2 days ago
I can't resist a couple of quid each-way on this former Juddmonte star who could win doing handstands at 14-1
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.
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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.
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