Friday was a fairly productive day after The Foxes was a winner and Caballo De Mar went close in the Chester Cup.
The Foxes was by far the best horse in the race, and when Oisin found a clear path, the race was over.
Caballo De Mar travelled like the winner for 99% of the race, but as soon as the favourite came close, I knew my fate, which came as a surprise, as I didn't think he'd outstay my horse.
Puppet Master 5/4 (2pt) – Lingfield 3.00
I think that the only horse that can beat Puppet Master in this race is Aidan O'Brien's other runner, but you'd like to think that Ryan would know which horse is better at this present moment, so surely Puppet Master is going to be good for this field, and 5/4 is actually good odds.
Horses with this type of odds aren't for everyone, but in a race which looks weak and there is one standout horse, I think that is deemed as value. I don't think Puppet Master is going to be a world beater, but he doesn't need to be to be winning this Derby Trial, as the others in the race will likely be handicappers or low-tier Class 1 horses based on what we've seen so far.
Based on his pedigree, being by Camelot, Puppet Master should enjoy the step up to the extended 11f. He was staying on last time out at Leopardstown over 10f on his seasonal reappearance, and chances are that he needed the run as well. The form of that race has been given a boost, as the runner-up, Lambourn, went on and won at Chester a couple of days ago.
Cathedral 2/1 (1pt) – Lingfield 3.35
In terms of ratings and weights, this race should not be a contest for Cathedral, who is 1lb inferior to three of her rivals, in terms of ratings, but at the weights she is carrying 12lbs less than most and 15lbs less than the top weight.
I know that horses get over inflated ratings from their juvenile seasons, and when they are a three-year-old and have to take on older horses, it doesn't always work out the way you think it would, but this field isn't a particularly strong field, even with Jabaara being second in a Group 1. I think a lot of these fillies aren't that great, and it won't take much for Cathedral to turn up and beat these, and I think it falls on whether she is racefit or not.
The pedigree gives me enthusiasm that there will be more to come from this lightly raced filly this year, as she is by Too Darn Hot, who was still a very good horse at three, and she is out of a Frankel mare.
GambleAware