfeller won the race in 2017
Note: the 2004 & 2005 renewals were at Windsor
3.17 – Coral Hurst Handicap Chase Cl2 2m192y ITV
13/14 – Aged between 6 and 9 years-old
13/14 – Had won over fences over this trip (or further) before
12/14 – Priced 8/1 or shorter in the betting
11/14 – Had raced within the last 5 weeks
10/14 – Finished in the top 3 last time out
9/14 – Carried 11-0 or more
9/14 – Rated 142 or higher
8/14 – Ran at either Ascot (4) or Cheltenham (4) last time out
8/14 – Had raced at Ascot before
7/14 – Won by an Irish-bred horse
7/14 – Placed favourites
6/14 – Placed horses from the Paul Nicholls yard
4/14 – Won last time out
4/14 – Aged 6 years-old
4/14 – Winning favourites
3/14 – Trained by Paul Nicholls
2/14 – Trained by Gary Moore
Capeland won the race in 2019
Caid du Lin won the race in 2018
3.50 – Coral Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race 1m7 1/2f ITV
10/10 – Aged 4 or 5 years-old
8/10 – Returned 8/1 or shorter in the betting
7/10 – Aged 4 years-old
6/10 – Had had a run before
6/10 – Irish bred
5/10 – Had run in the last 4 weeks
4/10 – Winning favourites
3/10 – Won last time out
2/10 – Ran at Bangor last time out
2/10 – Trained by Nicky Henderson
Trainer Paul Nicholls has a 25% record with his NH Flat runners at the track
Haydock Horse Racing Trends (ITV/RacingTV)
1.15 Back And Lay On Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase Cl2 (4 yo+) 2m 5 1/2f RTV
9/9 – 0-2 wins over fences
8/9 – Returned 7/2 or shorter
8/9 – Raced in the last 4 weeks
7/9 – Placed in the top 2 last time out
7/9 – Rated between 144-148
6/9 – Trained by Paul Nicholls
6/9 – Aged 5 or 6 years-old
6/9 – 0-2 runs over fences before
4/9 – Won last time out
4/9- - Winning favourites
2/9 – Ridden by Harry Cobden
2/9 – Ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies
Keeper Hill won the race 12 months ago
1.50 – Betfair Racing Only Bettor Handicap Hurdle Cl2 (4yo+) 2m3f ITV
8/9 – Had raced in the last 6 weeks
8/9 – Had won between 1-2 times before
7/9 – Irish bred
7/9 – Carried 10-12 or more in weight
7/9 – Had won over at least 2m2f before
7/9 – Aged 5 or 6 years-old
6/9 – Finished 1st or 2nd last time out
3/9 – Ridden by a conditional claiming jockey
3/9 – Winning favourites
Bold Plan won the race in 2019
Black Mischief won the race in 2018
Limited Reserve won the race in 2017
14/15– Aged between 5 and 7 years-old
14/15 – Had won between 1-3 times (hurdles UK) before
13/15 – Carried 10-9 or more
12/15 – Rated between 132 and 143
10/15 – Went onto run at the Cheltenham Festival that season (1 winner, Paisley Park 2019)
9/15 – Had raced within the last 4 weeks
8/15 – Came from the top 3 in the betting
8/15 – Returned 7/1 or shorter in the betting
8/15 – Placed favourites
7/15 – Won last time out
6/15 – French bred
6/15 – Had raced at Haydock before
3/15 – Winning favourites (1 joint)
3/15 – Trained by David Pipe
2/15 – Trained by Nick Williams
Stoney Mountain won the race in 2019
Paisley Park won the race in 2018
Sam Spinner won the race in 2017
3.00 - Betfair Chase (Registered as The Lancashire Chase) (Grade 1) Cl1 3m 1 1/2f ITV
15 Previous runnings
13/15 - Won over at least 3m (fences) previously
12/15 - Raced within the last 4 weeks
12/15 – Won by and Irish (4) or French (8) bred horse
12/15 - Placed in the top three in their last race
12/15 - Won a Grade One chase previously
11/15 - Raced at Haydock previously
10/15 - Officially rating of 168 or higher
10/15 – Favourites placed
8/15 – Aged 8 or older
8/15 - Winning distance - 2 ½ lengths or less
7/15 - Raced at Wetherby in the Charlie Hall last time out
7/15 – Won by a previous winner of the race
7/15 – Winning favourites
6/15 – Won their latest race
4/15 - Raced at Aintree last time out
Lostintranslation won this in 2019
Bristol De Mai won this in 2017 and 2018
The average winning price in the last 15 runnings is 5/1
The Paul Nicholls yard has won the prize in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012 & 2014
The Nigel Twiston-Davies yard has won the prize in 2010, 2017 and 2018 The Colin Tizzard yard has won the race in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2019
3.35 – My Odds Boost On Betair Stayers’ Handicap Chase Cl3 (4yo+ 0-135) 3m 4 1/2f ITV
8/9 – Aged 8 or younger
8/9 – Returned 8/1 or shorter in the betting
7/9 – Aged between 7-8 years-old
7/9 – Didn’t win last time out
7/9 – Won over at least 3m (fences) before
7/9 – Rated between 129-135
6/9 – Unplaced last time out
6/9 – Carried 11st 9lbs or more
6/9 – Won between 1-2 times fences
2/9 – Ridden by Richard Johnson
1/9 – Winning favourites
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/stt.png320830Andy Newtonhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngAndy Newton2020-11-20 13:20:522020-11-19 16:35:06Sat TV Trends: 21st Nov 2020
With the flat season officially over, I’ll now be largely concentrating on the all weather over the winter with the odd staying chase thrown in for good measure.
Lingfield has a good quality card with two listed races at the end of proceedings but it’s two handicaps earlier on that catch my eye as decent betting heats and I’ll be examining both here. Both races are run over a mile but with differing field sizes so we’ll be able to see how much difference the field size makes to any pace and draw biases and hopefully we’ll be able to come out of both races with a decent bet or two.
The races in question are the 12.10pm, a class 6 handicap featuring twelve runners and the 12.45pm, a class 2 handicap with just the eight runners.
Draw
Twelve Runners
The good thing about looking at all weather races is we have a huge amount of data on consistent going types so we can look at the exact field sizes rather than a range.
In slightly bigger fields of twelve runners there seems very little draw advantage with win and place percentages fairly similar and PRB almost exactly the same. Middle draws have performed worst of all for many metrics but they come out slightly on top in terms of PRB so it’s probably fair to say there is no draw advantage over this distance in this field size despite other distances here having some fairly strong draw advantages.
Eight Runners
Draw advantages are usually less prevalent in smaller fields so let’s see if the data backs that up here:
A quick glance at these figures might suggest a middle draw is a big disadvantage but they’ve made up a much smaller sample of runners as the middle draws in eight runner fields contain just two of the eight runners, those from stalls 4 and 5. They have the second best place percentage and although middle draws provide the worst PRB, it’s only 0.01 worse off than low draws and 0.02 less than that provided by the high draws.
So overall the mile distance here looks very fair as far as the draw is concerned.
Pace
Twelve Runners
The size of the field can impact pace bias either way. Bigger fields on average will contain more pace than smaller fields but with more runners those that are held up are likely to be further from the lead than in a smaller field, therefore giving those runners even more ground to make up. In big field races where there is little pace on offer those held up are likely to be seen to worst effect.
There is a clear advantage here to being up with the pace with number of wins, places, EW PL and IV all decreasing the further back in the field you are. There have been forty-eight winners that have been held up or ridden in mid division in the above sample and forty-six have been front runners or prominent so plenty of winners do come from behind but that’s from a lot more runners.
Eight Runners
Are smaller fields going to make it easier or harder for hold up performers to get their heads in front?
Once again the number of wins, places, EW PL and IV all decrease the further back in the field a runner is positioned. The majority of the metrics are even more in favour of those up with the pace here compared to bigger fields which suggests that these smaller fields are often only moderately run at best.
Draw and Pace Combination
It's not always the case that low is good and high is bad (or vice versa) or front running is good and being held up is bad (or vice versa). Certain run styles are suited to different types of draw and this is where the draw pace heat maps on Geegeez Gold are absolutely essential for research.
Twelve Runners
We already know that racing nearer the pace is an advantage here but what this heat map is telling us is that those that race in mid division from either low or middle draws are actually outperforming those that lead from a low draw or are prominent from a high draw.
The best draw and pace combination from a PRB perspective is to lead from a middle or high draw or to be prominent or mid division from a low or middle draw.
Eight Runners
In the smaller field there seems much less difference between the run styles depending on the draw. Leading or being prominent from any draw is certainly no bad thing. Going further back though, if looking to back a horse from mid division a low draw seems essential.
12.10pm Lingfield Analysis
Pace is likely to play it’s part here so the pace map for this race is important.
We should be guaranteed some early dash here from habitual front runner Rivas Rob Roy. He seems likely to get an easy lead here so is of immediate interest, especially having run some good races here in the past. What is clear from looking at his form is he generally improves for a run and he hasn’t run for almost four months plus he seems better at 7f than 1m so hopefully his role here is just to ensure a half decent gallop.
Four Mile Bridge, who ran very poorly after a year off last time out, and handicap debutant Mirakhul are likely to follow Rivas Rob Roy early on. Mirakhul has barely done enough to even earn that handicap mark of 55 so he’s going to have to find some sudden improvement from somewhere to figure even if he is likely to be favoured by how the race is run.
The majority of the other runners are likely to be held up in mid division or rear so to find the best bet we will need to find a runner that has proven they can come from off the pace at Lingfield. It takes a runner with a good turn of foot to make up ground here so let’s find one.
Violet’s Lads was better than the bare result last time out after a wide trip but she didn’t seem to stay a mile on her last attempt here and doesn’t have the best overall profile, even in this lowly grade.
Casavola is fairly interesting on the basis her handicap mark has been decided on efforts at Chelmsford, where she hasn’t been seen to best effect trying to come from off the pace. She was well beaten there in two starts but those were strong races compared to this contest. She’s respected here but it’s almost impossible to figure out what kind of mark she’s been running to so she can’t be backed with any real confidence, especially as she's never run here either.
The two really solid options here are Good Luck Charm and Emerald Fox, who are amongst the best for course records as denoted by the Instant Expert below (Violet's Lads also comes out well on that score but those runs are at 7f).
Good Luck Charm could still be well handicapped on his run at Bath in July when 6th. He was beaten just over six lengths that day but the winner won his next start, the second and fourth have won twice since and even the fifth and ninth have won since. He’s now 4lbs lower than that run and returns to Lingfield for the first time since following up that Bath effort with a close 2nd here off a 1lb higher mark in August. He ran as if in form last time out at Kempton at a course that doesn’t suit quite so well and it’s worth noting that 2.25 lengths in front of Good Luck Charm that day, and only 1lb worse off here, was Emerald Fox.
Emerald Fox is lightly raced for a 5yo and has been in consistent form since the resumption of racing in June. She’s been better than the bare result on her last couple of runs but is most interesting on her run here in a classified stakes over course and distance in mid August. She was 2nd that day, 1.75 lengths behind Laurentia giving that runner 5lbs. Laurentia is now rated 18lbs higher whereas Emerald Fox is just 1lb higher. That form isn’t completely reliant on the subsequent exploits of the winner either, the 3rd also won next time out.
Both Emerald Fox and Good Luck Charm are likely to be positioned in mid division from their low draws, which isn’t a disadvantage according to the draw pace heat map, but Emerald Fox should be slightly more forward than Good Luck Charm which is another tick in her box. She’s therefore favoured for the win here, although I’ll be tempted to include this pair in a forecast in the hope that Casavola isn’t well handicapped here.
If you’re a fan of trainer/jockey combinations then Good Luck Charm should offer a decent each way betting opportunity at around 6/1. Gary Moore and Rhys Clutterbuck have a 40% strike rate from ten runs here in the past year. Seven of those runners have placed producing a 33.88 EW PL.
12.45pm Analysis
First let’s check out the pace map for this race:
Once again we should be at least guaranteed some early pace in this race from Dashing Roger. He should get an uncontested lead so will be of immediate interest here, especially as he’s been extremely progressive in recent months rising from a handicap mark of 74 in July up to 96 here, winning three races along the way. His form over this distance this year reads 12121 and he won here in March, albeit off a much lower mark. He was arguably flattered to win as he did last time out on heavy ground so he does have to prove he can still mix it in better company off an 8lb higher mark.
Silent Attack and Astro King are likely to track the pace that Dashing Roger sets. Silent Attack seems equally effective over the 7f he ran well at last time out (in a class 2 handicap here) or over a mile, which is the distance he won his last race at, which just so happened to be here off this mark. He’s at his best seemingly in small fields, which he gets here and although he doesn’t have as interesting a profile as many of these he is at the very least sure to give his running.
Astro King is the early favourite thanks to a lightly raced profile for a powerful trainer with this type. Sir Michael Stoute’s runners are nearly always well found in the market here but that hasn’t stopped his handicap runners producing a level stakes profit on Lingfield's polytrack over the past five years, he also has a strike rate of 25%. Soft ground probably didn’t suit last time out and he seems at least reasonably handicapped on his previous form on artificial surfaces. This is a sharp enough track to be dropping back in trip by two furlongs though and whilst he’s potentially the most likely winner, his price is short enough.
Oh This Is Us is very interesting, more so than his price suggests. He finished near last on his latest start, behind Silent Attack, but was only beaten 2.5 lengths and he was slightly short of room and eased up with half a furlong to run. Crucially that run came over 7f and although he had just won over that trip at Chelmsford, round here he seems much better suited by a mile. He only got up late when winning the 2019 All-Weather Mile Championships and that left him rated 113, he’s currently rated just 104. Other than his 2nd racecourse appearance as a 2yo, he’s unbeaten in two course and distance starts, the other victory coming in February 2019 winning a handicap comfortably off 110.
Plantadream is also interesting on his all weather exploits. He was last seen finishing 5th in a decent York handicap on desperate ground suggesting he is still fairly treated. His all weather record reads 121 and on his latest start here he won a class 4 handicap off 81 by 7 lengths.
Irreverent was 2nd last time out in a class 4 handicap and although he has a chance, he appears ridiculously short at an early 7/2. It would be no surprise to see that price drift considerably, especially when you consider he's never even placed in five attempts at class 2 level as shown in the Instant Expert below. Young Fire has had a good season but is likely to be given a lot to do and he is probably badly handicapped now. He's another with a poor record in class 2 handicaps. Meanwhile Pistoletto might just be making up the numbers.
Dashing Roger has almost everything in his favour and is a fair price early on (5/1) considering that but this mark might be just a bit too stiff for him to win this. On the other hand Oh This Is Us is well handicapped and despite being a hold up horse, he seems ideally suited by this course and distance so the disadvantage that many have being held up here might actually be an advantage for him. Hopefully the dead eight stand their ground in which case Oh This Is Us should make a nice each way bet here at an early 7/1.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/LetsGoLucky_HKDragon.jpg319830samdarbyhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngsamdarby2020-11-13 14:37:192020-11-15 10:51:24Lingfield Preview: The Best Bets For Two Mile Handicaps
A huge day up at Cheltenham this Saturday with the Paddy Power Gold Cup the feature race – the ITV cameras are at Prestbury Park to take in four of the races, plus they are also covering two at Lingfield.
As always,here at GeeGeez we are on-hand with all the key trends & stats to help you whittle down the runners.
Cheltenham Horse Racing Trends (RacingTV/ITV)
1.40 – From The Horse’s Mouth Podcast Novices´ Chase Cl2 3m80y RacingTV
15/15 – Had won a race over at least 2m4f (fences) before
12/15 – Aged 7 or younger
12/15 – Returned 4/1 or shorter in the betting
12/15 – Favourites placed 1st or 2nd
12/15 – Had raced at Cheltenham before
11/15 – Won between 0-1 times over fences before
11/15 – Raced no more than twice over fences
11/15 – Had raced in the last 6 weeks
10/15 – Raced at Cheltenham (4), Aintree (3) or Wetherby (2) last time out
8/15 – Aged 6 years-old
8/15 – Irish bred
7/15 – Went onto run in the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival that season (no winners)
7/15 – Won last time out
6/15 – Winning favourites
4/15 – Trained by Paul Nicholls
3/15 – Trained by David Pipe
3/15 – Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies
2/15 – Ridden by Paddy Brennan
2.15 – Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m4f ITV
18/18 – Had run at Cheltenham before
17/18 – Had won over at least 2m4f over fences before
17/18 – Won by a UK-based trainer
14/18 – Returned 14/1 or shorter in the betting
13/18 – Carried 11st or less
12/18 – Had won at Cheltenham before
12/18 – Aged 6 or 7 years-old
12/18 – Had won just 2 or 3 times over fences before
12/18 – Finished in the top 4 last time out
11/18 – Trained by Pipe (3), Jonjo O’Neill (3), Nicholls (2) or Twiston-Davies (3)
9/18 – Won by a horse in the first 3 in the betting
9/18 – Aged 7 years-old
8/18 – Won this on their seasonal reappearance
8/18 – Placed favourites
5/18 – Won their last race
4/18 – Trained by the Pipe stable
4/18 – Ran at Cheltenham last time out
3/18 – Winning favourites
3/18 – Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies
3/18 – Trained by Jonjo O’Neill
3/18 – Ran at Carlisle last time out
2/18 – Ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies
1/18 – Irish-trained winners
The last winner aged in double-figures was in 1975
Paul Nicholls has saddled 10 placed horses (two winners, Al Ferof & Caid Du Berlais) from his last 39 runners
The average winning SP in the last 18 years is 10/1
2.50 – Paddy Power 3PM Kick Off Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race) Cl1 3m1f67y ITV
16/18 – Aged 7 or younger
15/18 – Carried 10-11 or less in weight
15/18 – Had between 2 and 5 previous hurdles wins
14/18 – Had won over at least 2m4f (hurdles) before
13/18 – Officially rated 126 to 137
13/18 – Winning distance – 3 ½ lengths or less
12/18 – Placed favourites
13/18 – Ran at either Cheltenham (7), Aintree (3) or Chepstow (3) last time out
12/18 – Irish bred
12/18 – Ran within the last 4 weeks
11/18 – Came from the top 3 in the betting
10/18 – Had run at Cheltenham before
8/18 – Won their last race
7/18 – Winning favourites (1 joint)
7/18 – Returned 11/4 or shorter in the betting
4/18 – Won by the Pipe stable
1/18 – Won by an Irish-trained stable
5 of the last 12 winners have had a claiming jockey riding
Anteros won the race in 2016 & was second in 2017
First Assignment won the race in 2018
Golan Fortune won the race in 2019
3.25 – Paddy Power First Millionaire Qualifier Intermediate Handicap Hurdle Cl3 2m5f26y ITV
13/15 – Won between 1-2 times over hurdles before
13/15 – Aged 5 or 6 years-old
12/15 – Finished in the top 4 last time out
10/15 – Raced in the last 7 weeks
8/15 – Returned a double-figure price
7/15 – Favourites unplaced
7/15 – Carried 10-13 or less
7/15 – Had run at Cheltenham before
7/15 – Irish bred winners
6/15 – Went onto finish in the top 4 in a race at the Cheltenham Festival
6/15 – Won last time out
5/15 – French bred winners
2/15 – Ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies
2/15 – Trained by Paul Nicholls
3/15 - Winning favourites
2 of the last 7 winners went onto be placed in the Martin Pipe Conditionals race at the Cheltenham Festival that season
2 of the last 11 winners went onto be placed in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival that season
3.55 – Karndean Designflooring Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Listed Race) C1 (4-6 year-olds) 2m 1/2f
8/8 – GB (5) or Irish (3) bred
7/8 – Aged 4 or 5 years-old
7/8 – Won at least once before in a NH Flat race
6/8 – Won last time out
6/8 – Had never raced at Cheltenham before
5/8 – Had run in the last 6 weeks
4/8 – Unplaced favourites
4/8 – Returned 14/1 or bigger in the betting
2/8 – Winning favourites
2/8 – Trained by Alan King
The average winning SP in recent years is 11/1
12/14 – Returned 15/2 or shorter in the betting
11/14 – Rated between 102 and 112
11/14 – Had won over at least 1m2f before
10/14 – Ran in the last 6 weeks
10/14 – Won between 1-4 times before
9/14 – Favourites placed in the top two
9/14 – Aged 3 or 4 years-old
8/14 – Placed last time out
9/14 – Drawn in stall 5 or higher
4/14 – Winning favourites
3/14 – Trained by Saeed Bin Suroor
Master The World (10/1) won the race in 2017 and 2018
3.40 – Betway Golden Rose Stakes (Listed Race) (All-Weather Fast Track Qualifier) Cl1 (3yo+) 6f ITV
12/13 – Previous winner over 6f or 7f
12/13 – Didn’t win last time out
11/13 – Returned 8/1 or shorter in the betting
11/13 – Aged 4 or older
10/13 – Had raced in the last 6 weeks
10/13 – Won 5 or more times before
9/13 – Drawn in stall 6 or higher
9/13 – Unplaced last time out
8/13 – Unplaced favourites
4/13 – Ran at Doncaster last time out
3/13 – Winning favourites
Gifted Master (9/2) won the race in 2017
Encrypted won the race in 2018
Judicial won the race in 2019
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https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/stt.png320830Andy Newtonhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngAndy Newton2020-11-13 13:00:252020-11-15 10:50:08Sat TV Trends: 14th November 2020
This Saturday the ITV cameras head to Wincanton with the Badger Ales Chase, their feature, plus they are also at Doncaster for the ultra-competitive November Handicap and also take in one of the Aintree contests – as always here at GeeGeez we've got all the trends and stats for the LIVE races…..
14/16 – Had at least 6 previous runs that season
14/16 – Returned 12/1 or shorter in the betting
14/16 – Had won over 6f before
13/16 – Won from stall 12 or lower
13/16 – Rated 99 or higher
13/16 – Aged 4 or older
11/16 – Had won at least 5 times before in their career
9/16 – Won by an Irish-bred horse
8/16 – Had won at Doncaster before
8/16 – Winning distance – ½ length or less
5/16 – Ran at York (3) or Newmarket (2) last time out
4/16 – Won last time out
2/16 – Trained by Richard Hannon
3/16 – Winning favourites
2/16 – Winning mare/filly
The average winning SP in the last 10 years is 6/1
Note: The 2006 renewal was run at Windsor
13/15 – Aged 3 or 4 years-old
13/15 – Had won at least twice before
12/15 – Had 3 or more runs that season
11/15 – Had never raced at Doncaster before
9/15 – Drawn in stall 6 or lower
9/15 – Unplaced last time out
8/15 – Ran at either Lingfield (3), Goodwood (3) or Newmarket (2) last time out
8/15 – Had won over 1m2f before
8/15 – Returned 8/1 or bigger in the betting
7/15 – Unplaced favourites
6/15 – Won by an Irish-bred filly
2/15 – Trained by Ralph Beckett
2/15 – Ridden by Jim Crowley
2/15 – Winning favourites (1 co)
2/15 – Won last time out
The average winning SP in the last 10 years is 12/1
Note: The 2006 renewal was run at Windsor
3.15 – Betfair November Handicap Cl2 1m4f ITV4
13/16 – Won between 2 and 4 races before
13/16 – Winners that came from draw 9 or higher
13/16 – Favourites that were unplaced
12/16 – Winning distance – 2 ½ lengths or less
12/16 – Had raced at least 5 times that season
12/16 – Had raced at Doncaster before (6 had won)
11/16 – Had won over 1m4f before
11/16 – Placed last time out
11/16 – Won by a horse aged 3 or 4 years-old
10/16 – Won carrying 8-13 or less in weight
9/16 – Returned a double-figure price in the betting
5/16 – Ran at Newmarket last time out
4/16 – Won last time out
3/16 -Trained by John Gosden (won it 6 times in all)
2/16 – Ridden by jockey Martin Dwyer
1/16 – Favourites that won
The average winning SP in the last 10 years is 10/1
Just 1 winning favourite since 1995
Wincanton Horse Racing Trends (ITV/RacingTV)
1.50 – Richard Barber Memorial Mares’ Handicap Hurdle Cl2 (4yo+) 2m5f ITV4
13/13 – Returned 12/1 or shorter in the betting
11/13 – Didn’t win last time out
11/13 – Aged 7 or younger
10/13 – Returned 13/2 or shorter in the betting
9/13 – Had won over at least 2m4f before (hurdles)
8/13 – Rated between 119-129
9/13 – Carried 11-0 or less in weight
9/13 – Had won at least twice before (hurdles)
8/13 – Finished 2nd, 3rd or 4th last time out
8/13 – Had raced in the last 4 weeks
6/13 – Had run at the track before
7/13 – Irish bred
7/13 – Aged 6 years-old
5/13 – Raced at Chepstow last time out
3/13 – Winning favourites
2/13 – Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies
2/13 – Trained by Paul Nicholls (2 of the last 9)
2/13 – Trained by Harry Fry (2 of the last 7)
2/13 – Ridden by Paddy Brennan
Misty Bloom (9/2) won the race in 2019 (Emma Lavelle)
13/13 – Had won no more than twice over fences
12/13 – Ran in the last 6 weeks
11/13 – Favourites placed
11/13 – Returned 5/2 or shorter in the betting
11/13 – Finished in the top 3 last time out
10/13 – Irish (6) or French (4) bred
9/13 – Had won over 2m3f or further (Chase)
9/13 – Aged 6 or younger
8/13 – Won last time out
8/13 – Winning favourites
7/13 – Trained by Paul Nicholls
2/13 – Ridden by Daryl Jacob
10 of the last 11 winners were aged between 5-7
Reserve Tank (4/5 fav) won the race in 2019 (Colin Tizzard)
16/16 – Aged 7 or younger
14/16 – Returned 11/2 or shorter in the betting
13/16 – Won between 2-5 times before (hurdles)
13/16 – Came from the top three in the betting
11/16 – Favourites that finished in the top 3
10/16 – Unplaced last time out
10/16 – Rated 150 or lower
9/16 – Having first run of the season
5/16 – Ran at Aintree last time out
4/16 – Trained by Paul Nicholls
4/16 – Ridden by Daryl Jacob
4/16 – Won last time out
2/16 – Trained by John Quinn
Fusil Raffles (4/7 fav) won the race in 2019 (Nicky Henderson)
Sceau Royal won this race in 2016
17/17 – Won by a horse aged 9 or younger
15/17 – Winning distance – 4 lengths or less
15/17 – Won a 3m or further chase race previously
14/17 – Won by a horse aged between 7 and 9 years-old
14/17 – Placed in the top four in their last race
14/17 – Won at least two chase races previously
13/17 – Won between 2 and 5 times over fences before
13/17 – Raced at the course previously (won over fences)
12/17 – Favourites placed
11/17 – Irish-bred horse
10/17 – Raced already that season
10/17 – Raced at either Sandown (4), Wincanton (3) or Cheltenham (3) last time out
10/17 – Carried 11-1 or more in weight
7/17 – Carried 10-5 or less in weight
7/17 – Priced at double-figures
7/17 – Won their latest race
7/17 – Favourites that won (1 joint, 1 Co)
7/17 – Trained by Paul Nicholls
4/17 – Won by the Pipe stable
5/17 – Ridden by a claiming conditional jockey (including 5 of the last 10 years)
Present Man won the race in 2017 and 2018
Give Me A Copper (9/2 co fav) won the race in 2019 (Paul Nicholls)
4/5 – Returned 4/1 or shorter in the betting
3/5 – Winning favourites
3/5 – Aged 7 or 8 years-old
2/5 – Owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede
2/5 – Trained by Nicky Henderson
2/5 – Ridden by Nico de Boinville
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/stt.png320830Andy Newtonhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngAndy Newton2020-11-06 13:01:532020-11-05 13:41:31Sat TV Trends: 7th November 2020
After a break from the race previews last week to write about hot form it’s time to delve back into the competitive race previews – this time with the November Handicap.
This is a race I’ve always had a bit of a fondness for, partly due to some decent success around a decade ago but I’ve admittedly found it tougher in recent years, perhaps because the ground has been pretty desperate more often than not.
It's been a rare drying week in the lead up to this year’s renewal so hopefully the ground won’t be too testing and the 2020 flat turf season can finish without the need to race on farcical ground.
Draw
This is perhaps the most surprising element of the race. Despite going round the bend low draws have seemed strongly disadvantaged in testing conditions over this course and distance.
In the past eleven years there have been thirteen 12f handicaps run on ground ranging from good to soft down to heavy and the lowest third of the draw has not only failed to provide a winner, those stalls also offer less than half of the placed finishers compared to middle and high draws. The PRB is also significantly lower.
Comparing the middle and high draws, middle draws have been better from a win perspective but thirteen races isn’t the best sample size to show an advantage for winners. The place data is almost identical and the PRB data is identical so there seems nothing in it.
It could be that the higher drawn middle numbers have been padding out the middle draw data so let’s take a closer look at the individual stall data.
This draw data shows that not all middle stalls and high stalls are created equal as the overview data might have suggested. Three of the four best PRB figures have been recorded by the three highest stalls.
These stalls do have the least amount of data due to the fact that we are looking at the actual stall they effectively came out of rather than the stall they were allocated in the racecard. For every lower drawn non runner each runner will break from a stall one closer to the rail. However it does seem significant that all three of the highest stalls have performed so well in terms of PRB.
It's not all bleak for the lower numbers. Stalls 2, 8 and 9 are joint third best for place percentage so we certainly shouldn’t just expect those drawn in double figures to fill all the places.
There does seem an advantage with the wider draws though. Looking at the nine stalls with the best PRB figures, eight of them are stall 12 or higher. Seven of the eight worst PRB figures come from stall 10 or lower.
Pace
We saw at Doncaster a couple of weeks ago, admittedly on extremely testing ground, that it was difficult to come from off the pace over most distances. There were no twenty-three runner races on those cards though so there is every chance this race could work out differently. To get a stronger idea of any pace bias we’ll need to look at similar big field races.
Using the same going filters as we used for the draw data, we see that prominent racers have won more often than any other type of run style, although hold up horses have fared almost as well.
As far as the place data is concerned, and this is going to be more enlightening with a sample size of this nature, mid division comes out as the best run style in front of prominent and then hold up. It’s clearly difficult to dominate from the front in a field of this size and nature with front runners having the poorest record by some distance although the Each Way PL is most profitable for front runners despite just two places and no wins - a sign they are underestimated by the bookies.
Depending on which data you look at you could argue any kind of run style is most advantageous so it seems as though every runner should have a fair chance, although the safest option seems to be to back those likely to race in mid division.
How this race is run could have the biggest bearing on what early position is best so let’s take a look at the pace map.
It looks almost certain we’ll see contested speed in this race with Raymond Tusk, Dash Of Spice, Bollin Joan, Glencadam Glory, Hiroshima, Torcello, Beechwood Jude and Euchen Glen all more than comfortable leading. Euchen Glen is tactically versatile and has been running in smaller field, group races recently so perhaps a bit more restraint will be used here but that still leaves no less than seven possible pace angles!
This race could be a real test at the trip with those coming from nearer the rear likely to be seen to best effect. A bit of extra stamina over further probably wouldn’t be a bad thing either, especially with the ground likely to be quite tacky.
Draw and Pace Combination
We’ve already established that a high draw seems to be an advantage here but is there also a pace bias related to that draw?
The answer is no. Those drawn high seem to have an equal chance of running well whatever their run style. The data above does suggest that coming from mid division with a high draw is a disadvantage but given there seems to be little to no change between hold up and prominent it seems unlikely there is a much bigger disadvantage being placed between those positions. A quirk of a fairly small sample size perhaps.
If you are drawn low you are almost certainly going to be seen to best effect if avoiding either front running duties or a hold up style whilst those drawn in the middle have a fair chance however they are ridden but again, being either prominent or mid division is probably advantageous to those runners.
Age
A big thing is always made of the age of a horse when looking at big handicap trends but does it really make much difference, especially with only 3yos carrying a different weight for age (5lb advantage)?
In the past five renewals of this race there have been winners aged 3, 4, 5 and 7 so a fairly even spread. Arguably 4yos have faired best as they are the only age group to have a better place percentage (55%) compared to their representation in those fields (40%). The 3yos have also performed okay with a 10% place strike rate having made up 11% of the runners during that period. The older brigade, 6yos and 7yos were slightly further below par and 5yos performed least well with a 15% place strike rate compared to 25% representation.
It’s a small sample but it stands to reason that the younger, less exposed runners are likely to include the best handicapped runners.
The Odds
It's the end of the season and many of these runners have had a tough season so it would be easy to suggest this is a race that’s likely to have an upset. Plenty of big prices tend to reach the frame in this race but it’s worth noting that the last six winners of this race started at 10/1 or less.
The Runners
Sam Cooke
He looks to have been saved for this since his close 2nd at Ascot in late July but given he had previously missed 14 months of action it’s entirely possible that connections simply haven’t been able to get him to the track since then. The 4yo has had just six runs to date so there should be more improvement to come and he won his sole start on soft ground at this distance comfortably, albeit off a 10lb lower mark.
He may have been difficult to train but he’s never run a bad race when getting to the racecourse and a 3lbs rise for being beaten a nose last time out seems fair, for all that form hasn’t worked out well. Given he would have preferred softer ground on that occasion it’s probably fair to mark him up as the best horse in that race.
You couldn’t confidently say he’s well enough handicapped to win a race like this given he’s never really beaten much but conditions seem ideal, he’s lightly raced, his trainer is in excellent form and he is very favourably drawn in stall 20.
Euchen Glen
The 7yo has taken his form to a new level this season after missing two years of racing before a return this season. He’s taken his racing well this season having had nine starts in less than five months and he’s won three of his last four including the Old Borough Cup over two furlongs further and two Group 3s over this distance. All those wins came in very testing conditions.
His Old Borough Cup win came off a 8lb lower mark (form hasn’t really worked out) and on his latest win he beat a horse now rated 101 by 1.75 lengths giving that runner 3lbs so whilst his mark is fair, it’s hardly generous.
He was well beaten in this as a 4yo but he’s a different horse now. He’s entitled to go well if he is ridden a bit more patiently than he has been on recent starts and he is well drawn in 18 but he’s surely not the best handicapped runner in this field.
Kingbrook
One of six 3yos in the field and completely unexposed at this distance having had just one start over further than 10f. That run came last time out when winning the Old Rowley Cup, usually one of the hottest handicaps of the season, by half a length on soft ground.
There are early signs that race is working out okay and there is certainly plenty of strength going through his previous form. On his penultimate start he was a staying on 3rd over two furlongs shorter behind Ilaraab who won again next time out.
Trainer Ian Williams saddled the 3rd in the latest renewal of this race and the winner the year before. Kingbrook will once again be ridden by Richard Kingscote, who gave him an excellent ride last time out. He's up 6lbs for his latest win but there should still be more to come and it’s interesting that he’s not only well proven on soft ground but he also has form on plenty of different types of going. This can be an asset when going through tacky, holding ground. Very well drawn in 22.
On To Victory
Consistent on the flat this season, in the first three on all three starts. Placing has never been his issue, he’s been 2nd or 3rd on his last five completed starts, but he is winless since 2017.
His form is solid, if unspectacular, and he’s only 1lb higher than when 2nd at Ascot on his last start at this distance. He is arguably better over further, which might not be a bad thing if this race is run at a very strong gallop but the winless run is a concern.
Stall 13 is okay and there are no issues with the ground so he should run well but he doesn’t appeal strongly for win purposes.
Surrey Pride
A generally progressive 3yo who was well fancied last time out over shorter, failing to get home in very testing ground. He has previously finished almost 8 lengths behind Kingbrook at Newmarket and on that form he has work to do now just 7lbs better off.
He's the lowest drawn of those near the head of the market and not only does stall 6 look a likely disadvantage, he’s also going to be dropped out in the rear from that draw which is proven to be a bad tactic from a low draw. This could be tough for him for all he still may have wiggle room off his mark.
Dash Of Spice
Hasn’t been in the same form as 2018 this term having missed two years of racing before a reappearance in July of this year. After dropping 11lbs, 5lbs below his last winning mark, he put in his best performance of the season last time out when seen to best effect from the front over course and distance finishing 2nd to Tulip Fields who reopposes here.
Low drawn front runners tend to be disadvantaged in this and he’s going to face plenty of competition for the lead. The 4lb pull with Tulip Fields seems unlikely to be enough to reverse the form and it’s a surprise he’s the shorter price of the pair with many bookies.
Eagle Court
David O’Meara’s 3yo has seemingly improved for the step up in trip to 10f on his last two starts, winning both. Those two wins have come in soft ground, they’ve worked out pretty well (beat subsequent winners in both) and he’s won both more cosily than the winning distance suggests.
The 8lbs he’s gone up for winning those two contests is probably less of a concern than the step up in trip, especially as he was racing over a mile just three runs ago.
The excellent Profiler tool on Geegeez Gold shows that Free Eagle’s sire’s offspring perform much better in handicaps over 10f compared to 12f. In fact Eagle Court would be a first handicap winner over this trip for Free Eagle should he emerge victorious here. He’s well drawn in 21 but is going to have his stamina severely tested here and he’s probably one for the tracker for his next run back at 10f.
Strawberry Rock
A difficult runner to figure out with just four career starts. He was impressive at Ripon on his penultimate start when beating Bollin Joan (reopposes here) by 4 lengths on good to soft ground. Bollin Joan did go on to win two starts later so it clearly wasn’t a bad contest.
He wasn’t as good off an 8lb higher mark next time out in a class 2 handicap over a couple of extra furlongs at York on softer ground when 5th, beaten over 8 lengths. He was beaten before stamina came into play that day and it’s difficult to tell if the new mark caught him out or if he was just below par.
His draw in 11 is probably just about okay but the percentage call has to be to oppose him. Market support may be significant though.
Torcello
A 6yo with a decent strike rate on the flat of six wins from sixteen runs. He handles very testing ground well but he’s on a career high mark and faces plenty of competition for front running duties. All his wins have been in much smaller fields and it would be a surprise if he was good enough to even place in this.
Tulip Fields
Won well here a couple of starts back and wasn’t badly hit by the handicapper, only going up 4lbs for winning by 2 lengths. There is a suspicion that race rather fell apart though with several runners not performing on the very testing ground.
She wasn’t disgraced next time out in listed company at Lingfield, perhaps not quite getting home over an extra furlong, but didn’t do a lot to suggest she’d up to winning a race this competitive. She won’t be far off the pace, for all she’s unlikely to lead, and a place would be a decent effort.
Rhythmic Intent
The only one at a bigger price to catch my eye. It wouldn’t be a crazy assumption to think he hasn’t quite got home on very testing ground on his last two runs at 14f. If you were able to ignore those runs he suddenly becomes very interesting. His last run at this distance was a 4th in a six runner race, which on the face of it doesn’t seem great but he was only beaten 2.75 lengths and the 2nd and 3rd both came out and won easily next time.
He’s only 4lbs higher than when winning by 3 lengths earlier this season and he’s generally been consistent when faced with middle distances and softer ground. In fact his form figures at 10f or 12f on soft ground read 21314.
His draw in stall 10 isn’t perfect but 25/1 with as many as 7 places on offer for each way purposes underestimates his chances here. He was after all sent off near favourite for the Old Borough Handicap a few runs ago.
Verdict
Rythmic Intent is pretty interesting but ideally he’d have been drawn higher and he does have to bounce back from a poor run last time, even if there were excuses. Eagle Court is a big threat from a great draw if he stays but there is evidence to suggest this trip will stretch him. Meanwhile Euchen Glen appears a solid choice and he’s perhaps still improving at the age of 7 but for win purposes he’s passed over. On To Victory is a horse that will interest plenty of each way punters but he appeals more as a place only bet than anything else.
The two most interesting runners should be Sam Cooke and Kingbrook who are unfortunately both well found in the betting. Sam Cooke has a lovely profile for this but he still seemingly hasn’t done it against well handicapped rivals. That’s not his fault, he just seemingly hasn’t bumped into them yet, but for a horse trading at around 6/1 you’d probably want to be a bit more sure about his handicap mark.
Kingbrook isn’t yet proven off a mark in the mid nineties but the manner of his victory last time in what is usually a very hot race suggests he could yet rate higher. He seemed to relish the step up in trip and the handicapper hasn’t had a proper chance to catch up with him over this distance. Everything else appears to be in his favour and with just three runs under his belt this season he comes here a very fresh horse. With one bookies going 7/1 and 7 places on each way bets that appears a very good bet for all the likely very tacky ground is a potential fly in the ointment.
As it's the final big handicap of the flat season I'll throw a speculative tricast out there:
1. Kingbrook
2. Sam Cooke
3. On To Victory
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Saunter_Novemberhandicap.jpg319830samdarbyhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngsamdarby2020-11-06 12:25:052020-11-07 11:05:47November Handicap 2020 Preview: Kingbrook Could Take Advantage Of Early Burn Up
It's the Breeders' Cup this weekend, and in this preview video I've nailed my colours to the mast across all 14 races.
Hit play and listen in - good luck!
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/bcpreview.jpg320830Matt Bisognohttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngMatt Bisogno2020-11-05 21:56:262020-11-05 22:03:29Breeders’ Cup 2020: Video Preview, Picks
This year's Compendium is free to everyone, and contains:
- Race trends for all 14 races
- Pace projections for all 14 races
- 'How the runners fit' form profiles for all 14 races
- Trends contenders for all 14 races
- Odds comparison - UK to US morning line - for all 14 races
- Form summaries for 10 races (excluding the two turf sprints, the Dirt Mile, and the FM Turf)
In March I wrote an article ‘How To Bet On 3yo Handicaps’ where I shared my process of applying the principles of ‘Hot Form’ to find well handicapped runners from the classic generation.
At this year’s Doncaster St Leger meeting I wrote daily articles analysing races from a hot form perspective (with a decent level of success) and there were a few requests to expand upon the principle of hot form so here it is.
Hot form is the first thing I look at in any race I’m analysing and it’s responsible for 100% of the runners in my tracker. There are many other important factors I’ll look at before deciding upon a bet in any race but I’m not interested in backing anything that doesn’t have a level of hot form and this is a strategy that has served me very well for the best part of two decades.
What Constitutes Hot Form?
Hot form can be summarised as any race where several runners have subsequently improved their previous finishing positions. So if the 2nd, 3rd and 4th come out of a race and win next time out, that is very hot form.
Wins are the strongest barometer of success but if the 6th, 7th and 8th have all come out and finished 2nd since that could also be described as pretty hot form.
I prefer to mainly concentrate on handicaps when it comes to hot form because the form seems more transferrable from one race to another but hot form can definitely be applied to Group and Listed contests as well as maidens and novices.
Hot form is found in both flat and jumps racing. I prefer to concentrate on flat racing as handicappers over the jumps tend to be more exposed than many of their flat counterparts but I will often use hot form principles when looking at some jumps races too (staying handicaps are my preference).
Why Is Following Hot Form Profitable?
It is not uncommon for several well handicapped runners to participate in the same race. When this happens the best handicapped horse in conditions should win, but that’s not to say the horses that finish slightly down the field, perhaps in 5th and 6th, aren't still well enough handicapped to win an ordinary race.
If two or three runners emerge from a race and all win next time out it stands to reason that other runners who finished in close proximity to those subsequent winners in the original race are also well enough handicapped to win similar contests next time out.
By following hot form throughout the season you should be capable of finding somewhere between 100-200 well handicapped runners. That’s not to say you’ll find 100-200 future winners though. It’s the nature of horse racing that some of these runners will pick up injuries, lose their form, be sold abroad, etc. Others will simply never run quite as well as they did in the hot race you found and some will be campaigned poorly over the wrong trips, on the wrong ground or at the wrong courses.
However many of those 100-200 runners should be capable of reproducing their form again when conditions are in their favour and they’ll win on either their next starts or shortly after.
What About ‘Cold Form’?
Where there is hot form there must be cold form. Some races are very good, some are quite average and many are quite poor. Those poorer races where those that come out of the race struggle to win or even place in their next few runs could certainly be described as cold form.
These colder races can be useful as they’ll often help make the market in many races. A runner that has finished 2nd in a cold race will often be a shorter price than a runner that finished 5th in a hot race. Now that’s a huge generalisation but the bookies definitely seem to put more emphasis on finishing position and proximity to the winner than they do the actual strength of each race. On many occasions a horse will achieve more by finishing 5th in a hot race than 2nd in a cold race.
There is one important note about cold races though. A horse shouldn’t necessarily be disregarded for winning a cold race. If those behind the winner have let the form down it’s certainly not a positive but it’s also not the winner’s fault that those in behind weren’t up to scratch. If the winner was all out to win by a nose then perhaps you can group it with those behind but if the winning distance was even a cosy length the winner may have been a fair bit better than the rest of the field.
How Do I Find Hot Form?
There are two ways to go about finding hot form.
The first is to go through every result and look for races that are beginning to work out. If races are beginning to work out then you can bookmark them. If there have already been a couple of winners from the race you can add other runners who finished close up into your tracker. If a race is working out poorly then it can be disregarded.
Going through every race can be quite painstaking and the much easier method is to use the Geegeez Hot Form Report. You can find any runner with an entry over the next two days (today and tomorrow) that has run in a race with hot form (you set the criteria/filters for hot form). You can search from races 30 days in the past, 45 days in the past, 60 days in the past or 90 days in the past.
My personal preference is to cast the net as wide as possible and then use personal judgement as to whether or not a race is working out rather relying completely on data. This is because the raw data can sometimes be misleading. For example you might see a race where there have seemingly been three winners from three runs. That would initially look very interesting but it might be the case that a horse that won the race by 5 lengths has since followed up with three more wins. Those subsequent exploits aren’t really of any relevance to the rest of the field.
My preferred filters for the Hot Form report would be along the lines of:
Runs – Any – You want to find hot form as early as possible before you’ve missed the boat.
Wins – Any – The next lowest setting is 5 if there have already been 5 winners you’ve missed the boat.
Places – Any – Similar reasoning to the above.
Win Percentage – Min. 20%, Max. 100%. Runners who were well beaten can run poorly again and skew this percentage so don’t set the minimum too high.
Place Percentage - Min. 25%, Max. 100%. Similar reasoning to the above but you can set this one a little higher.
Win PL – Min. Any, Max. Any. It’s worth referencing this in the report but play it safe and leave it as any. The other filters should do the heavy lifting here.
EW PL - Min. Any, Max. Any. Similar reasoning to the above.
You will be presented with plenty of races that are NOT hot form but using these filters should also mean you don’t miss out on some races that are hot form that may have been missed with more prejudicial filters.
If you sort your results by Win Percentage you are likely to find the majority of the most interesting races at the top of the list (races with a minimum of two runs are preferable). However you should remember that each runner’s finishing position (denoted by the ‘Result’ field) in each race is arguably as important as anything else you’ll see in the report. If something has finished 12th in a hot race it’s almost certainly too far back to be of any relevance. How far you should go back can vary from race to race (and is addressed below) but generally you won’t be looking any lower than 6th or 7th and you will most commonly be interested in top 3 or 4 finishes.
Check each well placed runner in a potential hot race by clicking on the Hot Race Date and then click on the Result tab. Ensure ‘Future Form’ in the top left corner of the result page is switched on so you can easily consume the subsequent exploits of each runner. You are looking for good subsequent runs from those that ran well in the race.
The Hot Form report on the day this article is being written can be seen below.
The top horse looks very interesting on the basis of the a 100% subsequent win record from 3 runs. A closer look at the form also looks interesting with the first three places all going on to win next time out, for all only the first two runners won handicaps.
As it turns out Rueben James was well beaten but the theory remains sound and you certainly don’t expect all of the runners to win.
The Most Important Hot Form Considerations
Hot form is not simply a case of judging races based on the finishing positions of subsequent runners from each race. The finishing positions are very important but you have to be able to judge the relative worth of those finishing positions.
Ground
It's unlikely every runner will come out and run on exactly the same ground. If encountering different ground conditions some will improve for this change and others will perform less well. If the ground is different on the subsequent run take a look at the horse’s previous form to judge if the change in going would have suited or not.
A mudlark that came 4th on fast ground and then wins next time in heavy ground won’t necessarily have franked the form. Likewise a mudlark that finishes 2nd in soft ground then 6th on faster ground next time hasn’t necessarily let the form down. In fact in this latter scenario, if the rest of the race is working out, these runners can be great value next time when returned to more favourable conditions.
Distance
You may look at a mile handicap where the winner and the 3rd have since won and you think it is hot form. However if the winner came out and won over ten furlongs and the 3rd subsequently won over twelve furlongs that doesn’t mean this is hot mile form – or cold mile form for that matter.
If the majority of the subsequent winners have won over the same distance then you can draw stronger conclusions about the form being hot.
Race Type
If runners have come out of a race and won or run well always check the type of race they have run in. It’s particularly the case with 3yo handicaps that a runner might drop into maiden company after a decent run in a handicap. An 80 rated horse winning a maiden at 10/11 probably won’t be much of a form boost.
Likewise an 80 rated filly chasing some black type in an Oaks Trial may not be letting the form down by only finishing 5th or 6th.
Class
Not quite as strong a consideration as the race type but class is also important. A runner that was 2nd in a class 4 handicap might only be able to finish 7th in a class 2 handicap but that doesn’t mean they should be disregarded when back down in grade where they’d be more capable of running to their original form.
Course Bias
This is an often overlooked factor but Geegeez readers should know the importance of course biases, namely pace and draw. If a horse comes out of a race and finishes down the field next time out when held up from stall 11 at Chester, or running against any other pace bias, that’s not a sign that the form has been let down.
Use the same marking up and marking down system you would ordinarily use when looking at form when you look back at results and future form.
Distance Beaten
When looking at the subsequent exploits of runners from any given race it’s always worth thinking about how far they have been beaten if they haven’t been victorious since. If something has finished 4th since, but only been beaten half a length, it hasn’t necessarily franked the form but that’s not a bad run at all and shouldn’t be judged too harshly, especially if others are giving the form a strong look.
Luck
Another thing that should be checked is the in running comments from subsequent runs. Some defeats can be pretty much marked up into victories if the horse was particularly unlucky next time out. Alternatively a 5th place finish might have been value for 2nd. It’s another factor that should be investigated.
So Conditions Are Key!
The closer conditions are in subsequent runs compared to the original race, the more reliable the form will be. Where there have been variations in the conditions you’ll have to use your judgement as to whether to mark the form up or down or to put a question mark over it. This is why it makes sense to keep the filters pretty broad in the Hot Form Report. Not all wins (or other finishing positions) are created equal.
How Many Runners Should I Track From A Hot Race?
There is no given formula for this and it depends on several factors.
The simplest explanation is you should follow as many runners from a hot race that have finished in relatively close proximity, or deserved to finish in close proximity, to a runner that has gone close to winning since.
The stronger the race, the more horses you’ll follow from it. If it’s a big field contest that is working out really well you might end up following six, seven or even eight runners from it. If the 2nd, 7th and 8th all win on their next starts you’ll know that at the very least the winner, the 3rd, the 4th, the 5th and the 6th should be of interest in the future. If the 9th was only a head behind the 8th that should be of interest too.
If the first three home have pulled clear in an eight runner field and the 2nd and 3rd have won since but the 4th has run badly then that’s a good sign that the winner is the only one worth following going forward.
What I like to do when I have found what seems to be a hot race is break it up into smaller races. If there was a gap of a couple of lengths between the 4th and the 5th then those are treated as different races and something that finished close to the 5th will need to have won, or gone very close since, for that to be of interest.
When judging these finishing positions in the hot race I am of course considering all the factors listed just above this section (course bias, luck, etc) and marking runners up and down. In many cases you may decide a horse that finished say 6th is worth following but the 5th might not be.
Should I Back Runners That Have Already Won Since?
What we are looking for with hot form is horses that are well handicapped AND are likely to be underestimated by the bookies next time out – therefore offering a value bet with a good chance of winning.
If you have found a race that has worked out well there is always a question mark over whether you follow those who have already won. If something has come out and won by five lengths then the chances are it will be hammered by the handicapper and the opportunity to back it off that sort of mark has gone. If something comes out and win by a neck, perhaps not getting the run of the race, then it may only be punished with a raise of about 2lbs and should still be of interest if a decent enough price next time.
The more a race has worked out, and the stronger it seems to be, the more you’ll probably still want to be with those that have won since, price permitting of course. If the 1st and 3rd have since rated around a stone higher and the 2nd is only 4lbs higher after a win then the likelihood is it’s still pretty well handicapped.
How Long Does It Take For Hot Form To Develop?
Around two weeks after any given race you should find that maybe two runners have run since and given some initial clues as to how strong the form is. Then over the next couple of weeks you should find a few more runners have runs since and by that point you should have a very strong indication of the strength of the form.
There is always a chance of missing the boat, noticing the hot form when it’s all too late and all the runners of interest have already come out and won. As previously mentioned, just because they have already won it doesn’t mean they are of zero interest going forward, but you have already missed one opportunity to successfully back them.
If there are more positive signs than negative signs that a race is working out, for example if the winner and 5th have won since but the 2nd has run poorly, then it’s time to start getting involved. Then the more winners that come out of a race whilst you are following the form, the more confident you can be on your bets going forward. If you’ve already won by backing the 3rd and the 4th, you are going to be pretty keen on the 2nd when it next runs assuming it hasn’t already come out and won itself.
Don’t Get Carried Away With Limited Data
If you have caught a potentially hot race very early, possibly the first horse to come out of a race has already won, you may be tempted to assume lots of others who finished close up are going to also come out and win, or at least run very well.
You do get plenty of ‘false positives’ though. Any horse can improve from race to race and go from running okay in one race to very well in another race. It is always best to wait for at least two runs from a race before you begin to draw conclusions or you may get your fingers burned more often than not.
If you find a race where one horse has come out and won the best strategy is generally to bookmark it and check it regularly. Check the entries of the horses that ran well in the race and when the next horse runs watch the race and be ready to add several other runners to your tracker should it win and confirm the race as hot form.
Continue To Monitor The Form
If you aren’t quite sure if a race is hot form or not, continue to keep an eye on the race. Perhaps there have been two good runs and two bad runs from it, there is no harm in watching how the next couple of runners fare.
It is not completely uncommon for a race to initially just look okay and then start to work out much better. Equally just because a race is beginning to look hot, it isn’t guaranteed to stay that way after a couple more runs.
Don’t be afraid to change your mind about a race. If you are becoming lukewarm towards a race you thought was hot you can reduce your stakes next time a runner comes out of it and then review it again.
Value In Hot Form
One of the main reasons following hot form tends to work so well is you are often aware of something the bookies may have overlooked, or simply don’t think as is important as it is.
Horses that have been previously beaten in handicaps don’t have as sexy a profile as last time out winners, especially those coming from maidens or novices that are completely unproven from their handicap marks. As a result we often get great value on these hot form runners and we can be more confident they will run their races than those making their handicap debuts, or those who have run well in races that are working out less well.
Keeping The Faith
Those horses that you earmark as well handicapped but who fluff their lines on their next starts can often be the runners who offer the best value going forward. There are many reasons why a well handicapped horse might not run to form next time, be it the ground, they could get worked up beforehand, they could pick up a knock or they could just have an off day.
Not all horses that should win because of hot form do actually win but a decent proportion of them won’t win on their next starts but will win shortly after. Keeping the faith in these runs and giving them at least a couple of chances when faced with optimum conditions is important. If a horse fails to run to the same standard without any obvious excuses more than once then it might be time to give up on them.
Hot Form And Race Class
One thing to look out for when deciding which horses to track from a hot race is those that have run pretty well but are capable of dropping a class or two. If you have a class 2 race that is hot form and one of those that ran well in that race drops into a class 4 next time out then this usually offers a great chance for them to get their head in front. They are less likely to bump into anything with similar scope down in grade.
Filling Your Tracker
With all the horses you come across in the search for hot form you should be adding them to your tracker. Add notes about what race was hot, where they finished, if they should be marked up from that run and how hot the form is. You’ll end up deleting some of them off your tracker as your views on each race develop but it’s best to be aware of them when they are entered.
My Favourite Hot Form Race From This Season
The great thing about hot form is the most unlikely races can work out really well. This was the case with a 7f class 5 handicap run at Yarmouth on June 3rd, shortly after racing resumed following lockdown.
This race certainly caught the bookies napping. I’ve added green ticks to the future form screenshot of this race to make the wins easier to spot but that shows eight subsequent wins from twenty-seven subsequent starts from the top seven finishers (26.9% strike rate). The odds of those wins, which is quite remarkable, were:
16/1 7/1 7/1 7/1 3/1 11/2 2/1 16/5
A £10 stake on each of those subsequent runs would have cost £270 and returned £587. That’s an ROI of 117.4% and those prices are at SP. Some of those were available at much bigger prices ahead of their wins.
A Final Note
Hot form is a great way of finding runners that should be successful in the near future and you can add lots of future winners to your tracker. When they are entered they should simply be a starting point in your analysis of any race and this is by no means a short cut or a guarantee of winners. You'll still need to check the relative form of each of the other runners as well as working out the make up of the race and which runners are likely to be seen to best effect. If the runner you have pinpointed has conditions to suit and the price is reasonable it will hopefully be a good bet!
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/LaBarrosa_Derab_Ascot.jpg319830samdarbyhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngsamdarby2020-10-30 12:09:522020-10-30 12:09:52How To Back More Winners – The Complete Guide To Hot Form
We've got all the key race trends for this Saturday’s LIVE ITV races from Wetherby and Ascot, including the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase (Wetherby), plus the Grade Three Sodexo Gold Cup (Ascot).
7 previous runnings
7/7 – Aged 7 or younger
7/7 – Irish bred
6/7 – Returned 6/1 or shorter in the betting
5/7 – Yet to win over fences
4/7 – Aged 6 year-old
2/7 – Had run over hurdles at Ascot before
2/7 – Winning favourites
14/17 – Aged 8 years-old or younger
12/17 – Irish (5) or French (7) bred
12/17 – Returned 13/2 or shorter in the betting
11/17 – Had won between 1-3 times over fences before
10/17 – Having their first run of the new season
9/17 – Carried 11-1 or less in weight
8/17 – Rated 130 or lower
8/17 – Unplaced favourites
5/17 – Aged 8 years-old
5/17 – Won last time out
4/17 – Ran at either Ascot (2) or Aintree (2) last time out
4/17 – Won carrying 11-12
3/17 – Winning favourites
4/17 – Trained by Paul Nicholls
3/17 – Trained by Venetia Williams
2/17 – Ridden by Richard Johnson
Diego Du Charmil (13/2) won the race last year
16/16 – Aged between 4 and 6 years-old
16/16 – Had won over at 2m or 2m1f over hurdles before
14/16 – Never raced at Ascot before
13/16 – Won between 1-3 times over hurdles
9/16 – Having their first run of the season
9/16 – Unplaced last time out
8/16 – Placed favourites
7/16 – Winning favourites (1 co, 2 joint)
6/16 – Ran at Huntingdon (3) or Aintree (3) last time out
6/16 – Winning distance – 2 lengths or more
6/16 – Won by a French bred horse
4/16 – Ridden by a conditional jockey
3/16 – Won by trainer Alan King, including two of last 3 renewals
2/16 – Won by the Pipe stable
2/16 – Won by trainer Paul Nicholls
2/16 - Won by trainer Nicky Henderson
7 of the last 11 winners were aged 5 years-old
Gumball (11/2) won the race in 2020
The average winning SP in the last 10 runnings is 13/2
15/15 – Had won a chase race over at least 2m4f before
12/15 – Didn’t win last time out
11/15 – Had run at Ascot before (5 won)
10/15 – Carried 10-10 or more
9/15 – Had won at least 3 times over fences before
9/15 – Unplaced favourites
9/15 – Aged 8 or older
8/15 – Had won a chase race over at least 3m before
9/15 – Having their first run of the season
9/15 – Unplaced in their last race
9/15 – Winning distance – 4 lengths or more
6/15 – Officially rated 135 to 138 inc
5/15 – Returned a double-figure price in the betting
3/15 – Won by the Pipe stable
4/15 – Winning favourites
2/15 – Trained by Gary Moore
2/15 – Ran at Sandown last time out
2/15 – Ridden by Aidan Coleman
9 of the last 10 winners were aged 9 or younger
Vinndication (2/1 fav) won the race in 2019
Go Conquer won the race in 2017 and was third in 2018
The average winning SP in the last 10 runnings is 11/1
Just two previous runnings
2/2 – Winning favourites
2/2 – Aged 6 or 7 years-old
Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies won the race in 2019
Trainer Charlie Longsdon won the 2018 running
Trainer Iain Jardine has a 50% record with his chasers at the track
Trainer Kim Bailey has a 45% record with his chasers at the track
Trainer Neil Mulholland has a 40% record with his chasers at the track
Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies has a 26% record with his chasers at the track
Trainer Philip Kirby has a 26% record with his chasers at the track
13/13 – Had won over at least 2m1f over hurdles before
11/13 – Had between 2-5 previous hurdles wins to their name
11/13 – Having their first run of the season
9/13 – Never raced at Wetherby before
8/13 – Finished unplaced last time out
8/13 – Placed favourites
8/13 – Had won a NH Flat race previously
6/13 – Aged between 5-7 years-old
5/13 – Winning favourites
4/13 – Ran at Punchestown last time out
2/13 – Trained by John Quinn
18/18 – Had won over at least 2m3f over hurdles before
17/18 – Had won at least 3 times over hurdles before
16/18 – Returned 8/1 or shorter in the betting
15/18 – Won this on their seasonal reappearance
15/18 – Failed to win their last race
13/18 – Officially rated 149 or higher
12/18 – Placed favourites
12/18 – Aged 6,7 or 8 years-old
10/18 – Finished unplaced last time out
9/18 – Ran at either Aintree (5) or Cheltenham (3) last time out
7/18 – Had won at Wetherby before
4/18 – Winning favourites
3/18 – Trained by Philip Hobbs
3/18 – Trained by Paul Nicholls
2/18 – Ridden by Paddy Brennan
The Worlds End (7/2) won this race in 2019
3.20 – bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (Grade 2) Cl1 3m1f ITV
16/18 – Rated 151 or higher
15/18 – Were having their first run of the season
15/18 – Returned 7/1 or shorter in the betting
15/18 – Had won over at least 3m over fences before
13/18 – Aged 8 or older
12/18 – Had won at least 4 times over fences before
11/18 – Ran at Ayr (3), Aintree (6) or Cheltenham (2) last time out
11/18 – Aged 8 or 9 years-old
10/18 – Placed favourites
8/18 – Had run at Wetherby before (4 won)
7/18 - Finished 1st or 2nd last time out
4/18 – Winning favourites
4/18 – Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies (6 wins in total)
2/18 – Trained by Evan Williams
Nigel Twiston-Davies has won the race in 1992, 1994, 2005, 2007, 2017 and 2019
The average winning SP in the last 18 runnings is 7/1
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https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/stt.png320830Andy Newtonhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngAndy Newton2020-10-30 08:58:222020-10-29 14:02:55Sat TV Trends: 31st Oct 2020
The 4.05 at Doncaster on Saturday afternoon isn’t being shown on terrestrial TV with Cheltenham hogging much of the limelight. But whilst jumps fans are guessing about race sharpness for many runners I’ll be getting stuck into a very interesting flat handicap!
In a change from much of the action in recent weeks this looks like it won’t be run in heavy ground. Phew! That’s not to say it will be an easy contest to figure out, there are still 16, largely in form runners, set to go to post.
Draw
This will be fairly short and sweet as Doncaster is a pretty fair track.
Looking at 7f handicaps run on good to soft or soft ground all draws have a good chance and a fairly even record of both winning and placing. The PRB figures improve slightly as the draw gets higher but the best place strike rate of all the stalls is stall 1 (36.36%) so it’s impossible to narrow the field based on the draw here.
Pace
Is the comparative pace data just as fair as the draw data over Doncaster’s 7f on softish ground?
There is more of a pace bias than draw bias. Front runners have performed best of all here, breaking even to level stakes across the selected races. Front runners contribute both the best win strike rate and place strike rate so the data is pretty strong. Win strike rates drop the further back in the field you are and the place strike rate data follows a similar trajectory, although being held up is slightly more favourable for running into a place than being mid division is.
The IV figures are pretty strong for front and prominent runners and pretty weak for those that race in mid division or the rear so there certainly seems to be an advantage the nearer the pace you are.
The pace of the individual race can be just as important, if not more important, so let’s check out the pace map for this race.
So possible contested pace here which could swing things in favour of those held up near the rear. The pace will be in the centre of the pack, which would suggest they’ll come up the middle of the course which should guarantee no strong draw bias.
Doncaster Trainers
Earlier this season at Newbury I highlighted some insightful trainer data ahead of Tempus winning a handicap there and looking at how trainers approach Doncaster handicaps will hopefully give us some clues here.
There is some strong data based on handicap runs at Doncaster from the trainers with entries in this race. The major positives are for Roger Teal (Bear Force One), Roger Varian (Musicality), Roger Fell (Presidential), Andrew Balding (Grove Ferry) and Ian Williams (Ejtilaab).
The major negatives are Tim Easterby (True Blue Moon), Kevin Ryan (Queens Sargent), Michael Dods (Get Knotted), Richard Fahey (National League and Zap), David O’Meara (Arbalet and Firmanent) and also to a far lesser extent Ralph Beckett (Tomfre).
The Runners
Bear Force One
Still lightly raced and seemingly didn’t stay in the Cambridgeshire last time out. He’s otherwise responded well to the application of cheekpieces this season. The previous couple of races had worked out okay and could he get the run of the race here. Did win on good to soft three starts ago but probably wouldn’t want it any softer. Should run well if the ground isn’t bad and trainer Roger Teal is very profitable to follow here in handicaps.
Tomfre
Inconsistent this season but came good on heavy ground last time out at Leicester, winning by two lengths. The handicapper hasn’t got carried away with that victory only raising him 2lbs but he doesn’t appeal strongly as the type to follow up, for all it’s a possibility.
Firmanent
Ran fairly well in a good race last time out at his beloved York but he looks handicapped to the hilt on current form and is unlikely to better his York form here.
Musicality
Lightly raced and represents Roger Varian who does well in handicaps here. He was slightly below form here over half a furlong shorter at the St Leger meeting but had previously won on soft ground, for all it was just a six runner handicap over 6f and perhaps a 7lb rise for that has found him out. Has a chance but worth taking on with question marks over the handicap mark and the distance.
Grove Ferry
Returned from a short break in August in good form. He was 5th at Sandown behind two next time out winners (did best of those held up) and followed that up with two good efforts at Ascot. The ground looks fine and the drop back in trip looks a positive as his effort has seemingly flattened out towards the end of each race recently.
He's up 3lbs for his latest effort which makes life harder but Andrew Balding does well in handicaps here and if the drop in trip does indeed bring about further improvement he is entitled to go very close.
Queens Sargent
Has improved again this season but form seems to have tailed of in the last couple of races without obvious excuses so it looks more a case of having gone off the boil than being handicapped out of this, for all it’s difficult to argue he’s particularly well handicapped anyway.
Fortamour
Won a decent race last time out at Ascot over a furlong shorter but has won over this distance on the all weather. He’s only up 2lbs for that win and drops in grade so isn’t badly handicapped and he’s run well with cut in the ground this season. His last run at this distance at York has worked out well with the winner going on to land a big pot at Ascot and many of those who ran well have run well in defeat again since. Considering he has been within at least two lengths of the winner in his last eight runs at 6f or 7f this consistent runner appears likely to go well again.
Arbalet
On a losing streak of 22 races and is often overbet after running well in defeat. He was three quarters of a length behind Fortamour at York and is now 6lbs better off so he’s well treated on that form but he’s much better on faster surfaces and wouldn’t be one to back with any confidence for win purposes anyway.
Ejtilaab
He's taken advantage of some slowly run races this season and would most likely not be seen to best effect in a well run race having been well enough beaten off a 1lb lower mark at Ascot in a big field two starts ago. Unproven on softer than good so unlikely to trouble the judge in this contest.
Get Knotted
Tends to run his best races at York and he’s not the force of old. He’d have a chance on a going day with conditions in his favour but he’s not one to put a lot of faith in at the moment.
Breanski
Had no chance behind Raaeq last time at Ascot and difficult to say if that horse franked the form or let it down on Saturday in the Balmoral Handicap, finishing 5th off a 6lb higher mark. Breanksi did finish best of the rest though to record his seventh 2nd or 3rd place finish in his last nine runs. He tends to run well here with two wins from five starts (four starts at this distance) and he beat Presidential (re opposes here) by a quarter of a length in receipt of 1lb in his last course win just over a year ago. Breanski is just 1lb above that winning mark now and is another who looks likely to run very well, for all he isn’t the easiest to win with.
Presidential
Another who goes well at Doncaster, his career form figures here read 143521. He won here over course and distance in June on similar ground to this off a 1lb higher mark and the next two runs of each of the next five runners home produced form figures of 2122224335 so that was a pretty solid race even if only one of the protagonists came out and won shortly after.
He's not completely consistent generally but he is consistent here. His worst form figure came on his run on the fastest ground he has encountered at this course and even finishing 5th in that race off a 1lb higher mark was far from a disgrace as that race worked out particularly well. With everything seemingly in his favour he’s a strong candidate for the shortlist representing a trainer with a very good record in handicaps here.
Alemaratalyoum
Generally at his best when the mud is flying, he’s been difficult to catch right this season and is very difficult to make a case for based on his last couple of runs. First time blinkers are another question mark and although they could spark a revival in form, it seems more likely they’ll just make him underperform further as the sire’s strike rate with horses in this headgear combination is half what it is across all races.
Zap
Difficult to win with, this horse is now on a losing run that dates back over two years. He has been very consistent this season, and has finished 2nd on his last three starts, but this is a step up in class and a much tougher race than those contests. He was 4 lengths behind Presidential here earlier in the season and is only 3lbs better off so he has work to do.
True Blue Moon
He's had an okay season, picking up a win on his penultima start off a 3lb lower mark. He’s generally run better on faster ground this season but he was a close up 4th at Haydock three starts ago and the 1st, 3rd and 6th have all won since and the 2nd filled that runner up spot again on his next start so he wouldn’t be out of it on that form, for all he is 3lbs higher here. His latest run was less promising and he’s probably up against it in this company off this mark but not a hopeless cause.
National League
This is one I gave a good write up for at the St Leger meeting at a big price in what looked like it would be a hot 3yo handicap. He was 3rd that day and better than the bare result, not only because he found trouble in running but also because the ground would have been plenty fast enough that day. What is most disappointing is that race has failed to produce a top 2 finish from nine subsequent runs.
After a below par follow up on ground that should have suited, connections reached for the visor (retained here) and it seemed to help as he ran on into 3rd from a compromising position against two rivals that were up with the pace at Musselburgh. That run against a pace bias was arguably a career best and he’s now down to a mark he won a nursery off last season. He really seems to be crying out for another furlong now though. He’ll probably find a couple too good here but would be of huge interest if finding a mile handicap on soft ground before the season finishes.
Verdict
A race where no winner would be a shock result and many have a very good chance of placing at the very least. Musicality will be on plenty of shortlists but I’m going to go with a longlist of:
Bear Force One
Grove Ferry
Fortamour
Breanski
Presidential
National League
The first and last names on that list aren’t going to make my shortlist. Bear Force One is certainly decent value at around 16/1 but I’m hopeful Ejtilaab will compete for the lead. Plus winter ground, even winter ground that’s not terrible, might compromise his chance. National League should run on well late in the race but I’m not convinced he’s currently well enough handicapped to win at this trip.
So the most solid quartet should be Grove Ferry, Fortamour, Breanski and Presidential. The most compromised, should Bear Force One and Ejtilaab not go a good gallop here, is likely to be Grove Ferry who is dropping back in trip. He’s also drawn very low, and therefore furthest from the pace, which isn’t ideal. He’s therefore passed over for win purposes, although he should run very well.
Breanski is really solid and will run his usual race but he’s been beaten fair and square all season and is a runner would strongly appeal as a place only bet or one to consider for forecasts and tricasts.
So that leaves Fortamour and Presidential. Fortamour has more room to progress and comes here off the back of a very good run so doesn’t really have too many questions to answer. His good runs in softer ground did come over 6f though and this sort of ground over 7f will be a slightly new test for him. Plus in stall 14 he’s drawn a little further from the likely pace than is ideal.
Presidential on the other hand has thrown in plenty of poor runs recently (well beaten in three of his last five starts) but he’s yet to fail to give his running at this course and was a fair bit better than the bare result when not beaten too far at Newmarket last time out. The recent form of both Fortamour and Presidential is very much built into their respective prices and Presidential looks the better value bet and a good each way bet at an early 18/1. The fact that Roger Fell not only has a very good handicap record here but has also saddled two winners, three places and close 4th from his last eight runners at the time of writing just sweetens the pot a little further.
I’ll also be interested in covering the shortlist of four horses in various forecasts and tricasts. Backing four runners that are likely to be nearer the rear than the front early on is perhaps not the best strategy given the pace data highlighted earlier so confidence and stakes will be kept pretty low but hopefully Bear Force One and Ejtilaab will produce a contested pace which would make things look a lot rosier for those that will be held up.
**EDIT** It looked very difficult to make up pace on the straight course at Doncaster on Friday but they didn't have any big fields like this so it should be a little easier to come from slightly further back than it was in some of the smaller fields on Friday. Presidential has often raced more in mid division than right at the back of the field so he should still be able to get involved assuming he breaks on terms.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/HighAcclaim_DavidProbert_SpringMile.jpg320826samdarbyhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngsamdarby2020-10-23 14:40:412020-10-23 14:40:41Elect For Presidential At Big Price In Doncaster Handicap
Bundles going on this Saturday as the ITV cameras are at Doncaster, Newbury and Cheltenham – As always we got all the LIVE races covered from a trends and stats angle…….Can leading Irish handler Aidan O’Brien land his tenth Vertum Futurity Trophy?
Use these key trends to help narrow down the runners and highlight the best profiles of past winners.
Doncaster Horse Racing Trends (ITV/ATR)
1.45 –Doncaster Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 6f ITV
12/12 – Placed in the top 3 last time out
11/12 – Raced in the last 4 weeks
11/12 – Drawn in stall 9 or lower
11/12 – Foaled in February or later
11/12 – Had won over 6f before
11/12 – Won between 1-2 times before
10/12 – Won last time out
9/12 – Carried 9-1 in weight
9/12 – Favourites placed in the top 3
8/12 – Raced at York, Nottingham or Kempton last time out
8/12 – Drawn in stall 6 or lower
8/12 – Returned 6/1 or shorter in the betting
6/12 – March-born foals
6/12 – Irish bred
5/12 – Winning favourites
2/12 – Trained by the Richard Hannon yard
2/12 – Trained by Brian Meehan
Trainer Marco Botti has won 2 of the last 4 runnings
2.20 – Vertum Very Different Stockbrokers Handicap Cl2 (3yo+ 0-105) 5f ITV4
15/15 – Ran 5 or more times that season
14/15 – Had won over 5f before
14/15 – Aged 5 or younger
12/15 – Winning distance – 1 length or less
10/15 – Returned 9/1 or bigger in the betting
10/15 – Aged 4 or 5 years-old
9/15 – Carried 8-10 or less
9/15 – Unplaced favourites
9/15 – Had run at Doncaster before (4 won)
5/15 – Ran at Pontefract (3) or Ayr (2) last time out
5/15 – Won last time out
4/15 – Winning favourites
2/15 – Winners from stall 1
2/15 – Ridden by Oisin Murphy
2/15 – Trained by Andrew Balding (2 of last 6)
1/15 – Winning mare/filly
Tarboosh (8/1 jfav) won the race in 2018
9 of the last 12 winners came from a double-figure stall
16/18 – Winning distance – 1 ¼ lengths or more
16/18 – Had won either 1 or 2 races before
15/18 – Placed favourites
15/18 - Foaled in February or later
15/18 – Finished in the top two last time out
15/18 – Raced within the last 4 weeks
13/18 – Had raced at least twice previously
12/18 – Winning favourites
11/18 – Won their last race
11/18 – Foaled in either Feb or March
11/18 – Ran at either the Curragh (3) or Newmarket (7) last time out
10/18 – Had won over a mile in the past
7/18 – Won by an Irish-based yard
6/18 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien
4/18 – Won by a Montjeu-bred colt
4/18 – Ridden by Andrea Atzeni (won 4 of the last 7)
4/18 – Went onto win the 2,000 Guineas (inc the last 3 winners)
3/18 – Went onto win the Epsom Derby
1/18 – Went onto win the St Leger
Five winners have gone onto win the following season’s Epsom Derby
Aidan O’Brien has won the race 9 times – 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2017 & 2018
The average SP in the last 18 runnings is 13/2
Note: The 2006 renewal was staged at Newbury
Note: The 2019 renewal was staged at Newcastle
Newbury Horse Racing Trends (ITV/RacingTV)
3.35 – Cancom Stakes Stakes (Registered As The Horris Hill Stakes) (Group 3) Cl1 7f ITV
15/16 – Foaled in Feb or later
13/16 – Priced 15/2 or shorter in the betting
13/16 – Won just 1 or 2 races before
11/16 – Never raced at Newbury
12/16 – Placed 1st or 2nd last time out
11/16 – Had at least 3 previous career runs
10/16 – Drawn in stall 5 or higher
9/16 – Favourites unplaced
8/16 – Won over 7f before
8/16 – Won their last race
7/16 – Foaled in February
7/16 – Winning distance – ¾ lengths or less
4/16 – Trained by the Richard Hannon yard
4/16 – Raced at Newmarket last time out
1/16 – Winning favourites
4.10 – Teddington RBL Poppy Appeal Stakes (Registered As The St Simon) (Group 3) Cl1 1m4f5y ITV
17/17 – Aged 5 or younger
15/17 – Had won over at least 1m2f before
15/17 – Returned 8/1 or shorter in the betting
15/17 – Had won at least twice before
14/17 – Had at least 4 runs that season
13/17 – Aged 3 or 4 years-old
12/17 – Placed favourites
11/17 – Rated 107 or higher
10/17 – Had run at Newbury before (4 won)
10/17 – Drawn in stall 6 or higher
10/17 – Placed horses from stall 6
7/17 – Winners from stalls 6 or 8
6/17 – Won by a filly or mare
6/17 – Ran at Newmarket last time out
5/17 – Winning favourites
3/17 – Won last time out
3/17 – Trained by Andrew Balding
1/17 – Winners from stall 1
Morando (8/1) won the race in 2018
Young Rascal (Evs) won this race in 2017
Cheltenham Horse Racing Trends (ITV/RacingTV)
2.05 - Masterson Holdings Hurdle Cl2 2m110y ITV
8/11 – Having their first run of the new jumps season
6/11 – Returned 3/1 or shorter in the betting
6/11 – Carried 10-12 in weight
6/11 – Placed in their last race
5/11 – Irish bred winners
4/11 – Favourites placed
4/11 – Won 3 times over hurdles previously
3/11 – Winning favourites
3/11 – Trained by Paul Nicholls
Quel Destin (1st 7/2) won the race in 2019
2.40 – Best Odds At Matchbook Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m4f ITV4
10/10 – Won no more than 3 times over fences
9/10 – Aged 5 or 6 years-old
9/10 – Returned 5/1 or shorter in the betting
7/10 – Had run at Cheltenham before
7/10 – Unplaced favourites
7/10 – Had run over hurdles at Cheltenham in the past (3 won)
7/10 – Won between 0-1 times over fences
6/10 – Ran in the last 4 weeks
5/10 – Won over at least 2m4f (fences)
3/10 – Won last time out
3/10 – Trained by Paul Nicholls
2/10 – Trained by Gordon Elliott
2/10 – Trained by Colin Tizzard
1/10 – Winning favourites
The average winning SP in the last 10 runnings is 10/3
8/11 – Priced 17/2 or bigger in the betting
8/11 – Placed in the top 3 last time out
7/11 – Carried 10-13 or less in weight
8/11 – Had run at Cheltenham before (4 winners)
7/11 – Aged between 6-8 years-old
7/11 – Last ran 6 month+ ago
6/11 – Unplaced favourites
5/11 – Won last time out
4/11 – Irish Bred
2/11 – Mare winners
2/11 – Trained by Philip Hobbs
2/11 – Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies
2/11 – Winning favourites
Tobefair (8/1) won this race in 2019
12/13 – Priced 10/1 or shorter in the betting market
12/13 – Won over at least 3m previously
10/13 – First run of the season
10/13 – Winning distance – 3 lengths or less
9/13 – Rated 134 or higher
9/13 – Irish bred winners
8/13 – Carried 10-11 or more in weight
8/13 – Favourites unplaced
7/13 – Had won at Cheltenham previously
6/13 – Won by a horse aged 8 years-old
6/13 – Unplaced in their last race
5/13 – Trained by Philip Hobbs
5/13 – Ridden by jockey Richard Johnson
1/13 – Winning Favourites
The Conditional (14/1) won the race in 2019
Cogry (13/2) won the race in 2017
Cogry was 2nd in the race last year
Relentless Dreamer (16/1) won the race in 2018
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It’s Qipco Champions Day at Ascot this Saturday – As normal Andy Newton’s covered all the LIVE ITV races from a trends & stats angle.
Use these key trends to help narrow down the runners and find the best profiles of past winners.
Ascot Horse Racing Trends (ITV)
1.20 - Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 2) Cl1 2m ITV
15/18 – Raced within the last 5 weeks
15/18 – Won at Listed or better class previously
15/18 – Winning distance – 1 1/2 lengths or less
13/18 – Returned 9/2 or shorter
13/18 – Favourites placed
13/18 – Won at least 5 times previously
12/18 – Aged 5 or older
12/18 – Won over at least 2 miles on the flat previously
11/18 – Raced at least 5 times that season
8/18 – Raced at Longchamp (3), Ascot (2) or Doncaster (3) last time out
8/18 – Favourites that won (1 joint)
8/18 – Won their latest race
6/18 – Irish-trained winners (6 of the last 10)
4/18 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien
3/18 – Ridden by Frankie Dettori (2 of the last 5)
2/18 – Trained by Dermot Weld
2/18 – Trained by John Gosden (2 of the last 5)
Stradivarius won the race in 2018 and was second in 2019
Since 2011: 6 of the last 9 winners came from stalls 2-4 (inc)
Since 2011: Horses from stall 7 have been placed in 4 of the last 8
The average winning odds in the last 10 runnings is 6/1
1.55 - Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1) Cl1 6f ITV
17/18 – Won over 6f previously
17/18 – Won at least 3 times previously
15/18 – Returned 12/1 or shorter
16/18 – Raced within the last 6 weeks
16/18 – Raced at least 4 times that season
15/18 – Won at Listed or better class previously
13/18 – Aged 3 or 4 years-old
14/18 – Raced at Ascot previously (3 won)
13/18 – Finished in the top 4 in their latest race
13/18 – Won a Group race previously
11/18 – Favourites placed
11/18 – Raced at Haydock (6), Goodwood (2) or Newbury (3) last time out
4/18 – Won their latest race
4/18 – Favourites that won
2/18 – Ridden by Paul Hanagan (2 of the last 5)
The Tin Man (13/2) won the race in 2016
Since 2011: 4 of the last 9 winners have come from stalls 12 (2) or 14 (2)
Since 2011: 5 of the last 9 winners came from double-figure stalls
Since 2011: Horses from stalls 12 placed 5 of the last 9 runnings
Since 2011: Horses from stalls 14 placed 4 of the last 9 runnings
The average winning SP in the last 10 runnings is 10/1
Note: The 2005 renewal was run at Newmarket
2.30 - Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1) Cl1 1m4f ITV
12/12 – Raced 3 or more times that season
11/12 – Won at Listed or better class previously
10/12 – Returned 6/1 or shorter
10/12 – Won at least 3 times previously
10/12 – Raced within the last 9 weeks
9/12 – Finished 1st or 2nd in their last race
9/12 – Won over 1m4f previously
9/12 – Rated 110 or higher
8/12 – Returned between 4/1 and 6/1
8/12 – Favourites placed
8/12 – Aged 3 years-old
6/12 – Won their last race
4/12 – Ridden by Ryan Moore
3/12 – Favourites that won
2/12 – Trained by Sir Michael Stoute
2/12 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien (2 of last 3 runnings)
2/12 – Trained by John Gosden (2 of the last 4 runnings)
The average winning SP in the last 10 runnings is 6/1
Magical (5/1) won the race in 2018
3 of the last 10 winners came from stall 2
Note: The 2009 & 2010 renewals were run at Newmarket
3.05 - Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1) Cl1 1m ITV
18/18 – Raced at least 3 times that season
16/18 – Aged 3 or 5 years-old
16/18 – Finished in the top three in their last race
16/18 – Raced at Goodwood, Longchamp or Leopardstown last time out
16/18 – Returned 7/1 or shorter
15/18 – Had won a Group 1 or 2 race previously
14/18 – Favourites placed
14/18 – Raced within the last 5 weeks
10/18 – Raced at Ascot previously (6 won)
10/18 – Won their latest race
9/18 – Won at least 7 times previously
8/18 – Favourites that won
7/18 – Raced at Goodwood last time out
4/18 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien
3/18 – Trained by John Gosden
3/18 – Ridden by Frankie Dettori
2/18 – Trained by Freddie Head
The average winning SP in the last 10 runnings is 4/1
9 of the last 11 winners came from stalls 2-8 (inc)
Since 2011: Horses from stall 2 and 7 have won 4 of the last 9 runnings
18/18 – Won at least 4 times previously
17/18 – Won between 4 and 8 times previously
17/18 – Aged 5 or younger
16/18 – Finished in the top 3 in their latest race
16/18 – Won over 1m2f previously
16/18 – Won a Group 1 or 2 race previously 14/18 – Aged 3 or 4 years-old
13/18 – Raced within the last 6 weeks
13/18 – Raced 5 or more times that season
10/18 – Won their last race
8/18 – Raced at either Longchamp (5) or Goodwood (3) last time out
6/18 – Favourites unplaced
6/18 – Returned a double-figure price
6/18 – Favourites
4/18 – Won by a French-based trainer
3/18 – Ridden by Tom Queally
2/18 – Ridden by Frankie Dettori (2 of last 3)
2/18 – Trained by John Gosden (2 of last 3)
Magical (Evs fav) won the race in 2019
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has just 1 win in the race (Magical, 2019)
Since 2011: Horses from stall 5 have won 2 of the last 7 runnings
4.15 - Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored By Qipco) Cl2 1m ITV
Just 6 previous runnings
6/6 – Aged 4 or 5 years-old
5/6 - Winners drawn 10 or lower
5/6 – Carried between 9-1 and 9-6 in weight
5/6 – Returned 8/1 or shorter in the betting
4/6 - Winners ran at Newmarket last time out
4/6 - Previous winners were aged 5 years-old
2/6 – Trained by David O’Meara
1/6 - Winning favourite
Escobar (16/1) won the race in 2019
The average winning SP in the last 6 runnings is 11/1
Trainers Roger Varian, David O’Meara (2), Roger Charlton, Saeed Bin Suroor and Marcus Tregoning have won the race in the past
Horses from stalls 12 or 13 have been placed in 3 of the last 6 runnings
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https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/stt.png320830Andy Newtonhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngAndy Newton2020-10-16 13:09:502020-10-14 10:18:01Sat TV Trends: 17th Oct 2020
The complexion of this race may have been slightly different had the Challenge Cup not been abandoned a couple of weeks back with several of the main contenders here having been set to contest that race. It certainly looks a cracking contest and hopefully a race where we can find a few strong pointers.
Draw
The straight course draw bias at Ascot tends to play its part in many races but the bias can change from meeting to meeting or even race to race so there are rarely any guarantees.
High draws have generally been favoured on the straight course this season but that may not be the case here. The ground is likely to be soft on Saturday and mile races on ground ranging from good to soft all the way to heavy have tended to favour those drawn middle to low.
The win data doesn’t tell us a lot in this sample but the place data suggests a middle draw can be strongly favoured with almost twice as many places from middle draws compared to low draws and 50% more placed horses from middle compared to high draws. The PRB figures seem to back up what the place data tells us too with low draw PRB the worst at 0.46, high drawn PRB is next best at 0.5 and middle draw PRB is 0.54.
There is a logical explanation for the above data. As previously mentioned the draw bias can vary at Ascot. When it favours the far side the higher drawn horses will generally struggle. When it favours the near side the lower drawn horses will struggle. Either way the middle draws nearly always have a pretty fair chance so of course they tend to do well.
At this particular meeting the ground nearest to the stands’ side is railed off and the stalls are positioned on the far side of the course. So compared to a standard meeting at Ascot the higher drawn horses actually race in what is normally the middle of the track and the lower drawn runners are positioned where they’d normally be.
The effect of this in recent years has been that the jockeys have tended to want to stick towards the far side rail. Last year’s first two home were drawn 21 and 20 but that doesn’t tell the whole story – they ended up on the far rail and looked to win in spite of their draws. The runners the previous year also headed towards the far rail and stall 8 was responsible for the winner but it’s also worth noting that five of the highest nine drawn runners were amongst the first seven finishers. In 2017 they largely came down the middle and although the winner came from stall 3, he actually finished nearer the stands’ side than any other runner. The next four finishers that year were drawn 18, 17, 15 and 23.
So what the above tells you, that draw data doesn’t necessarily do, is that if they elect to go far side as they have done for the past two years, the high draws are probably slightly disadvantaged but still well capable. If they go up the middle of the course then high draws may well have the advantage. Now we don’t know before the start of the race where they are likely to go so all in all, the safer bets will probably be in the middle.
Pace
Looking at a similar sample of data as we did for the draw, it looks very much as though we should lean towards those who are likely to be held up.
Only one winner has made all in these conditions since 2009 and that was Musaddas in 2015. He proved very well handicapped on the day (won another handicap two starts later) and the fact that only three front runners have placed, producing a place strike rate of 11.54% suggests only extremely well handicapped front runners should be considered.
The place strike rate gets progressively better the further back in the field you are and extreme hold up tactics seem to work well over a mile in these conditions with an almost 100% improvement in place strike rate compared to all other run styles. An IV of 1.44 is also much stronger than all other pace types and there have been more held up winners than all other run styles combined. So unlike the slightly inconclusive draw stats we had, we have some very conclusive pace data here.
There is unlikely to be a frantic pace to this race with only one likely front runner in the field so a degree of caution should be applied in regards to following the above data that suggests you want to be at the very back of the field. The data is still very strong though so you may well want to be no further forward than mid division on this occasion.
The Jockeys
I’ve seen some interesting jockey stats about which jockeys are worth following at Ascot on different types of ground and they seem worth exploring here with very testing ground likely.
The above data shows the jockeys in this race that have previously rode at least once on ground that is between good to soft and heavy in an Ascot handicap before, sorted by IV. This data is more useful ahead of Champions Day as a whole rather than just this race but it does give a good guide as to which which jockeys might be worth a couple of extra pounds advantage.
Considering the lack of data for some riders, the major positives seem to be Nicola Currie (Graignes), William Buick (Blue Mist), Ben Curtis (Kynren), Jamie Spencer (Hortzadar), Jim Crowley (Raaeq), Hollie Doyle (Solid Stone), Frankie Dettori (Alternative Fact) and Oisin Murphy (Bell Rock). It’s worth noting that Nicola Currie’s wins have come courtesy of her association with Raising Sand, a soft ground Ascot specialist who is ridden here by Saffie Osbourne, so a slight pinch of salt must be taken with her figures.
The major negatives appear to be Stevie Donohue (Raakib Alhawa), Andrea Atzeni (Prince Eiji) and Tom Queally (Ropey Guest).
The Runners
Raaeq
He took his form to a new level last time out with an easy win here over 7f on similar ground to this. That was his first run on a soft surface and he seemed to improve for it. He runs with a 6lb penalty which leaves him 5lbs well in still. He’s only had five starts, has never finished out of the first 2 and looks the obvious ‘group horse in a handicap’.
He seems to be the sole pace angle in the race which could suit him but it’s going to be a lot harder dominating a 20+ runner field over a mile than an eight runner 7f race.
The above image shows how well front runners do in small fields here in softish ground. Compare that to the first image in the pace section of this article which shows the record of front runners and you see very different figures. He’ll probably need to be at least a Group 2 performer to win this from the front and although he looked to improve for the ground last time out, he also probably improved for the drop back to 7f, a distance at which he is unbeaten. No surprise if he wins but judgement call is to oppose at the price.
Tempus
Course and distance winner who will enjoy conditions. Seemingly had no excuses last time out when well drawn in the Cambridgeshire when running with plenty of credit in 6th (only 0.25 lengths away from 3rd). He maybe would have preferred softer ground that day but it would be difficult to argue he didn’t stay. He’s 2lb higher here and there is still a nagging doubt about him never really having beaten much (beat fourteen runners in two wins this season and none of them have subsequently hit the frame in any race). Even last time out he still finished worst of the well drawn form horses, albeit not beaten that far. Looks certain to run pretty well but not sure he’s well enough handicapped anymore to win a race as deep as this.
King Ottokar
One I quite fancied for the abandoned Challenge Cup but I had two slight doubts. The first was the drop back to 7f, which may have actually suited but it was a risk for a horse that had previously run so well at 10f. The other doubt was the trainer form with Charlie Fellowes’ horses not running that well at the time but he’s had five wins and three places from his last thirteen runners so that’s no longer a concern - in fact it's a positive.
He was a big eyecatcher last time out at Doncaster, making up ground effortlessly 3f out before running into the back of horses. He found less than seemed likely when getting clear which probably tempted connections to drop him back in trip but the ground was on the fast side then and it could have been just as likely that the ground compromised his finishing effort, not the trip. Both his wins have come in soft ground and so has all his best form.
The subsequent form of his last run isn’t great but remarkably none of those subsequent runs from the opposition came in similar conditions with most running on soft ground since. If you look back to Royal Ascot 2019, the last time King Ottokar ran to form on soft ground, he was just a neck behind Fox Chairman. That horse quickly developed into a 110+ rated horse so King Ottokar certainly should be well handicapped here off 100. The only doubt this time around is stall 22 as this could be major disadvantage if they all go far side. It wasn’t a barrier to success last year though and the going stick readings are quicker on the stands’ side which gives some hope they may come middle to stands' side.
Keats
This listed winner from two weeks ago runs under a 6lbs penalty making his mark 107. That would put a lot of people off but when a horse is trained by Aidan O’Brien and it runs in an Ascot handicap people take notice. His runners make a 7.0 LSP in Ascot handicaps since 2009 so that respect is warranted. All three of those winners came at Royal Ascot though over the years and none were rated higher than 104 so this would be some performance to win and Keats has only ever won on good ground. He looks one of the easier well fancied horses to oppose.
Njord
Another Irish challenger and a much more interesting one. He’s been a big improver going up 41lbs in the handicap over the past two seasons, often running well in big field handicaps. His record on ground with the word ‘soft’ in the going description during that time is 1231125 and that latest 5th was when meeting trouble in running off a 2lb higher mark when still beaten less than 2 lengths. The 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th from that race have all placed since so it wasn’t a bad race. He was last seen when 4th on good ground in a 9f listed race. He was 1.5 lengths behind Keats that day giving that rival 5lbs and he now receives 2lbs so it would be a slight shock if Keats could confirm that form. Keats is drawn 21 and Njord is drawn 4 so a stands’ side draw advantage seems to be the only thing that could swing things in Keats’ favour.
Given his consistent profile and liking for conditions he looks a fair each way shout and should run very well if a low draw isn’t an inconvenience.
Raising Sand
He was my fancy in the abandoned Challenge Cup but I’m slightly more lukewarm about his chances here. He loves soft ground and Ascot plus Saffie Osbourne is a useful 7lbs taken off his back but I’ve always thought he was a bit better over 7f than a mile. His two mile wins at Ascot have come off marks of 89 and 92 in smaller fields than this whereas his two 7f wins here have come off 97 and 103 in fields of 15 and 23.
He ran well over course and distance in the Hunt Cup this season from a poor draw but was ‘only’ 6th in this two years ago off 102 in similar ground and that sort of finish may be most likely again this time around.
River Nymph
He won comfortably here two starts ago and followed that up with another easy success when beating two next time out winners at Newbury. He was well fancied for the Challenge Cup that was abandoned and should still be well handicapped despite going up 11lbs for his latest win. He ran well over Lingfield’s 6f earlier this season and although well handicapped that day (18lbs lower) and looking like he wanted further it does still cast some doubt over his ability to get a mile.
The sire’s runners tend to get worse the further they go and this isn’t really the kind of ground you want to be testing your stamina in so he’s much easier to oppose here than he was over 7f, although he’s respected based on his achievements this season. Stall 14 gives the jockey some options at least.
Bell Rock
Finished 3rd in the Cambridgeshire, a quarter of a length ahead of Tempus. That run was a career best but he was well drawn that day, has seemingly improved for trips beyond a mile on his last two starts and is unproven on soft ground. There is also a doubt mark over the first time cheekpieces. Bell Rock is by Kingman who has a 17.67% strike rate with his progeny. That drops to just 12.82% when cheekpieces are applied which isn’t the worst record but is hardly a ringing endorsement either. Too many question marks.
Blue Mist
He's generally been expensive to follow and although he won a big pot here in July, that was over 7f in a race where only one of the first fourteen finishers has won since. He doesn’t convince over a mile and William Buick, who rides well here on soft, will need to get some improvement from this horse to reach the frame.
Orbaan
He has some decent form to his name with a 7th at York in August potentially a career best with the 5th and 6th winning handicaps since. He’s been behind Tempus twice this season though without real excuses and although a 6lb swing in the weights should get him closer it might not be enough to get 3 lengths closer. He should run creditably but in all probability he’ll finish just outside the places. He can win in slightly calmer waters.
Kynren
Was amongst the favourites for the Challenge Cup but a run at 6f at York last week looked a mistake with him finishing well beaten. No surprise to see him bounce back from that at a track where he has run plenty of good races but this trip seems to stretch him a bit – he’s finished 5th, 5th and 6th over course and distance on softish ground and those first two runs were off lower marks. He’ll need a career best to take this, although he’s nicely drawn in 13.
Alternative Fact
Frankie Dettori is an interesting booking, he’s finished 2nd and 3rd on this horse in two runs and is clearly booked when a big run is expected. The last time they paired up was here in the Silver Hunt Cup when just 1.75 lengths behind Sir Busker, who has since rated 15lbs higher. Alternative Fact has gone up 7lbs himself since then though having run three excellent races at Haydock, where he often gets his required ground. His last run at York when 6th of 20 deserves marking up as he was drawn very wide and ended up with too much to do.
He doesn’t scream brilliantly handicapped but the course and the ground are in his favour, as is the jockey booking. Stall 16 isn’t the end of the world, even if they go far side, and he’s one at a price that could easily run into the places and looks nailed on to give his running.
Best Of The Rest
It's slightly surprising to see Solid Stone priced up at 20/1 given he’s normally overbet (started favourite in eight of his thirteen runs including five of his last six). He hasn’t encountered this sort of ground since his 2yo days though and has presumably been kept away from it on purpose. He’d have a chance if handling conditions.
Greenside will handle the ground and does well here but looks better at 7f these days. Prince Eiji has run well on both starts here and handles the ground but he ran a shocker last time out and Atzeni doesn’t have a good record here in soft ground. Ropey Guest will like the ground and has Ascot form but he looks better at 7f and he’d have had a better chance had the Challenge Cup gone ahead.
Jamie Spencer could potentially get a tune out of Hortzadar but he looks handicapped to the hilt now and hasn’t run well in two starts at Ascot. Graignes has some smart French form in Group 1 races but if he was capable of winning this off 104 you’d have expected him to run better in similar conditions last time out in a Group 3.
Verdict
This perhaps isn’t quite as difficult a puzzle as it first seems with some of the main protagonists not likely to be seen to best effect over a mile on soft ground. Other simply don’t look well handicapped anymore.
The most interesting trio may well by King Ottokar, Njord and Alternative Fact. Tempus and to a slightly lesser extent Raising Sand should run well also but neither are fancied for win purposes.
Njord seems to enjoy the hustle and bustle of these kinds of races and is still reasonably handicapped. He seems most interesting at the prices of those drawn low. Meanwhile Alternative Fact is perhaps the ‘safe each way’ given he has everything in his favour and he’s not drawn far from the middle. At around 12/1 (well backed in the past 24 hours) with as many as 6 places on offer he’s worth a bet.
But as far as likely winners go King Ottokar seems to have an awful lot in his favour. He loves soft ground, he has run well here before, his trainer is in excellent form, he’s run well in a handicap on his last start and has been dropped 2lbs since then and he’s completely unexposed as a miler still. If there is one question mark it’s his very high draw but by the time the three reserves have come out he’ll effectively be racing from stall 19. If a high draw was to be an advantage he’d look an extremely good bet but we won’t know that until it’s too late. He’s shortening all the time and 8/1 in a big field like this might still seem short but he’s a very interesting runner and I’m willing to risk the draw. It might be worth backing him win only as around 8/5 to finish in the top 5 or 6 might not look great after a couple of furlongs if they all go far side.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Lord-Glitters.jpg320773samdarbyhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngsamdarby2020-10-16 13:02:422020-10-16 13:02:42King Set To Be Crowned In Balmoral Handicap
More LIVE ITV action on Saturday 10th October for day two of the Newmarket Dubai Future Champions meeting, plus there is also LIVE racing from York. Plenty to get stuck into again with the ultra-competitive Cesarewitch Handicap one of the key betting races of the flat turf season, while the race is supported by the Autumn Stakes & the Group One Dewhurst Stakes, where we get to see some of the stars of the future.
As mentioned, ITV cameras are also at York to take in three races, with the feature being the Coral Sprint Trophy.
So as always, we’ll have all the LIVE races covered from a trends angle, plus our verdicts on each race.
13/13 – Returned 9/1 or shorter in the betting
12/13 – Foaled in Feb, Mar or April
12/13 – Had raced in the last 4 weeks
12/13 – Won no more than twice before
11/13 – Placed in the top 3 last time out
11/13 – Had won over at least 1m before
10/13 – Placed favourites
9/13 – Drawn in stalls 2-5 (inc)
8/13 – Won last time out
6/13 – Came from stalls 2 or 3
6/13 – Winning favourites
3/13 – Ran at Leicester last time out
2/13 – Ridden by Frankie Dettori
2/13 – Ridden by Ryan Moore
2/13 – Trained by the Hannon yard
2/13 – Won by a Godolphin-owned horse
1/13 – Winners from stall 1
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has won two of the last 3 runnings
Irish-trained winners have won 3 of the last 5
The average winning SP in the last 10 runnings is 10/3
14/15 – Ran in the last 4 weeks
14/15 – Had won over at least 7f before
13/15 – Had raced at least twice before
13/15 – Finished 1st or 2nd last time out
12/15 – Placed favourites
12/15 – Won between 1-2 times before
11/15 – Won last time out
11/15 – Priced 9/1 or shorter in the betting
10/15 – Foaled in Feb or March
9/15 – Irish bred
5/15 – Winning favourites
4/15 – Godolphin winners
3/15 – Trained by Saeed Bin Suroor
2/15 – Ridden by William Buick
1/15 – Irish-trained winners
7 of the last 13 winners came between stalls 3-5
2 of the last 3 winners came from stall 9
The average winning SP in the last 10 runnings is 9/1
Note: From 2009 back the race was staged at ASCOT, while the 2005 running was at Salisbury
18/18 – Raced at least 3 times that season
16/18 – Yet to race at Newmarket (Rowley)
16/18 – Placed in their last race
14/18 – Won over 7f previously
13/18 – Favourites placed
13/18 – Won at least 3 times previously
13/18 – Won their last race
13/18 – Won a Group race previously
11/18 – Raced at either Goodwood (2), Longchamp (2) or the Curragh (7) last time out
11/18 – Foaled in either Feb or March
10/18 – Won by an Irish-based stable
9/18 – Favourites that won
7/18 – Placed horses that came from stall 2
6/18 – Winning distance – ½ length or less
5/18 – Returned 20/1 or bigger
5/18 – Trained by Jim Bolger
5/18 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien (6 wins in total)
5/18 – Ridden by Kevin Manning
5/18 – Finished in the top 2 in the 2000 Guineas the following season
2/18 – Won the Epsom Derby the following season
1/18 – Winners that came from stall 1
The Irish have won 10 of the last 14 runnings
3 of the last 10 winners came from stall 3
Aidan O’Brien has trained 3 of the last 5 winners
The average winning SP in the last 10 runnings is 4/1
3.35 – Together For Racing International Cesarewitch Stakes (Heritage Handicap) Cl2 2m2f ITV
17/18 – Aged 4 or older
15/18 – Had won over at least 1m6f on the flat before
15/18 – Had run within the last 2 months
14/18 – Carried 9-2 or less
14/18 – Returned a double-figure price in the betting
12/18 – Finished 4th or better last time out
12/18 – Aged 5 or older
12/18 – Had won over at least 2m on the flat before
11/18 – Had 3 or more previous flat runs that season
11/18 – Winning distance – 1 length or less
10/18 – Drawn in stall 13 or lower
9/18 – Had won 4 or more times on the flat before
9/18 – Had run at the track before
9/18 – The first three home ALL returned a double-figure price
9/18 – Won by a NH trainer
8/18 – Ran at either Ascot, Chester or Doncaster last time out
8/18 – Placed favourites
4/18 – Winning mares
3/18 – Winners from stall 1
3/18 – Ridden by Silvestre De Sousa
3/18 – Winning favourites
2/18 – Trained by Mark Johnston
2/18 – Trained by Nicky Henderson
2/18 – Trained by Philip Hobbs
2/18 – Trained by Willie Mullins (last 2 winners)
2/18 – Won last time out
The average winning SP in the last 18 years is 22/1
Just 2 winning favourites since 1993
17/17– Had raced within the last month
16/17 – Had won between 1 and 3 times before
14/17 – Foaled in March or later
14/17 – Had 4 or more runs that season
13/17 – Had never raced at York before
12/17 – Returned 6/1 or shorter in the betting
12/17 – Winning distance – 1 ¼ lengths or more
12/17 – Had won over 6f before
10/17 – Placed favourites
9/17 – Unplaced last time out
8/17 – Ran at either Redcar (6) or Newbury (2) last time out
5/17 – Won last time out
5/17 – Winning favourites
4/17 – Winners from stall 2
4/17 – Filly winners
3/17 – Placed horses from stall 1
3/17 – Trained by Tim Easterby
3/17 – Ridden by David Allen
The horse from stall 6 has won 5 of the last 10 runnings
The average winning SP in the last 10 runnings is 7/1
2.35 –Coral Beaten By A Length Handicap (96 Plus Race) Cl2 1m2f88y ITV
Just seven previous runnings
7/7 – Rated between 96-103
6/7 - Returned 10/1 or shorter
6/7 – Didn’t win last time out
6/7 – Won over at least 1m2f before
5/7 - Aged 3 years-old
5/7 – Carried 9-0 or more
5/7 – Ran in the last 5 weeks
5/7 – Unplaced last time out
4/7 – Unplaced last time out
4/7 – Had run at the track before
4/7 – Ridden by Franny Norton (2) or Adam Kirby (2)
4/7 – Irish bred
0/7 – Winning favourites
2 of the last 4 winners came from stall 8
The average winning SP in the last 7 runnings is 8/1
3.10 – Coral Sprint Trophy (Handicap) Cl2 6f ITV
17/17 – Ran within the last 4 weeks
17/17 – Had won at least 3 races before
16/17 – Had run at York before
16/17 – Had won a race over 6f before
15/17 – Had raced 6 or more times that season
13/17 – Aged 5 or younger
12/17 – Returned a double-figure price in the betting
10/17 – Placed in the top 4 last time out
10/17 – Unplaced favourites
10/17 – Winning distance – ¾ lengths or less
9/17 – Rated between 92 and 98
9/17 – Carried 9-1 or less
8/17 – Drawn in a double-figure stall
5/17 – Raced at Ascot last time out
4/17 – Won last time out
2/17 – Winning favourites
2/17 – Trained by Richard Fahey
2/17 – Trained by Kevin Ryan (2 of the last 3 winners)
2/17 – Trained by Michael Dods
1/17 – Filly or mare winners
4 of the last 11 winners were ridden by a claiming apprentice
Gulliver (16/1) won the race in 2019
Major Jumbo (12/1) won the race in 2018
Teruntum Star (10/1) won the race in 2017
The average winning SP in the last 10 runnings is 12/1
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https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/stt.png320830Andy Newtonhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngAndy Newton2020-10-09 13:00:112020-10-09 17:18:54Sat TV Trends: 10th Oct 2020
The big handicap this weekend has to be the Cesarewitch. It’s going to be a real test this year on soft ground but who is going to come out on top in this cavalry charge?
Draw
The Cesarewitch draw is much talked about and the general consensus is a low draw is best but how strong a draw bias is there over this marathon trip?
It can be a common misconception that just because a high draw is a negative, that a low draw must be better than a middle draw. Looking at the above stats there have been almost twice as many wins from middle draws compared to low draws with the place figures neck and neck between the two. High draws though compare miserably with just a solitary win and on average high draws are producing less than one place per race which means all but the very well handicapped high drawn runners can possibly be ignored, even for a place.
The A/E and IV figures favour middle draws much more so than low draws but the PRB can barely be separated between low and middle draws. So in terms of chances of winning or placing there probably isn’t much between a low draw and a middle draw but it seems clear the bookies overreact to those drawn low and offer better value on those coming from the middle stalls.
Over the years this race has been run on a variety of going conditions, will softer ground amplify the draw bias or negate it?
Looking at races on soft or good to soft, we have far less data so we should tread with caution slightly, but what we seem to be seeing here is a slightly stronger focus on low draws compared to middle. The PRB figures give us the most data and low draw PRB goes from 0.54 to 0.57 on softer ground, whilst middle drawn PRB drops from 0.53 to 0.52. High drawn PRB also decreases from 0.43 to 0.41. So the data is very similar and it’s possible the going doesn’t make any difference but if softer ground does affect the draw bias it makes a lower draw more important rather than less important.
In such a big field plenty of runners fall into the category of low, middle and high and it can be of benefit to find a cut off point for where a good draw becomes a bad draw.
Looking at the individual draw figures, sorted by PRB3, on all but fast ground, gives us some interesting figures. Stalls 1-10 fill ten of the best eleven results with only stall 19 crashing the party.
It’s worth noting that stall 27 has a 30% place strike rate but the only other stall that is 20 or higher to manage even a 15% place strike rate is stall 22 (20%). So given that twelve of the fourteen best place strike rates belong to horses drawn 19 or lower that seems a good cut off point for where a good draw starts to become a bad draw. Five of the best six place strike rates remarkably belong to horses drawn in bottom six stalls so away from fast ground a very low draw is clearly of benefit to each way punters.
Pace
Front runners have an advantage at most distances in horse racing but generally speaking the further you go, the less of an advantage it becomes.
It’s a common theme in horse racing that those ridden nearer the pace will offer better value and out and out front runners have a good strike rate here with two winners from just eighteen runs. As horses are given more to do here over this trip they produce more places but from more runners. So just because more placed horses are held up than any other run style, that doesn’t mean they are advantaged. They certainly aren’t disadvantaged either though with only prominent racers having a better each way strike rate.
The going can affect pace bias so let’s have a quick look at the same data on ground that is good to soft or softer.
We have less data here so win percentages seem less relevant but there is a decent amount of place data on offer and it looks as though front runners are only advantaged on faster ground - their record in softer conditions isn't good. The majority of placed horses are coming from nearer the back but there isn’t a massive difference between the place percentages whether you are prominent, mid division or held up. What is noteworthy though is the huge IV of those coming from mid division so that does look the ideal race position on this kind of ground.
In terms of this race, with so many runners the pace map is rather large.
There is guaranteed pace in here from Mukha Magic and potentially another 5 or 6 who could easily try to force the pace or dispute it – this should be run at a good gallop and stamina is likely to be well tested. Those who are settled somewhere around mid division are likely to be seen to best effect.
Draw and Pace Combination
One of the best visuals on Geegeez Gold for me is the draw/pace heat maps. They give such a good snapshot of where you might want to be placed depending on your draw.
Showing data for PRB on course and distance races run on good or softer, this gives a strong indication that low drawn horses that don’t lead are well served. If you are drawn in the middle racing prominently can be advantageous and extremes of rides suit those that are drawn much wider.
Jumps Experience
You often hear that you need a jumps trainer/horse for this kind of test so let’s see if that’s actually the case.
The last two winners of this race were saddled by Willie Mullins so both had of course previously run over hurdles. In 2015 Grumeti won for Alan King and the previous year Big Easy was the winner for Phillip Hobbs. That’s four of the last six winners having previously jumped a hurdle.
In 2017 the 2nd and 3rd were hurdlers and in 2016 the 5th and 6th were jumpers so it does seem that the proven stamina of those that have national hunt experience comes in handy.
The Runners
Coltrane
Was impressive in the Melrose last time and has been saved for this since but there has only been one 3yo winner of this race this century and he’s as yet unproven over further than 14f. Add stall 34 to the mix and he is going to have to improve plenty for this step up in trip to figure. That’s possible but the draw makes it easy to put a line through him.
Great White Shark
She was a late plunge in this race last year (11/1 into 7/1) but seemed to run a bit flat, finishing 10th. She’s now 3lb lower this time and her latest flat effort, when a close 7th to Princess Zoe at Galway when better than the bare result, makes her a leading contender. Stall 20 is just about okay but she doesn’t always translate her Galway form elsewhere and needs to step up massively on last year’s effort. No surprise to see her go well but it’s not guaranteed and that’s not really reflected in the price.
Leoncavallo
Form figures of 211 since joining David Pipe – he’s clearly found the key to this one. He’s up 8lbs for an impressive win last time out on good to soft but that form has been let down a few times and not only does he have stall 29 to contend with, he’s only won once from seven attempts on soft ground and that was when winning by a nose at odds of 4/6. He’s proven over this far both as a flat horse and a jumps horse but is a little risky on this ground.
Not So Sleepy
Clearly laid out for this with just one run since March which was an easy victory over just 12f at Pontefract in a 4 runner handicap. He’s 2lbs well in under a penalty and goes very well in soft ground. He’s got experience over hurdles and was a good 4th in this last year under similar conditions. Stall 4 looks great and there is an awful lot to like about this horse. He’s likely to be somewhere between mid division and prominent which will be fine. The only nagging doubt is he’s 4lbs higher than when beaten over 6 lengths in this 12 months ago. That was arguably a deeper renewal though so no surprise if he at least places once again.
Just Hubert
He can be difficult to catch right (fairly well beaten on four of his six starts this term) but he’s well suited by a massive test of stamina, as was demonstrated when he won the Goodwood Stakes this summer over 2f further. Most of his best efforts have come on faster ground but many of his poorer runs on softer ground have been followed up with a poor run on a faster surface so it wasn’t necessarily the ground that held him back on those occasions. He won on good to soft as a juvenile and did run well at Chester on soft ground last year. A quick look at the Profiler tool for the sire’s offspring suggests soft ground shouldn’t be a problem and it will certainly help bring out his stamina. Stall 17 is fine.
Rock Eagle
Hasn’t taken much racing but the result of that is he’s still unexposed at the age of 5. He’s a winner here and shaped as though he might stay further when staying on well over 14f at Salisbury last time out but he’s never encountered ground softer than good and has stamina to prove so whilst he has potential he’s a very risky proposition.
Lightly Squeeze
**Didn’t get in**
First reserve at the time of writing and will only get a run if there is a non runner before 1pm on Friday. This comment will be left in even if he doesn’t make the cut - it will make a nice ‘what if?’!
Lightly Squeeze seems to have an absolutely ideal profile here. He’s been progressive over hurdles since joining Harry Fry - his hurdle rating has risen from 108 to 137. His last run over hurdles was when falling at the last, in the lead, in the Betfair Hurdle. He’s had just the one flat run since then and that was a very interesting run indeed. He drifted from 3/1 to 5/1 before the off (suggesting this was a prep or the run would be needed) but he ran really well. He moved smoothly into contention and was disputing the lead a furlong out before tiring slightly into 3rd. The winner has won again since and the 4th has won both starts since so that was clearly decent form.
The 14f of that race was the furthest he has gone on the flat but his sire (Poet’s Voice) has a 100% place record with progeny over this trip on the flat and he’s also won over a furlong further over hurdles. All his best form is with plenty of cut in the ground and to top it all off he’s drawn in stall 1.
He would have to run from 3lbs out of the handicap but he was due to go up 2lbs for his recent run anyway so is effectively only 1lb wrong.
What a shame it will be if he misses the cut by one place!
Mondain
He's officially the best in here with his 4lb penalty still leaving him 3lbs well in. He’s pretty much proven at the trip having won at 17.5f last time out at Ayr. In fact his record at 2m or further reads 1121 whereas his 14f record reads 3255589442 so stamina definitely appears his forte. It looks as though he’s been ridden with a little more restraint in recent starts (as opposed to front running) which is probably a good thing given front runners seem to have struggled in his race on softer ground and stall 19 is fine but there is a slight question mark over the ground, he seems to have run his best races on good or good to soft ground (beaten 5+ lengths in three starts on soft). He’s also been running in much weaker contests than this recently so there has to be a doubt about how well handicapped he is for this. He has a definite chance if okay on the ground though.
Best of the Rest
Couer De Lion would have been very interesting on this ground but he’s been drawn in stall 35 and doesn’t have too many secrets from the handicapper so that’s him ruled out. Dalton Highway is quite interesting on some of his form with Great White Shark and he’ll enjoy the ground but stall 27 makes his task even harder. Diocletian will like the ground and shapes as though he may get further but he’s run relatively poorly in all four starts over 2m or further so he can’t be backed with any confidence for all he’d be capable of running very well if he did stay.
True Destiny loves having his stamina tested and runs well in good staying handicaps but he’s difficult to win with and the ground has probably gone against him. Cleonte is well drawn and fairly handicapped but has been in poor form on his last three runs.
Perhaps most interesting of the rest is Gold Arch who could offer some value at a very big price. He’s not the easiest ride and can be awkward under pressure but he’s had a more consistent profile this season for William Knight, finishing in the first four in all five starts. On his first run at 2m he had to be hard ridden half a mile from home and he stayed on well into 2nd. It was a similar story next time out over the same trip at Ripon, a course that wouldn’t have suited his running style. On that occasion he ran on into a never nearer 4th. He then ran over 16.5f at Wolverhampton on his latest start and once again stayed on late behind two rivals who were more forwardly ridden. He made up a lot of ground again late that day to finish 3rd (True Destiny who is a shorter price here was just a short head in front) and although it could be argued that he’s better on all weather than turf (very possibly true) he’s yet to have his stamina fully tested on turf and may well enjoy the softer ground.
Verdict
Obviously this is a wide open race and it’s more a case of finding a few runners who have been underestimated by the bookies than looking for the most likely winner. Those at the head of the market look too skinny for a variety of reasons and there is definitely value to be found elsewhere.
With Lightly Squeeze not getting a run the shortlist is going to be:
Not So Sleepy
Just Hubert
Mondain
Gold Arch
Not So Sleepy is perhaps the most solid of the of the quartet having run well in this last year. He’s well drawn, stays the trip and comes here in form and fresh. It’s a concern that he’s 4lbs higher this time around but perhaps being a fresher horse this year will make the difference. He’s a solid each way at 12/1, especially with as many as 8 places on offer, but the suspicion has to be he’ll find a couple too good.
Just Hubert still looks fairly handicapped and whilst the ground is a slight concern he’ll absolutely adore this stamina test. There is a bit more risk involved compared to backing Not So Sleepy but he’s as big as 18/1 so he could be slightly more rewarding too.
Similar sentiments apply to Mondain. He’s technically well handicapped here and seems well suited to a real stamina test but he hasn’t really finished amongst well handicapped horses this season so could find this too competitive. There is also a small worry about the ground conditions suiting, for all he is proven on good to soft.
Now Gold Arch is riskier than the other three but at 50/1 (including with SkyBet who are offering 8 places) he looks the value play here. He can be a difficult ride, he needs reminders, riding along early and often carries his head high. However the further he goes, the stronger he gets and this long straight and extra distance could well be the making of him. He’s been a consistent horse this season in a visor so should be a decent each way bet despite not having yet registered a win on turf. It’s just a shame they don’t run the Cesarewitch at Wolverhampton as he’d be a near certainty there!
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Stratum_Cesarewitch.jpg320830samdarbyhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngsamdarby2020-10-09 12:35:592020-10-09 12:35:59Going For Gold In The Cesarewitch
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