KEMPTON ACCOLADE AS GRONKOWSKI IS SECOND: Daqman checks out the English end of Gronkowski’s preparations for a 25-1 second in the Belmont Stakes last night, as Justify landed the American Triple Crown, describing the result as a great affirmation for Kempton’s role in the Kentucky Derby prep series.
GOODWOOD TODAY: Daqman analyses the Goodwood card for today plus the Nottinghamshire Oaks at Colwick Park.
ASCOT TOMORROW: Countdown to Royal Ascot.
THE KEMPTON CONNECTION..
Check out the All-Weather results. The form of Gronkowski’s February-March hat-trick at Newcastle and Kempton now looks gold-plated.
Gronkowski himself was almost solid gold when less than two lengths off Justify as that one landed the American triple crown by making all the running in the Belmont Stakes on dirt last night.
While rampaging through the AW ranks, from class 5 to Listed in only seven weeks – trained by Jeremy Noseda – Gronkowski only just got the better of Iconic Sunset (James Tate) at the end of March.
He also boosts John Gosden’s Court House who got within threeparts of a length of him at Kempton Park earlier.
Court House ran second to Connect at Epsom on Derby day and both now go for a rematch in the John Smith’s at York in July.
Gronkowski’s Belmont was huge affirmation for Kempton’s taking part in the Kentucky Derby trial series.
The race in which Gronkowski beat Court House was the ‘Road To The Kentucky Derby’ which has proved the best of the seven Derby prep races in Europe with this Belmont result. Gronkowski had a setback and missed the Derby itself.
In the event, Justify was probably uncatchable. He became the first colt since 1882 to win the Kentucky crown without a race as a two-year-old and last night was only the 13th winner of the triple.
Earlier, Paul Townend landed a remarkable double in France winning the La Barka hurdle for Willie Mullins on Bapaume.
Then he pulled off a major surprise in the Grade-2 chase on Baie Des Iles (27-1) for Curragh trainer, Ross O’Sullivan.
Baie Des Iles hadn’t won a race since the Punchestown Grand National trial of 2017, with his racing then geared to the Aintree Grand National.
He was ridden at Aintree, one of only 12 to finish, by O’Sullivan’s wife, Katie Walsh, who has now retired from the saddle.
THE MONEY IS FOR MOLSON
2.00 Goodwood All winners of this 7f handicap have been drawn in stalls 1 or 2, such is the bias to low numbers.
It does not mean that either Sir Titan (in the one stall) or Easy Tiger (2) must win, but you can add at least a point to runners in the high half of the draw. And their form suggests the race could become an early scrap along the rail.
By coincidence, Sir Titan and Easy Tiger, who have both won on a sound surface, are the only Goodwood CD winners in the race.
Even more of a coincidence is that both won their CD races from the front, making all the running.
In fact, Sir Titan came out of stall 5 when scoring here on an easy surface a fortnight ago and has gone up 4lb, taking him up a grade from class 4.
It’s three years since Easy Tiger won here (from stall 6 of 11). He’s 10lb higher now on turf but is a total of a stone higher on AW after two recent wins over 1m 2f, which suggests late improvement at the age of six.
The one to spoil this as a duel is Charles Molson, whose second here on the last day was in a higher class, and the third horse went on to finish second in a big field at the Epsom Derby meeting.
The Warrior has a very poor strike rate on turf (1-29), borne out by his Goodwood form of 0032000.
With Hayley Turner (Sir Titan) badly out of form right now (0-21), with Del Parco a big drifter and with Easy Tiger maybe best on AW, I’ll follow the money for Charles Molson and Jim Crowley, who rides the track so well. I took 5.6.
3.10 Goodwood With Mick Channon in such devastating form (another hat-trick yesterday), Solesmes (BETDAQ 3.85) catches the eye in a race the trainer has won for the last two seasons.
Ridden by David Egan, who excelled for the yard on Maksab in the big-field handicap at Newmarket yesterday.
MIA TESORO TASTY AT 9.0
3.30 Nottingham (Nottinghamshire Oaks) The 3.0 BETDAQ favourite this morning, Titi Makfi, has swerved other engagements this week for this race.
She already has some black type from a win and places in Listed company, and could be hard to beat this afternoon.
Mia Tesoro (9.0 offers) probably ran her best race on the last day, fourth in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket when Breeders Cup winner Wuheida launched her season with a confortable success.
The second filly home, Wilamina, went on to win the Group-3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes at the Epsom Derby meeting,
Company Asset isn’t out of it but her best performances have come on soft ground; same for Glade.
3.45 Goodwood Marcus Tregoning had a winner yesterday and – along with Sir Titan (2.00) – has strong claims today.
Imphal is 2111133 after being gelded, including success over the Goodwood CD in August.
His two-stone rise since the start of that form run means that he’s had to step out of class 5 and, so far at least, hasn’t been able to continue his winning streak in a higher grade.
Inn The Bull hasn’t won on turf since Goodwood in September 2015 (soft) and Chivers has scored only with cut in the ground.
Mancini’s hat-trick bid was halted by his having to move into a higher grade but, as a front-runner drawn in the one stall here, he is going to have a say in this at around 5-1 this morning.
Since taking over Stanley, Richard Hughes has raised he five-year-old’s game by 10lb, and he’s also nicely installed in gate 3, so is my saver at 3.65. It’s a tricky race about who can defy their weight rise.
TAKE A TIP FOR TARBOOSH
4.05 Nottingham Local trainer Michael Appleby gets one ready for this, and his form in the race since 2013 is: 1011.
He’d had Moonraker only six weeks (from Mick Channon) before the gelding beat a big field at Ascot first run for his new stable.
But he has never put back-to-back wins together before and he is dropped back to 5f here. His only success at that trip was his very first start in a maiden at Ascot more than four years ago.
Since then Moonraker’s form over the minimum has been 200400000. Either you think he’s one to oppose or you have faith in Mr Appleby’s magic tricks.
He is getting 13lb from Justanotherbottle, also trying to back up a May victory. He was a Nottingham CD winner 14 months back.
Tarboosh has won in today’s grade on firm ground but is 7lb higher in the ratings now.
Erissimus Maximus cannot be discounted but some fair efforts this year have him 4lb too high. Beat Evergate at Ascot last autumn but now 4lb worse off.
Elysian Flyer, from the Tarboosh stable, improved for a wind op on the last day and has had another one since. Another tough call but a nice 108% overround so, as ever BETDAQ gives you value for money. I’ll take 3.85 Tarboosh.
4.55 Goodwood We were on Mick Channon’s two-year-old filly Patchouli when she leapt forward from eighth of nine on her debut to land a gamble only five days later
Now here’s another filly, though a three-year-old this time, from the same stable, Fannie By Gaslight.
Slowly into stride and only seventh of nine at Salisbury, Fannie should reward an early-mouse interest at 10.5 on BETDAQ.
DAQMAN’S BETS
2.00 Goodwood (win 20)
BET 4.25pts win CHARLES MOLSON
3.10 Goodwood (win 20)
BET 7pts win (nap) SOLESMES
3.30 Nottingham (win 20 and win 30)
BET 10pts win TITI MAKFI
BET 3.75pts win MIA TESORO
3.45 Goodwood (win 20 each)
BET 4pts win MANCINI
BET 1.5pts win (stakes saver) STANLEY
4.05 Nottingham (win 20)
BET 7pts win TARBOOSH
4.55 Goodwood (win 20)
BET 2pts win and place FANNIE BY GASLIGHT
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