NOTTINGHAM
3:40 WEATHERBYS BANK "FURTHER FLIGHT" STAKES (LISTED RACE) (CLASS 1) (4yo+) 1m6f
ASHMOLIAN 9-0 ~ Finished 8/10 in a banded race last year and there is a chance he could get lapped.
FRANK SONATA 9-0 ~ Finest effort probably came in a hot Listed race at the Curragh where the gelding beat Scorpion as the front two pulled well clear of the field. That puts him in with a leading chance in this company but that was 18 months ago and the horse hasn’t seen a racecourse in the intervening period. If the horse is back to the form he showed when winning this race in 2006 and if fit to do himself justice then he comes into the race as a major player.
HAWKRIDGE PRINCE 9-0 ~ The stable companion of Sergeant Cecil was tipped up to follow in his footsteps but he contracted an illness last season and never really got over it. That meant his season was a non-starter last year but according to his trainer he is back to his best and ready to go for the upcoming turf season. He has never raced on soft ground before but he has won on rain softened ground so it should suit the 8yo. His form the season before last was progressive with the horse running up a hat-trick of wins which included beating Frank Sonata 5 lengths in the Listed Fenwolf Stakes at Ascot and an authoritative 6 length win in the Group 3 Jockey Club Cup at HQ. All three of his wins in that sequence came over 2 miles but the horse has won over 8-10f earlier on in his career and possesses enough speed to cope with the step down in trip. In fact he ran in this race last year and put in his best performance during last seasons faltered campaign despite having to carry a penalty. Without his penalty and hopefully without the problems that blighted him last year he should be able to bounce back to form. He has run well fresh in the past so not without a chance of getting involved.
SHIPMASTER 9-0 ~ Trained by leading National Hunt trainer Alan King but he is also well known for doing well with the few runners he has on the flat. Shipmaster has previous on the flat having won his maiden over course and distance in comfortable fashion. That has turned out to be a weak race but far more encouraging was the horse’ subsequent effort in the Group 3 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. He finished 6th but returned jarred up having clearly not appreciated the firm going. That was two years ago and he hasn’t been seen on the flat since having made his return to action during this years NH season. He progressed with every run hinting that the horse has improved since he was last seen on the flat. He should revel in today’s trip/ground conditions and has the advantage over many of his rivals in that he should be fit from the flat. Worry is though that the horse wouldn’t want a slowly run race as he has been outpaced over 2½ miles over hurdles.
SPANISH HIDALGO 9-0 ~ Progressive runner for John Dunlop last season and he rounded off the campaign by winning the Italian St Leger. El Tango who was beaten back in 4th (by 5 lengths) had previously finished 6th in the Ebor, although he was giving away a stone to the 3yo British raider. That wasn’t his only performance of note though as the colt had finished 2nd in the Noel Murless Stakes (Veenwouden 3rd) and had shown his liking for soft conditions when winning a Ripon handicap (2nd Wing Collar went on to finish 5th in the Ebor). Further improvement is far from unlikely but he may just need the run after having 4 months away from the track. As one of the few likely leaders in the race though he maybe able to benefit from dictating a steady gallop. A live contender especially if his fitness can be guaranteed on his seasonal reappearance.
BOGSIDE THEATRE 9-0 ~ Looks to be heading in the right direction but the form of his handicap 2nd on the last day of the turf season means he still has plenty to find if he is to get competitive. He is still young and lightly raced so there is a chance he could find the improvement needed but it still looks a long shot and with fitness not guaranteed he is passed over.
GULL WING 8-6 ~ Handles all ground conditions with equal aplomb as highlighted by the fillies run away handicap win at York in testing ground. The 2nd Sell Out has given the form a strong look and the Michael Bell trained daughter of In The Wings ran an improved race next time out when 4th in a decent Listed race at York. She could still be on the upgrade but in a truly run race she would have it all to do but considering there maybe a lack of pace in the race she may be one of the few who have the pace to win such a falsely run race.
VEENWOUDEN 8-6 ~ From seemingly nowhere the Ed Vaughan filly found around 20lbs worth of improvement when finishing 3rd in the Listed Noel Murless Stakes (Spanish Hidalgo 2nd) at odds of 100/1. He proved that was no fluke by finishing 3rd in the Group 3 Jockey Club Cup which given the form of the front two was an outstanding effort from a horse who started the season rated 77. That form entitles the 4yo filly to be favourite for today’s race but she looks a real stayer and may lack the toe if the race develops in to a sprint up the straight. It is also questionable that the horse is going to be just as good coming off the back of a break but considering how well she improved it’s impossible to know judged on her previous form. However despite those concerns she rates as a big danger to all concerned if reproducing the form she showed at HQ towards the end of last year.
CONCLUSION
A wide open race in which all but Ashmolian and Bogside Theatre have fair claims to this Listed prize. With no confirmed front runner and all bar one horse coming into the race with no fitness worries then it could produce an interesting result.
The contenders seem to be in two groups, the older more exposed runners and those who are progressive and unexposed.
Of the older horses Frank Sonata is of interest having been a previous winner of the race and runner-up on another occasion so he clearly goes well fresh. The period of 18 months off the track though has to be a major concern and you would have to think he would be better for a run. The other horse is Hawkridge Prince who absolutely routed a decent field over 2 miles at Ascot (Frank Sonata 2nd) but has proven he possesses plenty of speed to be effective over shorter distances. With his turn of foot he may also not be too inconvenienced by a slow early pace and although untried in soft ground his form suggests it should be fine.
Of the younger unexposed horses Veenwouden is the obvious favourite having finished 3rd in the Group 3 Jockey Club Cup on her last start. However she isn’t going to go off at a backable price considering all the things against her. She stayed on dourly over this trip at HQ when getting within a head of Spanish Hidalgo so chances are anything but a good gallop won’t suit her. Truly soft ground is an unknown, although she handles cut, it’s still a worry at her short price which looks even shorter when you consider she may not even be race fit after 6 months off the track. Spainish Hidalgo is closely matched with Veenwouden on the form of his 2nd in the Noel Murless Stakes but a slower pace might play into his hands more than the favourite and allow the John Dunlop colt to confirm the form of the Listed race despite being 3lbs worse off. That’s because the 4yo colt likes to race closer to the pace and has proven he has speed when winning over shorter distances but his fitness is enough of a worry to pass him over at the price. Gull Wing is another who has proven form over shorter and so may benefit from a steady early gallop. She’s normally held up in her races though so may not be in the best position to capitalise but her form is still short of Spainish Hidalgo, although like the colt she has plenty of scope for further improvement. Finally the interesting Shipmaster who at doesn’t have to worry about fitness. After missing last years flat season he was sent hurdling this winter where the Alan King gelding has progressed well. No reason to suspect he isn’t a better horse now than when last seen running in the Queens Vase at Royal Ascot. That was a decent effort in itself though as the horse hated the firm ground and returned jarred up despite still running a fine race in 6th. Todays soft conditions should be ideal and with the lack of any obvious pace in the race he may decide to nick it from the front on a horse who is a strong galloper and will keep going all the way to the line. His shrewd trainer isn’t one to miss a trick and he may have found an ideal opportunity in a race in which so many of his rivals have questions to answer.
Two horses both at decent prices to take on the field are Hawkridge Prince and Shipmaster. The former took my breath away when winning at Ascot and is according to his trainer is free from the illness that dogged him last season. He has gone well fresh in the past and if back to his best he should run well. Fitness shouldn’t be a concern for Shipmaster who could be anything if he has improved since his last turf efforts two years ago. The concern is he lacks pace but that didn’t seem a problem when running well in the Queen’s Vase two seasons ago and on ideal ground he could surprise a few people.
1pt WIN – HAWKRIDGE PRINCE @ 14.0
1pt WIN – SHIPMASTER @ 8/1
RESULT
HAWKRIDGE PRINCE 6th = -1pt
SHIPMASTER 2nd = -1pt
3:40 WEATHERBYS BANK "FURTHER FLIGHT" STAKES (LISTED RACE) (CLASS 1) (4yo+) 1m6f
ASHMOLIAN 9-
FRANK SONATA 9-
HAWKRIDGE PRINCE 9-
SHIPMASTER 9-
SPANISH HIDALGO 9-
BOGSIDE THEATRE 9-
GULL WING 8-
VEENWOUDEN 8-
CONCLUSION
A wide open race in which all but Ashmolian and Bogside Theatre have fair claims to this Listed prize. With no confirmed front runner and all bar one horse coming into the race with no fitness worries then it could produce an interesting result.
The contenders seem to be in two groups, the older more exposed runners and those who are progressive and unexposed.
Of the older horses Frank Sonata is of interest having been a previous winner of the race and runner-
Of the younger unexposed horses Veenwouden is the obvious favourite having finished 3rd in the Group 3 Jockey Club Cup on her last start. However she isn’t going to go off at a backable price considering all the things against her. She stayed on dourly over this trip at HQ when getting within a head of Spanish Hidalgo so chances are anything but a good gallop won’t suit her. Truly soft ground is an unknown, although she handles cut, it’s still a worry at her short price which looks even shorter when you consider she may not even be race fit after 6 months off the track. Spainish Hidalgo is closely matched with Veenwouden on the form of his 2nd in the Noel Murless Stakes but a slower pace might play into his hands more than the favourite and allow the John Dunlop colt to confirm the form of the Listed race despite being 3lbs worse off. That’s because the 4yo colt likes to race closer to the pace and has proven he has speed when winning over shorter distances but his fitness is enough of a worry to pass him over at the price. Gull Wing is another who has proven form over shorter and so may benefit from a steady early gallop. She’s normally held up in her races though so may not be in the best position to capitalise but her form is still short of Spainish Hidalgo, although like the colt she has plenty of scope for further improvement. Finally the interesting Shipmaster who at doesn’t have to worry about fitness. After missing last years flat season he was sent hurdling this winter where the Alan King gelding has progressed well. No reason to suspect he isn’t a better horse now than when last seen running in the Queens Vase at Royal Ascot. That was a decent effort in itself though as the horse hated the firm ground and returned jarred up despite still running a fine race in 6th. Todays soft conditions should be ideal and with the lack of any obvious pace in the race he may decide to nick it from the front on a horse who is a strong galloper and will keep going all the way to the line. His shrewd trainer isn’t one to miss a trick and he may have found an ideal opportunity in a race in which so many of his rivals have questions to answer.
Two horses both at decent prices to take on the field are Hawkridge Prince and Shipmaster. The former took my breath away when winning at Ascot and is according to his trainer is free from the illness that dogged him last season. He has gone well fresh in the past and if back to his best he should run well. Fitness shouldn’t be a concern for Shipmaster who could be anything if he has improved since his last turf efforts two years ago. The concern is he lacks pace but that didn’t seem a problem when running well in the Queen’s Vase two seasons ago and on ideal ground he could surprise a few people.
1pt WIN – HAWKRIDGE PRINCE @ 14.0
1pt WIN – SHIPMASTER @ 8/1
RESULT
HAWKRIDGE PRINCE 6th = -
SHIPMASTER 2nd = -
