REDCAR

3:50 TOTESPORT BETXTRA ZETLAND GOLD CUP (HERITAGE HANDICAP) (CLASS 2) (3yo+,0-105) 1m2f

SMART ENOUGH 9-10 ~ Progressive 3yo handicapper two seasons ago and after some fine efforts in some competitive handicaps he started favourite for the Cambridgeshire. However he didn’t appear to stay 9 furlongs when in his pomp so todays trip is a big concern. He has mostly been racing in Listed and Conditions races since and he has struggled. The drop into handicap company might help but he looks plenty high enough in the weights and he isn’t going to get an easy lead. Plenty of reasons to take him on in todays race.

DOCOFTHEBAY 9-10 ~ Progressive 3yo handicapper last season and ran an eye catching race in the Cambridgeshire to stay on from last to 2nd behind Pipedreamer. Yet to run over further than 9 furlongs but the way he stayed on in the Cambridgeshire suggests it should be well within his compass. Jamie Osbournes colt was extremely consistent last season and only finished outside the first three when running on unsuitable soft ground into a Group 3. He made an encouraging reappearance when a slowly run race at York was never going to suit the hold up performer but he was making headway before having no room inside the final furlong. Back into handicap company today his 5lbs penalty of finishing 2nd in the Cambridgeshire doesn’t look insurmountable. However he is only a small horse and lumping around 9-10 may prove too much but apart from that everything looks to be in his favour and he has to be high on any shortlist.

GRAND PASSION 9-9 ~ Been racing on the all weather this winter but he has already proved he can be equally effective on turf. He finished 5th in the Winter Derby and wasn’t beaten far in a competitive Kempton Listed event last time out. He’s in decent nick and todays fast ground won’t hold any fears for the Grand Lodge gelding. It is two years since he has been seen in handicap company though and he finished last of 16 in the Listed Wolferton Handicap. However that run was too bad to be true so is probably best forgiven and he had shown he is capable of running well in handicaps off a mark in the hundreds, abet four years ago. The horse has kept his form remarkably well though and he has a chance of finishing in the places if running up to his form.

RE BAROLO 9-7 ~ Multiple winner in Italy and his 2nd in a Listed event behind the useful Miles Gloriosus is particularly eye catching considering how well that rival ran in the Group 1 Premio Vittorio di Capua behind Linngari. He made his British debut on the all weather where after a couple of runs to get his eye in the horse won a valuable handicap, the Lincoln Trial Stakes. Something was amiss at Doncaster next time but whatever it was the horse recovered to win at Great Leighs. A decent gallop ensured that the form should hold up and Re Barolo won in good fashion staying on well over todays trip. He was equally effective on turf as on the all weather when in Italy so the return to turf shouldn’t be a concern. He is only 1lb higher than when winning his handicap on the all weather and he should run a good race for trainer who is going places.

MONTE ALTO 9-6 ~ Progressive individual for Luca Cumani last season and he finished 6th in the Cambridgeshire on his last start of the season. So he has ground to find with the likes of Docofthebay and Yarqus but as Johnny Murtagh put up 3lbs over weight at Newmarket there is a chance that at todays weights he might reverse the form with both of those rivals. However this is his seasonal reappearance and he is sure to be fitter for the run. He has a leading chance on form but he could find a couple of sharper horses too good at the finish.

SNOQUALMIE BOY 9-4 ~ Winner of the Listed Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot two years ago but on his form of last season he looks up against it. His best effort came when finishing 4th in a competitive Goodwood handicap but he was comfortably outpaced by the principles. He has been dropping down the handicap but his reappearance at Great Leighs didn’t hold out but hope that the horse will be able to take advantage of his new mark. He was well backed though on his debut for his new yard so chances that they might bring the horse back to his best but he couldn’t be backed with any confidence in todays tougher race.

FIRST BUDDY 9-4 ~ Showed improved form since he has left William Haggas to go jumping for Alan Swinbank. His maiden hurdle win at Bangor was seriously impressive and it was no disgrace to be well beaten by the likes of Binocular and Celestrial Halo at Aintree in the Grade 1 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle. Sandwiched in between those efforts was a fine run in a Doncaster handicap when doing to best of those who raced off the pace. More recently though the gelding has laughed at the opposition, and the handicapper, in two average handicaps at Haydock and at Musselburgh, winning by a combined total of 14 lengths. The handicapper has reacted by raising the 4yo 12lbs after his last win and in this tougher company he faces a tough task in trying to rack up the hat-trick. Although given the ease of both his victories there is the chance he may still be well handicapped but he won’t be able to dictate the pace in todays race and against tougher opposition he can be taken on.

HEAVENS KNOWS 9-2 ~ Much better performer with cut in the ground so the rain moving north can’t come quick enough for connections. On fast ground he can be readily taken on but if the rain comes he would have to enter calculations. He was gelding at the end of last season and at Nottingham on his second run back he stayed on well from the back in a race run at a steady pace. That was an eye catching effort in a competitive handicap and as todays race should be run at a good gallop the race is likely to be run to suit. It can’t be stressed enough though that without the rain she has little chance.

SMART INSTINCT 9-1 ~ Consistent but the handicapper looks to have the Richard Fahey gelding right where he wants him. He ran several encouraging races as a 3yo and failed to turn those decent efforts into victories and after an encouraging reappearance it has to be questioned as to whether he can finally turn that promise into a visit to the winners enclosure. Given his relatively short price in this competitive race he can be taken on given his current profile.

CAPABLE GUEST 8-12 ~ Trained by Mick Channon so shocking performances are mixed in with good efforts leading to a minefield for form readers. The 6yo is thoroughly exposed after a half century of runs and so it will require improvement from the gelding to win as he is 5lbs higher than his highest career winning mark. The horse isn’t exposed over the trip however having only previously tackled it twice but he hasn’t appeared to stay on either occasion. The horses profile is one to leave well alone in todays competitive handicap.

FRAGRANCY 8-12 ~ Michael Jarvis trained filly who has only finished outside the first three twice after ten career starts. However both of those efforts came over 9f and the filly didn’t appear to stay on either occasion. Todays extra furlong raises serious doubts about her chances of staying the trip and she doesn’t look particularly well handicapped. Her reappearance was encouraging enough but with big doubts about the trip she can be taken on at her short price.

JEWELLED DAGGER 8-11 ~ Beaten in a seller at the beginning of last season but he progressed well to finish the season with a win in a York handicap off a mark of 78. The handicapper hit him with a 9lbs hike for that three length win but he returned this season in fine fettle proving he can perform on his new mark. A close 2nd behind Ballinteni over todays trip before a career best effort behind Laa Rayb proved he is in the form of his life. Todays race is tougher and there are plenty of rivals that equally like to dictate the pace so he is likely to be involved in an early speed duel. That is likely to set the race up for the hold up performers but he is sure to run his race despite probably not being just good enough.

YARQUS 8-11 ~ Clive Brittains son of Diktat is on a 27 race losing run that stretches back more than two years. However in the meantime he has run some fine races in a number of competitive handicaps. None more impressive than the geldings 4th in last years Cambridgeshire and a reproduction of that form would give the horse a great chance of finishing in the first three. The horse was given a break after that effort and wasn’t seen again till this year where he was switched to the all weather. He ran several encouraging races and the first time blinkers definitely allowed the horse to show improved form on the surface when 2nd over an inadequate 7f. Todays switch back to the turf will suit and if first time cheekpieces work as well as first time blinkers then he’ll run a massive race.

FORT CHURCHILL 8-8 ~ Yet to win in a higher grade than a 0-80 handicap and so it wasn’t a surprise to see the step down in class bring around improved form at Goodwood last season. He easily won a class 4 handicap and the handicapper responded with a 9lbs penalty which has forced the 7yo into racing in a higher grade. He has regularly been outclassed in some competitive handicaps and a similar scenario is extremely likely. This is also his first visit to a racecourse in 7 months so he is sure to be lacking in race fitness. Not hard to pass over in todays race and he is the rag in the field.

CONCLUSION

The rain doesn’t look like it will come for Heaven Knows so the conditions are likely to remain very quick. The race is also full of plenty of pace so more than likely the victory will go the way of one of the hold up performers.
Cambridgeshire form is well represented with Docofthebay, Monte Alto and Yarqus. The favourite Monte Alto is clearly talented but he will need to improve to win today and he is sure to be better for todays run. As a result he has to be taken on at his cramped odds especially as he has ground to find on Cambridgeshire form with both Docofthebay and Yarqus. As for Docofthebay he looks to have everything in his favour apart from the query that 9-10 may prove too much for the horse to carry given his stature. However that is a relatively minor worry and as such a consistent performer his place in the first three looks to be set in stone. Yarqus also has to be respected on his return to turf and in first time cheekpieces. He is too big a price to ignore given his place form in some completive handicaps last season.
Re Barolo is an interesting runner given his authoritative victory at Great Leighs last time out but on a line though the 2nd he probably didn’t run too different to when he won the Lincoln Trial Stakes. That wasn’t a great renewal of that valuable handicap so more is needed today now stepped up in class on turf. Another horse who has been running on the all weather is Grand Passion who has proven to be equally effective on both surfaces. His 5th in the Group 3 Winter Derby and subsequent 6th in a hot Listed event puts him in with a serious chance of at least running into a place. He hasn’t been seen in handicap company for a while but he is in fine form and will have the race run to suit.

0.5pt EACH WAY – YARQUS @ 25/1
0.5pt EACH WAY – GRAND PASSION @ 33/1
1pt EACH WAY – DOCOFTHEBAY @ 8/1

RESULT

YARQUS 8th = -1pt
GRAND PASSION 11th = -1pt
DOCOFTHEBAY 4th = -2pts