WARWICK
4:00 TAYLOR WIMPEY AND PPS GROUP CONDITIONS STAKES (CLASS 3) (4yo+) 7f
WELSH EMPEROR 9-2 ~ The Tom Tate 9yo is exposed but on his day he is a solid Group horse. He has run some fine races in the Group 1 Prix De La Foret at Longchamp and the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury in the last two seasons. A reproduction of that form would make him very hard to beat. He has won twice before on his seasonal reappearance so the break shouldn’t be a concern and with his ideal ground conditions he should run a big race despite his Group penalty.
CALDRA 8-8 ~ Winner of the Group 3 Autumn Stakes as a 2yo the Silvester Kirk gelding is another soft ground performer. His 3yo career was delayed by injury but when he returned towards the back end of last season he still showed enough to suggest he retains all his old ability. As a 2yo he won a high class sales race over 6f at HQ so he has plenty enough pace to be effective over todays trip. He ran one of his best races last season off the back of a 10 month break so his 5 month absence shouldn’t concern any of his supporters.
DABBLERS RIDGE 8-8 ~ Barry Hills’ son of Indian Ridge has run some fine races in some competitive handicaps at Ascot. 3rd in the Buckingham and 1st in the International Stakes in the last two seasons but this versatile 6yo has struggled when stepped outside of handicap company. Todays conditions shouldn’t be a worry and he has run well fresh before but he’ll need a few others to disappoint if he’s to win.
PRINCE FOREVER 8-8 ~ Well fancied for the Lincoln but he ran no sort of race to finish well down the field. Red Moloney bounced back after a similarly poor run in the Winter Derby on his seasonal reappearance and it’s not out of the question to think Prince Forever could do the same. He had been off the track almost a year and was racing in a far bigger field than he had faced before. The trip was also an unknown so although disappointing he isn’t one to desert yet and he is still unexposed.
VANDERLIN 8-8 ~ Andrew Baldings 9yo is a previous winner of the Doncaster Mile and in the same season finished 5th in the Group 1 Hong Kong Champions Mile behind Bullish Luck. That was two years ago though and he didn’t show the same level of form last season. Although versatile his record on fast ground suggests the rain has dented his chances. However he has a fine record on his first run of the season 2233114 so he is sure to be thereabouts on his first run since finishing 7th in a German Group 1 last October. The yard is in excellent form as well so he is sure to run a decent race and he could pick up the pieces if the principles don’t fire on their seasonal debuts.
CONCLUSION
Great little conditions race for the track and a case can be made for all five participants. There doesn’t appear to be a lack of pace either so the form could turn out to be quite informative.
Dabblers Ridge is probably the first horse that can be ruled out given he may lack the class of his rivals.
Vanderlin isn’t getting any younger and he suspicion is he isn’t the horse he once was. The ground also appears to have gone against him so despite the excellent form of the yard he is taken on.
Prince Forever should be fitter after his run in the Lincoln and better suited by the conditions of todays race. However after disappointing last time out the percentage call is to oppose at the likely odds.
Welsh Emperor is the class act in the field but he wasn’t the most consistent performer last season. As he heads into the twilight of his career it could be that his trainer has been training him to peak in the better races at Newbury and Longchamp. His Group penalty is another hurdle as his rivals are talented in their own right and he is unlikely to get an easy lead out in front.
Caldra could be the horse to benefit if Welsh Emperor isn’t at his best and conditions are likely to be perfect for the 4yo gelding. He ran a fine race in a Group 3 at Salisbury on his return last season and with an injury free winter he is surely going to be a better horse this year.
1pt WIN – CALDRA @ 3/1
RESULT
CALDRA n/r = N/A
4:00 TAYLOR WIMPEY AND PPS GROUP CONDITIONS STAKES (CLASS 3) (4yo+) 7f
WELSH EMPEROR 9-
CALDRA 8-
DABBLERS RIDGE 8-
PRINCE FOREVER 8-
VANDERLIN 8-
CONCLUSION
Great little conditions race for the track and a case can be made for all five participants. There doesn’t appear to be a lack of pace either so the form could turn out to be quite informative.
Dabblers Ridge is probably the first horse that can be ruled out given he may lack the class of his rivals.
Vanderlin isn’t getting any younger and he suspicion is he isn’t the horse he once was. The ground also appears to have gone against him so despite the excellent form of the yard he is taken on.
Prince Forever should be fitter after his run in the Lincoln and better suited by the conditions of todays race. However after disappointing last time out the percentage call is to oppose at the likely odds.
Welsh Emperor is the class act in the field but he wasn’t the most consistent performer last season. As he heads into the twilight of his career it could be that his trainer has been training him to peak in the better races at Newbury and Longchamp. His Group penalty is another hurdle as his rivals are talented in their own right and he is unlikely to get an easy lead out in front.
Caldra could be the horse to benefit if Welsh Emperor isn’t at his best and conditions are likely to be perfect for the 4yo gelding. He ran a fine race in a Group 3 at Salisbury on his return last season and with an injury free winter he is surely going to be a better horse this year.
1pt WIN – CALDRA @ 3/1
RESULT
CALDRA n/r = N/A
