The last four days have been annoying to watch, as my selections have been poor, or have been given poor rides, yesterday was a combination of things.
Stressfree should have won the opening race at York. He was beaten by a neck, but the jockey, Danny Tudhope, decided to be unprofessional and weigh in 1lb more than he should have, meaning the horse was carrying 1lb more weight. Considering the race was decided by small margins, over the course of 12f, that 1lb definitely would have translated in us getting the win. It makes it even worse because he has made 8st 8lbs in the last twelve months, yet he couldn't make 8st 13lbs yesterday…
James Sullivan gave Masekela a horrific ride. He couldn't have tried any harder to find the backside of other horses. No matter what he did, he just found more trouble, and this is why I have a dislike for flat racing so much, because of scenarios like this, where you don't get a run for your money.
Zoulu Chief 11/1 (0.5pt EW, 6pl, SkyBet) – York 2.10
There is a strong chance that Zoulu Chief is drawn on the wrong side of the track, another thing which is a pain when it comes to flat racing, but sometimes you've got to ignore the draw and what side of the track will be quicker, and simply go with the horse you think will win the race.
I don't understand why it has taken Heather Main and the owners of Zoulu Chief to run him over 5f. He is never going to be a 6f horse, he has far too much early speed to keep that going for 6f, but he can definitely do it over 5f and on a fast track like York where it is flat and suits front going horses, and that is why I think he can run a big race today off a tempting handicap mark.
I have always been a huge fan of this horse since he was a juvenile. He won for me at this track when he was a two-year-old when I tipped him up in a handicap over 6f. He was far too quick for them, nicked a good enough lead, and they couldn't catch him. In hindsight, the form of that race is very good as Starlust was second, and he is now a Group 1 winner.
He is drawn in Stall 18 of 18, so he will either be on the right side of the track, or he won't. I can't see him running to the other side of the track, and if they do believe the other side is better, the best he can do from that wide stall is go to the middle of the track. Either way, he will break from the stalls and try to make all, similar to a few in here, so it might set it up for the closers, but I just think he is the quickest horse in the race, and it doesn't matter what speed every other horse goes.
Princess Rascal 11/4 (2pt) – Salisbury 4.40
Stepping away from the main attraction that is York, I thought Princess Rascal had a superb chance at Salisbury.
Paul & Oliver Cole might have a half-decent filly on their hands with this horse. She was pitched into a deep enough race on her racecourse debut, in a Class 2 race at Ascot with £20k going to the winner. She finished last of six in that race, but that doesn't tell the full story. She was outpaced (race was over a mile), but stayed on powerfully inside in the final half furlong and was only 2L behind the winner, in a race which will definitely produce winners.
This filly is bred to be a half-decent, and she looks like she has plenty of ability. When her stamina kicked in towards the end of the race, she looked like a horse who could be very good, but when they decided to go up in trip. They haven't messed around and have gone for 10f straight off the bat, and I fully respect that, and I think that is the correct decision.
Club Class looked decent last time out, and Cloaks Of Gold has to be respected from a big yard and with a good pedigree, but I fully expect this new trip and stiff finish at Salisbury to transform Princess Rascal.
GambleAware