Latest news with #GreatStWilfridHandicap
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
I can't resist a couple of quid each-way on this former Juddmonte star who could win doing handstands at 14-1
MATT CHAPMAN I can't resist a couple of quid each-way on this former Juddmonte star who could win doing handstands at 14-1 Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) I WONDER what 'Stoutey' would make of it all? I'm talking, of course, about Nostrum and More Thunder, who both have the chance to make a big splash on ITV this afternoon. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Nostrum used to run in the Juddmonte silks under Ryan Moore - he's nowhere near that level now but I can't resist a couple of quid on him each-way Credit: Getty One thing I do know is that with Nostrum the legendary Newmarket handler Sir Michael Stoute never had on his mind the William Hill/MND Association Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon! And I suspect the Group 2 Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes wasn't quite where Stoute expected More Thunder to end up. Nope, having thought a bit more I'm pretty sure of that, even though we are dealing with a 'think-outside-the-box' handler of 52 years experience who banged in over 4000 winners, 16 British Classic successes, including half a dozen Derbys headlined by the imperious Shergar, ten UK trainers' championships, 82 Royal Ascot victories, an Arc with Workforce, two Japan and eight Breeders' Cup successes. It's impossible to know whether Nostrum has any ability left at all. Once he was a potential Juddmonte star. An exquisite debut at Sandown – with classy Arrest back in third – was followed by success in the Group 3 Somerville Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket. Nostrum took out the very useful Holloway Boy and he was cut from 20-1 to 4-1 for the Group 1 Dewhurst and 8-1 from 14-1 for the 2023 2000 Guineas. In the Dewhurst, Nostrum was sent off the 5-2 joint market leader and ended up third to Chaldean. He returned in 2023 with success in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes, but after that things gradually got worse. In eight following starts Nostrum has come up against 48 horses and beaten only 10 of them. In his last four outings, all for new handler David O'Meara, Nostrum has defeated just TWO of his 28 rivals. Nostrum races over 6f for the first time in his career on Saturday afternoon. I have no idea if he has a chance or not. But I'll have a couple of quid on him each-way because at his best he might just be able to win this on the bridle! More Thunder you know all about now, having once raced over an extended 1m2f for 'Stoutey' but been campaigned this term for William Haggas over 6f and 7f. Everything looks good for him to run a huge one in the Hungerford at Newbury, with the strong gallop he likes to run at surely assured thanks to the presence of the very useful Spy Chief and Witness Stand. Haggas's Somerville Lodge stable is flying right now, and it's quite possible he will score under Tom Marquand, having got back to winning ways in the Bunbury Cup following a desperately unlucky second to Get It in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot. At a huge price I want to chance Alyanaabi each-way. The former 2000 Guineas fifth – class City of Troy miles behind - started this season with a fine success at Haydock but hasn't done much since at the same track, Newcastle and Goodwood. It's hard to know what he likes to do as he went from the front for his win, but I've always thought settling is key for this animal and if he's ever going to chill out it could be here off a strong gallop. Owen Burrows trains and Jim Crowley has the big job. An each-way chance but please Jim drop him in behind the pacesetters and unleash late! On Sunday all eyes are on Deauville for the Group 1 The Aga Khan Studs Jacques le Marois over a mile. Eleven horses are set to go to post, including one-time possible star The Lion in Winter, and I really hope Rosallion bounces back to winning way for trainer Richard Hannon and Sean Levey. This should be very winnable for the former Irish 2000 Guineas hero, and he's been knocking at the door this season with placed efforts in the Lockinge, Queen Anne and Sussex Stakes. The son of Blue Point was no doubt unlucky not to score in his last two outings, and of course his late surge is always subject to being times to perfection. I suspect Levey will ride Rosallion a little bit more like a 'normal' horse tomorrow, for all that he knows he has to deliver his challenge late in the day. It's not an easy task, but Levey is a Classic winner and well up to taking on the best. Fingers crossed it all goes well. York next week. I'll be back with a column every day so don't miss out! FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Spectator
3 days ago
- Sport
- Spectator
Four bets for the weekend and beyond
Ripon's sprint course is unique with its many undulations and so it usually pays to side with a horse that has strong course form. Furthermore, tomorrow's William Hill/MND Association Great St Wilfrid Handicap (3.20 p.m.) over six furlongs is regularly targeted by local Yorkshire trainers who have won 13 of the last 15 runnings of the race. SECRET GUEST ticks both of the above boxes in that he was third in this very race a year ago, as well as being second at the course later in the season, and he is trained in North Yorkshire by Bryan Smart. In addition to that, he is in good form having been runner-up at Thirsk last time out in a fairly competitive six-furlong handicap. With regular jockey Andrew Breslin in the saddle and claiming 3lbs as an apprentice, Secret Guest has every chance of making the frame or better tomorrow. Back him 1 point each way at 17-2 with William Hill, paying five places. Rousing Encore, from the in-form Ruth Carr yard, and Mister Sox, from the equally in-form Tim Easterby stable, head a long list of dangers but I am leaving it at just the one bet in the race. JUMBY loves nothing better than racing at Newbury, on really fast ground and over a distance of seven furlongs, and he will have all three ideal conditions when he contests the TPT Fire Handicap tomorrow (3 p.m.). Now aged seven, Eve Johnson Houghton's gelding was rated as high as 112 in his prime when he won some top races, including the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes – also on tomorrow's Newbury card – three years ago. Jumby is no longer up to the task of winning a Group 2 contest, hence he swerves the Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes tomorrow, but he is more than capable of landing an 11-runner handicap off a mark of just 94. Unfortunately, the nice 10-1 each way price available two days ago has gone so back him 2 points win at 11-2 with William Hill, Betfred, Ladbrokes, Coral or BetVictor. Tomorrow's Hungerford Stakes is too hard for me to fathom out so instead I will have two ante-post wagers as my final bets this week. I love backing talented horses ante-post when you know their clear target and when they are not ground-dependent. Step forward NO HALF MEASURES who is being aimed at the Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on 6 September. Top jockey-turned-trainer Richard Hughes' four-year-old filly caused an upset when winning the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes at Newmarket last month at odds of 66-1. That was over six furlongs on good-to-firm ground but Hughes is adamant she will be even better on much softer ground. Indeed, if it rains hard in the run-up to her September assignment, it will blunt the speed of some of her rivals. With the race favourite Lazzat fluffing his lines at Deauville last weekend, this six-furlong contest is wide open. Back No Half Measures 1 point each way at 12-1 with Ladbrokes or Coral, both paying three places. Looking ahead to York, I am afraid Plage de Havre is a non runner in the Sky Bet Ebor a week tomorrow, I imagine after a setback, but my two other ante-post bets put up last week for York have shortened in price. I certainly have high hopes for Old Cock in the Clipper Handicap on Wednesday. I will also add one more bet at York to my ante-post portfolio. As things stand, DANCING IN PARIS is unlikely to make the cut for the Sky Bet Ebor. So that means he is likely to run next Wednesday in the Sky Bet Stayers Handicap (4.10 p.m.) over two miles. The hope for connections would be he wins the £50,000-plus first prize and also that he picks up at penalty which might get him into the Ebor line-up four days later. His trainer, Ian Williams, did just that with Alfred Boucher three years ago, with the horse beaten only a short head in the Ebor under a penalty by no-less-than Trawlerman, who won this year's Ascot Gold Cup. With all of this in mind, back Dancing In Paris 1 point each way at 12-1 with bet365, paying four places, for the Wednesday handicap with Saffie Osborne booked for the ride. Dancing In Paris can pull too hard and be a tricky ride but Osborne rode him well when second at Glorious Goodwood and he is up only 2lbs in the ratings for that big run. I will be back a week today to take a close look at the final two days of York's wonderful Ebor meeting. Pending: 2 points win Jumby at 11-2 in the TPT Fire Handicap. 1 point each way Secret Guest at 17-2 in the Great St Wilfred, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. 1 point each way Dancing In Paris at 12-1 for the Sky Bet Stayers Handicap, paying ¼ odds, 4 places. 1 point each way Old Cock at 25-1 for theClipper Handicap, paying ¼ odds, 4 places. 1 point each way Plage De Havre at 16-1 for the Ebor Handicap, paying ¼ odds, 4 places. NR. 1 point each way Majestic Warrior at 25-1 for the Ebor Handicap, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. 1 point each way No Half Measures at 12-1 for the Sprint Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. Last weekend: – 2 points 1 point each way Arisaig at 9-1 for the Shergar Cup Mile, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points. 2025 flat season running total: + 107.43 points. 2024-5 jump season: – 47.61 points on all tips. 2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips. 2023-4 jump season: + 42.01 points on all tips. 2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips. 2022-3 jump season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
