Daily Racing Thread Saturday 4th. July 2020

Saturday's Meetings

Epsom Downs
Flat 7 Races 1:50-5:35p.m.
The Oaks Off @ 3:40p.m.
The Derby Off @ 4:55p.m.
Haydock
Flat 9 Races 12:00-4:25p.m.
Naas
Flat 8 Races 2:00-5:45p.m.
Bellewstown
N/H 7 Races 2:45-6:05p.m.
Chelmsford(E)
A/W 9 Races 4:35-8:40p.m.
Yarmouth(E)
Flat 8 Races 5:20-8:55p.m.

Racecards
At The Races
Racing Post
Sporting Life

Good Luck

 

Love @6/5 The Oaks
Russian Emperor @13/2 The Derby

 

After ploughing through 79 O’Brien horses earlier in the year. We took the 50/1 on offer for Vatican City (small ew bet).Fingers crossed he stays the distance.

 

Morning

Epsom

1.50-Modern News @ 5-2..Win
2.25-Oh This Is Us @ 15-2..Each/Way

 

There are normally about three races a year that I bother with at Epsom and one of them has already been run elsewhere.

There is certainly no Pinatubo in the opening Woodcote Stakes and the short-priced Safe Voyage looks ripe to be beaten in the Surrey Stakes given that four of its nine career wins were at Haydock and two on the Newcastle A/W – hardly the undulations of Epsom. Desert Icon looks thrown in for the big handicap, if he has improved 6lb for stealing a weak five-runner race and he takes to this track.

I fully expect Cloak Of Spirits will end the unbeaten record of Fooraat now that I desert her as her 1000 Guineas runner-up spot subsequently looks moderate form, and what I won at HQ I gave the bookies back at Ascot.

When she won the 1000 Guineas with great authority, Love looked the obvious one to beat in the Oaks and I think that is still the case. Whilst she is a Classic winner, the form of that race has subsequently been devalued but she was a Group 1 winner as a juvenile and all she could do was win well. Frankly Darling won what is usually the Oaks consolation race as a warm-up and is clearly the only really credible opponent, having beaten three of these at Ascot. We will know if she has improved past Love by around quarter to four.

As usual before the race, this is the worst Derby in living memory because there is no obvious big name and people in racing generally have very short memories.

Classic winner Kameko does have a question mark against his stamina and connections presumably will not want any more rain. It is reasonable to assume that at least one of the Ballydoyle six will be making sure that they do not hang around, so how Oisin Murphy decides to ride it will be decisive (do not do a Greville Starkey).

The talking horse Mogul warmed up behind Pyledriver and Mohican Heights in the Ascot Derby, emptying in the final furlong, and is the choice of Ryan Moore, which has hardly been a reliable indicator in recent times. Mohican Heights would be my idea of an each-way that will give followers a good run for their money but is overlooked by the bookies/punters because of where he resides.

Curiously Moore has passed up Royal Ascot winner Russian Emperor, who does have to go an extra two furlongs here but is no forlorn hope. The other big hope for Ireland is staying-on Irish Guineas runner-up Vatican City, another with a stamina question mark but a strong form claim on only his fourth start.

If English King were trained by Sir Michael Stoute or John Gosden, nobody would be in such a hurry to crab his impressive win in the Lingfield Derby Trial. The course should be no problem and the owner has booked an in-form experienced jockey, the reason that he may start favourite, putting a little more pressure on Ed Walker. He seems the most likely option for an impressive winner from what we have seen on the racecourse. Last year’s Lingfield winner did the double but how often has it happened back-to-back?

I hope that whoever wins puts up a noteworthy performance so that we can look forward to a middle distance Classic three year old taking on the older horses. If we wind up with a blanket covering the first half dozen, it is probably another poor renewal.

 

Overcast morning for the Derby.
I won’t be going this year but as I live close enough I went for a run around the course last night. It was drying out fast in the stuff breeze.

the fences that they have put up to keep people out are fairly pathetic so if anyone fancies going on to the downs today you will be able to see the race.

I managed to get 66/1 antepost on English King but I think Russian Emperor has the better chance, with the Ryan Moore horse a big threat.

Frankly Darling wins the Oaks

 

Lovely part of the world. I used to live in Esher, loved going to Epsom for the Oaks/Derby

 

Not worried about Kameko getting home - the last 5 furlongs is nearly all downhill

 

Today's bets:

Oaks - I have backed Love 5/4 win
Derby - I have backed Vatican city 11/1 each way 4 places in the hope he stays. Each way saver on Emissary 28/1 each way 4 places

Good luck all.

 

I would love Kameko to win as a 2000g winner but just can not for the life of me see him staying. Looked to be at the end of his run at HQ.
I have Vatican City antepost but unsure if he stays.
Today I am on English King, proven at trip...see if he is good enough.

 

Very quite on here today..

The way my luck is going every pick of mine will flop but I have decided
to go for Max Vega in the Derby ew and Russian Emperor.

In the oaks it has to be Frankly Darling for me at least.

Good luck to all...be lucky

 

Gents.
So, what to make of this?
( And no Chester winners for me to talk up.....)
I've plumped for a Heffernan double.
3.40 Ennystimon
4.55 Russian Emperor

Up at Haydock, I cannot resist a small each way go on this one:
12.30 Birkenhead

Enjoy your Super Saturday and stay safe.

Si.

 

Russian Emperor for me in the Derby, the step up in trip should help. Doesn't look like the classiest renewal.

 

Mogul is trading at very attractive prices. Ryan Moore doesn’t always get it right, but he’s picked the horse, and O’Brien seems adamant he’s their top contender and will come on plenty for his run at Ascot. Worth a small e/w I think.

Haven’t decided whether to also back Kamenko yet. Might see how the race pans out, then either keep schtum or claim to have been on.

 

I'm with the Russian Emperor backers for the Derby, but have hedged with the Skybet money back in cash if your horse is 2nd, 3rd or 4th on English King.

 

In the Oaks there's no value in the front 2, so I've just had a little of the 13/2 on Ennistymon for a bit of interest.

 

In the Epsom 2.25pm race Sage Voyage looks a very worthy favourite. Surely wins this....

 

Afternnoon all , ( even qm) Kryptos 2 40 hay , unbeaten on the jockey on today 7/1 , surely be bang there !
Voi at yarmouth , favourite course , softer the better , only reservation is it’s usually third run back after a break , this is second , but josephine keeps the faith ! 3/1
Derby , no opinion , but having a small ew on the extra with the leger types Worthily and Gold Wand

good luck all ( even qm)

 

Boooommm!