Pin Money: Derby winner has challenge in Twice Over
HENRY Cecil started his training career with Wollow's triumph in the 1976 running of the Coral Eclipse Stakes and his underrated four-year-old TWICE OVER could surprise Derby winner Sea The Stars and St Leger winner Conduit in this year's running of the valuable race at Sandown on Saturday.
The Warren Place maestro has always held a high opinion of Khalid Abdullah's Observatory colt and though he has not won this season he has run three sound races in defeat. In the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury he made virtually all the running fading only in the closing stages to finish third to Virtual and Alexandros. Once again at Royal Ascot he looked the likely winner of the Price Of Wales's Stakes once he took up the running the straight and though Vision D'Etat and company gunned him down but he was beaten just on a length in fourth place. Different tactics will be employed on this occasion with Tommy Queally holding him up longer and at his likely odds he represents a knocking each-way bet against the principals. Three-year-olds do not boast a great record in this race and though the Derby winner Sea The Stars will head the market his supporters may have to count their losses. Sir Michael Stoute's St Leger winner Conduit went on to take the Breeders Cup Turf last autumn and obviously a win over a mile and a quarter would enhance the Ballymacoll Stud's appeal as a stallion.
It was to sharpen him up that the canny Sir Michael Stoute ran him in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes over this course and distance.
He failed by only a nose to concede 7lbs to Luca Cumani's Cima de Triomphe and should be able to turn the tables on that horse. However they may all have to give best to Twice Over and King Henry!
ON the same card Jane Chapple-Hyam's JUDGETHEMOMENT will be taking a step up the ladder as he goes for the two mile Listed Esher Stakes.
After winning for us at Royal Ascot he was due to run in the Northumberland Plate under his 5lb penalty but sadly the heavens opened and he was withdrawn because of unsuitable ground.
He looks an absolute picture and could continue his winning ways with the Melbourne Cup at the back of his highly capable Australian trainer's mind.
While on the Eclipse day card, I like the look of Nick Littmoden's GROUP THERAPY in the Gr 3 Coral Charge that opens proceedings.
A brilliant juvenile, he lost his way last season but indicated that he was recapturing his sparkle with a fine effort at Epsom during the Derby meeting.
Badly drawn, he had to be tucked in behind the pacesetters without much chance of finding an opening. His progress in the closing stages to be fifth was eye-catching and granted a better draw on this occasion he can justify his trainer's decision to let him take his chance at this elevated level.
William Jarvis has always liked CLERK'S CHOICE, who could prove the answer to the Charles Leahy Memorial Handicap that concludes the eclipse meeting. Though he started at 20-1 when winning last time out he had been working well and should continue his winning ways at the expense of Thin Red Line and Nbhan.
Note that he is also entered in the bet365 Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap at Haydock.
Up at the popular northern course go with Henry Cecil’s Flame Of Gibraltar in the Lancashire Oaks.
After winning at Lingfield, she was far from disgraced in finishing second to Flying Cloud in the Ribblesdale Stakes and should be backed to get back on the winning trail.
THIS afternoon Chapple-Hyam could be on the mark with her lightly raced but progressive IASIA in the bet365 Best Odds Handicap at Yarmouth.
The Greek bred filly was given plenty of time to come to herself last year but quickly found her way into the winner’s circle on her debut at Kempton.
Though still slightly on the backward side she coasted home a length and three quarters ahead of Tagula Night.
As she was working so well this spring thoughts of going to the continent for the German 1000 Guineas were high on the agenda though she could finish only fifth to Charlotte Point in a handicap at Goodwood.
Since then she has managed to avoid racecourse action by coming into season very time she has been declared at the five day stage so her connections will be hoping that this is not the case once again.
Her work suggests she can take advantage of what time will show to be a favourable handicap mark before seeking to earn herself some invaluable black type.
HENRY Cecil is the HQ trainer to follow at Sandown on Friday as he has sound prospects of landing a double with JACK DAWKINS in the Taylor Wessing Handicap and the fitter TRANQUIL TIGER should have the measure of stable companion Kandahar Run in the Listed Gala Stakes.
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Weather for Newmarket
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
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