Tag Archive for: Redcar

Tix Picks, Tuesday 05/11/24

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No post yesterday (Monday), sorry, I was called away to deal with a family matter at 0730 that ended up taking most of the day to resolve, but we go again now for Tuesday, where the UK placepots can be played via Tix at Newcastle, Redcar, Sedgefield and Warwick.

But, what is Tix?

A video explainer can be found here.

You need a tote account to use Tix. Sign up for one here >

A few more pointers can be found in these articles:

https://www.geegeez.co.uk/exotic-betting-multi-race-bets-part-1/

https://www.geegeez.co.uk/exotic-betting-multi-race-bets-part-2/

Today's pools

Today's UK meetings, pools and minimum guarantees are as follows...

The going is expected to be soft at Redcar, let's head there for six races beginning with...

Race 1 @ 12.15, an 11-runner, Class 5, 2yo Novice Stakes over 7f...

Four of this eleven have yet to race so far and of those who have, Binraheer's course and distance win a month ago on soft ground is the highlight and he drops in class today. Wizard of Odds also won on his last Turf run, landing a maiden on good ground at Down Royal back in July, whilst Magellan Cloud drops back a furlong and is down three classes after a decent effort to finish third at York on soft ground 24 days ago.

Of the newcomers, Lord Capulet is the most interesting, he's a half brother to Rosallion, a dual Group 1 winner this summer and his dam is an unraced sister to Group 2 winner Ostilio. He holds an entry to next year's Irish 2000 Guineas and I think I'll take (6) Lord Capulet here along with (1) Binraheer and (7) Magellan Cloud from the opener.

Race 2 @ 12.50, an 8-runner, Class 5, 2yo Nursery over 1m...

Say What You See absolutely bolted up on his nursery debut at Newcastle four days ago, coming home eight lengths clear and is probably well in at the weights here despite a 6lbs penalty (he'll go up by more, I think), whilst Law Degree has finished 3313 in his last four outings, including a soft ground win at Ripon in September and a very good third last out at Doncaster two classes higher than today.

Al Waseela could only manage 6th of 10 at Newcastle after being raised 6lbs for a win at Yarmouth which followed 2 narrow defeats (both by a neck) as a runner-up at Chelmsford and Leicester. She clearly has some ability, but a mark of 64 might be beyond her right now and my shortlist is completed by Aye Up Lass who ran really well when facing soft ground for the first time a fortnight ago, staying on to finish 3rd of 9, less than two lengths off the pace.

(2) Law Degree has won two of four and placed once on soft ground, so he's in with (1) Say What You See after that easy win LTO and with Al Waseela looking anchored by the assessor, I'll add (4) Aye Up Lass to the other two picks.

Race 3 @ 1.25, a 7-runner, Class 5, 3yo+ Handicap over 1m6f...

King's Scholar has looked like needing further for a while and was a ready winner by over 4 lengths when upped to 1m4f at Catterick (soft) last time out. He seemed to have plenty left and should handle the extra quarter mile here no problem as he drops in class. Gastronomy was third, but possibly found 2m½f a bit much at Newcastle last time out and will prefer the switch back to turf, where he has a win (here over course and distance) and two places from his last four runs, all at today's trip.

Bottom-weight Red Derek has made the frame in each of his last two outings and loves soft (or worse) ground finishing 3271223 on his last seven on soft/heavy ground. He doesn't win often (2/45!) and is up in class, but will love the going and receivers bundles of weight all round. Kitsune Power drops in class here and was 3rd of 8 at Ayr recently on his last turf run two classes higher than today and di win over today's trip at Class 4 in the summer.

Our pace/draw heat map suggests a potentially falsely run race which will suit Kitsune Power, Gastronomy and King's Scholar from my shortlist...

...and all four show well on Instant Expert...

...but with reservations over Gastronomy on soft ground, I'm taking (2) Kitsune Power, (3) King's Scholar & (7) Red Derek here.

Race 4 @ 2.00, an 8-runner, Class 3, 3yo+ Handicap over 1m2f...

On form alone, I'm drawn initially towards Liberty Coach, who is 112 in his last three and he has a 3lbs weight allowance as a 3yo, as does Deboras Dream who had finished in the first three home in 8 of his 11 starts (3 wins) before only managing 5th of 8 over a mile here last time out and I fear the step up to 1m2f won't help today.

Loyal Touch never got involved on heavy ground at Nottingham three weeks ago, but did win at Pontefract over this trip on his penultimate outing, whilst both Real Terms and Poets Dawn were recently runners-up. Low draws do well here so that's good news for Debora's Dream, Have Secret and Liberty Coach, whilst those willing to get on with things do get rewarded, so that's a positive for Debora's Dream, Liberty Coach and Poet's Dawn with our pace/draw heat map looking like this...

Instant Expert points to Loyal Touch, Liberty Coach, Bust A Move and Poet's Dawn having conditions in their favour

...so I'm definitely with (5) Liberty Coach here and I think I'll supplement the pick with (2) Debora's Dream & (8) Poet's Dawn in what looks a pretty open race.

Race 5 @ 2.34, a 10-runner, Class 6, 3yo+ Handicap over 6f...

No LTO winners here, but Belsito, Thornaby Pearl, White Umbrella and Blue Jay Way all finished in the first three home. As you'd expect over 6f, those on the front end do well here, highlighting the chances of...

...whilst these draw stats...

...could be good news for...

...whilst Instant Expert says...

...giving me on countback (2) Eldeyaar, (3) Belsito and (4) Thornaby Pearl in another race where you could make a case for three or four more.

Race 6 @ 3.09, a 9-runner, Class 5, 3yo+ Handicap over 7f...

Again, none of these managed to win last time out, but fast-finisher 3yo Pals Batallion won two starts ago, whilst Red Mirage, Temper Trap and Ey Up It's Jazz all had top-three finishes last time.

Temper Trap has been running consistently well and in the last three months has finished 2221142 with wins on both soft and heavy ground. Bottom weight Ey Up It's Jazz hasn't been quite as successful, but has still made the frame five times in the same timeframe with results reading 2428232. Both of these in-form runners drop in class here, as does top weight Red Mirage and Temper trap is the only previous course and distance winner in the pack.

Pals Batallion has the pick of the draw in stall 1, but Ey Up It's Jazz and Red Mirage are the likely pace-setters

...with the former having the best form under these conditions over the last two years..

I've got to take both (7) Temper Trap and (9) Ey Up It's Jazz here and I've a slight preference for (1) Red Mirage over Pals Batallion.

*

All of which gives me...

Leg 1: (1) Binraheer, (6) Lord Capulet & (7) Magellan Cloud

Leg 2: (1) Say What You See, (2) Law Degree & (4) Aye Up Lass

Leg 3: (2) Kitsune Power, (3) King's Scholar & (7) Red Derek

Leg 4: (2) Debora's Dream, (5) Liberty Coach & (8) Poet's Dawn

Leg 5: (2) Eldeyaar, (3) Belsito and (4) Thornaby Pearl

Leg 6: (1) Red Mirage, (7) Temper Trap & (9) Ey Up It's Jazz

...and here's how I'd play them, whilst trying to stay close to a nominal £20 total stake...



Good Luck!
Chris

Waterlogging claims Redcar action

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Monday’s fixture at Redcar has been called off due to a waterlogged track.

The venue was due to stage a seven-race card but significant rain overnight left clerk of the course Jonjo Sanderson with no option but to abandon.

He said: “The forecast changed yesterday afternoon and while we were expecting rain, it changed from a couple of millimetres to a significant amount overnight.

“We’ve had seven millimetres since 1am and it is still raining now with probably another 7mm forecast.

“It’s just been so wet all winter that it’s taken relatively little rain to push us over.”

Wednesday’s card at Nottingham, which was due to feature the Listed Further Flight Stakes, has also been called off.

Officials inspected the track at 8am on Monday but parts of the course remain unraceable following further overnight rain, with little prospect of sufficient improvement ahead of racing.

Hayley Turner managing to smile after dramatic Storm Babet rescue

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Hayley Turner made it safely to Ascot for Qipco British Champions Day after requiring a dramatic rescue from her flooded car on Friday.

The record-breaking rider is currently hunting down her 1,000th career victory and was hoping to arrive in Berkshire on 999 winners with a fancied ride on Docklands in the closing Balmoral Handicap.

Turner was expecting to ride Run Zarak Run at Redcar on Friday – but never made it to the north-east track after having to place an emergency call when her car was swamped in the midst of Storm Babet.

While Turner emerged unscathed, Run Zarak Run duly romped home under replacement PJ McDonald to add to her woes.

She told ITV Racing: “My dream was nearly in place, but I had a bit of an incident yesterday. Basically my car is floating down the Great North Road somewhere on my way to Redcar.

“I had to call 999 and get the fireman to come and rescue me – I actually got a fireman’s lift out of my car window!

“The horse then won about 15 lengths so a very frustrating day. I’m car-less and win-less as well.”

Dragon Leader on the hunt for another big pay day at Redcar

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Dragon Leader has already proven to be a real money-spinner this season and will be chasing more sales race riches in the William Hill Two Year Old Trophy at Redcar.

Following a Salisbury double, the Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds-owned juvenile picked up just under £150,000 for winning a similar contest at York in August.

Clive Cox’s son of El Kabeir then had to settle for second best behind Room Service in a Weatherbys-backed event at Doncaster, but still collected almost £60,000 for his efforts that day.

With the weights for Saturday’s Listed-class race again framed around auction ring activities, the bargain buy is once more favoured by conditions.

Dragon Leader won by a wide margin at York
Dragon Leader won by a wide margin at York (Nick Robson/PA)

Sam Hoskins, racing manager for Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds, said: “We’re really looking forward to seeing him run again and it’s a perfect fit in terms of where he sits in the weights because of his sire’s median price.

“The ground was just a bit too soft for him at Doncaster but he still ran a very game race to finish second and it was another good day all round. Hopefully, it will be a little quicker at Redcar on Saturday, as that will suit him much better.

“He doesn’t owe us anything and we’re obviously aware of the fact that it’s the end of a relatively busy first season for him.

“But Clive says he’s going well at home and showing no signs of being over the top, so fingers crossed he holds his form.

“It’s quite nerve-wracking being odds-on for such a valuable race, but we’ve got 15 of his owners going up to Redcar and it promises to be another great day out.”

There is always the temptation for syndicate owners to cash in on a star juvenile, but Dragon Leader’s 16 patrons appear to be in it for the long haul.

“There were quite a few enquiries about him after his win at York but his syndicate are in it for the sport and a bit of fun, so it would have taken an exceptional offer to tempt anyone,” added Hoskins.

“He’s a horse that’s got plenty of scope and we’re all very excited about where he could take us again next season.”

Karl Burke’s Kylian looked the main danger but was taken out on Friday morning when he was found to be lame.

Richard Fahey’s Flaccianello was two and a half lengths adrift of Dragon Leader when fifth at Doncaster last month but has since secured her third success in an Ayr nursery and is the second choice of the bookmakers.

Ground key to autumn campaign for Dragon Leader

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Connections of Dragon Leader were left feeling proud of his valiant second in the Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes at Doncaster last week.

Trained by Clive Cox, the son of El Kabeir headed to the St Leger meeting with an unbeaten record and lofty reputation to maintain having scooped a valuable prize at York’s Ebor meeting last month.

Encountering soft ground for the first time, Dragon Leader failed to pick up with his usual zest and had to battle for a place on the podium as Kevin Ryan’s Room Service took home the spoils.

However, despite tasting defeat for the first time, he added just over £59,000 to the £147,540 he collected on the Knavesmire and Sam Hoskins, racing manager for owner Kennett Valley Thoroughbreds, is confident there are more big days to come.

He said: “We were really proud of him. The ground was all wrong but we kind of had to run off that weight.

“It wasn’t for him and he didn’t enjoy it, but he was so game at the end getting up for second, which meant a lot for the syndicate because the prize-money is huge. He earnt more there than the Mill Reef winner will win on Saturday.

“He’s really game and he does want the quicker ground and he just couldn’t quicken off that ground at Doncaster. However, it was still a really good run and there’s plenty to look forward to in the future.”

The future could include another venture north for Redcar’s William Hill Two Year Old Trophy on October 7.

The Listed event, where Dragon Leader would again carry a featherweight, appears the preferred option. But with the potential for soft appearing in the going description, connections will bide their time before confirming their next move.

“We’ll have to see how he is and Clive says he’s fine, but he had his first hard race last week,” continued Hoskins.

“The Redcar race would make a lot of sense for him because he would have a low weight in that as well, but again the ground would be a major question mark potentially. If it came up soft, I’m not sure we will go again in the ground.

“There is also a very valuable race up at York (British EBF £100,000 Final, October 13) and other Pattern races, but the horse will tell Clive if he’s ready and then Clive will tell us!

“If he doesn’t run again this season he owes us nothing, but if the ground came up dry at Redcar, that race would make a lot of sense.”

Curragh forced to abandon Sunday’s action

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Sunday’s meeting at the Curragh failed to survive an early morning inspection, with racing abandoned due to areas of waterlogging at the track.

Racing went ahead at the Kildare venue on Saturday with Savethelastdance’s Irish Oaks win the highlight, but persistent heavy rainfall began midway through the card and continued throughout the evening which brought about Sunday’s 7.30am check on conditions.

The highlight of Sunday’s card was set to be the Group Two Romanised Minstrel Stakes, where Joseph O’Brien’s Jumbly and Dermot Weld’s Irish 1,000 Guineas fourth Tarawa were disputing favouritism, but with areas of the track found to be unfit for racing and further rain forecast, officials were left with no option but to abandon the meeting.

Brendan Sheridan, IHRB clerk of the course said: “We have had 23 millimetres of rain since around 4pm yesterday and parts of the track are waterlogged and unfit for racing.

“It is currently still raining and having spoken with Met Éireann this morning, they are forecasting a further 5-10mm of rain today so unfortunately, we have been left with no option but to cancel the fixture today.”

The Minstrel Stakes has been rescheduled for Thursday’s evening card at Leopardstown, with the cancelled Curragh card moved to August 13.

In a series of calendar changes, the Group Three Rathbride Fillies Stakes has been moved to Gowran next Saturday, with the Listed Hurry Harriet Fillies Stakes due to be run at Gowran on August 16 now added to the switched Curragh meeting.

Racing at Redcar was called off on Sunday
Racing at Redcar was called off on Sunday (Richard Sellers/PA)

Heavy rainfall has also seen the abandonment of Sunday’s Flat action at Redcar, with the track failing to pass an 8am precautionary inspection.

A tweet from the racecourse’s twitter account said: “Unfortunately today’s race meeting has been abandoned due to significant rainfall overnight and more expected today.

“We are desperately disappointed, Circus Family Fun Day is one of the family highlights of our season, and a key part of the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival.”

Monday’s jumps card at Cartmel has also been cancelled following a midday inspection on Sunday, with the track waterlogged after 15mm of rain overnight and further rain expected.