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Preview
01 July 2007
2.35 Ladbrokes Bunbury Cup
Heritage Handicap Class 2 (3yo+) 7F Gd-firm
Draw - High numbers have had the advantage at this meeting and in
a race that is lacking in pace right across the field. The high draw
has a potential front runner in Dabbers Ridge, while My Paris is
likely to be lit up by the first time blinkers and make the running
from the low numbers.
1 - Munaddam - Non-runner
1 - Mine - Specialist big
field handicapper who has a exceptional record in this race and it
wouldn't be the same race without him so we should enjoy his
performances while we have the chance too. Won this race last year
in very good style when bounding away from Intrepid Jack for whom he
meets back in this race on better terms and the win at Haydock in a
small listed class field showed that he has become versatile in his
older years and can't be discounted in a handicap that may just be
below the one he won last year. The pace was exceptionally quick in
this race last term and the first 4 all came from of the pace, the
pace in this race this time may be lacking in the same as last year,
but he comes here as good as ever and has shown great versatile this
season to overcome smaller fields lacking in pace.
Tissue Price - 12/1
2 - Fajr - In form at present
having ran well at Royal Ascot when 2nd to Binanti and wasn't
disgraced last time in a group 3 race proving that he is finally
starting to show the ability he was thought to have had. The trainer
does well with her all age handicappers at Newmarket. The group
place form and the Royal Ascot form has made life tough for him from
now on in handicaps and a win in this race would have him very much
kept to group races as he would be a 110+ horse. 11lbs worse off
with Dabbers Ridge isn't likely to help him here, but he has good
course form that will help him over that rival.
Tissue Price - 16/1
3 - Vortex - Ran well in the
Royal hunt cup over a mile even though no chance with the most
impressive winner of that race in some time. Smooth headway into
that race before levelling out in his effort as the winner quickened
up. Suited to a mile he may have just caught a Tarter of top weight
in that handicap and even though effective over 7F he has most
probably recorded his best efforts over a furlong more. Still higher
in the handicap then when last successful he has been put up 1lb for
that Royal Ascot effort. Drawn up the middle of the track he is
likely to race towards the stands rail, but in a race that may lack
a bit of genuine pace he is looking like he may be doing his best
all to late.
Tissue Price - 16/1
4 - Grantley Adams - Ran on
at the one paces in the Wokingham handicap behind Dark Missile and
may have more to come now given 7F at this stage of his career. The
quicker conditions today from ascot should help him along and given
that he got closer to Dark Missile at this meeting last year proves
that fact and has retained his ability along the same line of that
progressive rival on lbs to lengths difference. By Dansili this
extra furlong could bring him further on as he bids to improve Mick
Channon dire record in all age handicaps at this track (1-50).
My Tissue price - 14/1
5 - Intrepid Jack - A very
consistent horse who has often found one too good. 2nd in the
Wokingham over a furlong less when chasing home Dark Missile and had
a form boost in the sprint yesterday by the performance of Judd
Street. Has been raised 4lbs for that performance at Royal Ascot in
which he couldn't muster enough speed to peg back the winner and
always runs his race no matter the trip which is a tribute to his
handler. 2nd in this race last term in which he finished off well
behind Mine even though always held by the winner and benefited from
the strong pace in which he needs in his races. Not likely to be as
fast and furious as last year, he is one that is likely to struggle.
My Tissue Price - 12/1
6 - Something - Another from
the Wokingham taking the step up in trip here and finds himself 2lbs
worse off with Grantley Adams for 1/2L and all 3 are very evenly
matched and it could come down to who sees out the trip the best of
the trio. Something most probably was the furthest forward this day
in terms of positioning and was passed by Intrepid Jack and was
getting caught by Grantley Adams, but where as the pace was quite
strong this day the lack of pace here may see him come out on top at
a track he is well suited too in the past, with a very impressive
maiden win over 7F at the Rowley Mile. John Murtagh keeps the ride.
My Tissue Price - 10/1
7 - Racer Forever - Stayed on
very much at the one pace against Binanti after failing to pick up
in a race that wasn't ran at a really strong gallop and may have to
lay up closer to the pace in this race today to have a chance of
reversing the form with the likes of Fajr and Dabbers Ridge who he
meets both better off at the weights but with much more ground to
make up. The run last time was most probably his personal best of
that speed of race and weight and wasn't disgraced. First run at a
track that John Gosden has made it his own in recent seasons and
remains a interest with less weight today carry, but uncertain to
find the necessary improvement.
My Tissue price - 25/1
8 - Bentong - helped to force
the pace in the Wokingham and paid the price of the draw after
making the running in the trio that elected to race stands side in
this race. Beaver Patrol finished in front of the 3 on that side of
the track but Bentong did run well against a inform rival but wasn't
totally flogged once it came apparent that the far rail had the race
in the bag. Has around 7L to make up on that trio and taking Beaver
Patrol performance to dark Missile at Newmarket, 4L could possibly
be knocked off by the draw alone but finds himself worse of at the
weights. Could help to force the pace on the far rail, but the
longer trip may see him just tuck in off the pace and is certainly
one for the Stewards Cup in which he was unlucky not to have
finished closer in.
My Tissue price - 20/1
9 - Jedburgh - Well beaten by
Mine at Haydock off level weights and not certain to reverse that
form at the weights today despite having a few things in his favour
today. The quick ground certainly is ideal based on his victory at
Royal York two years back in which he travelled up strongly and
settled the race in strides. Been kept to group and listed company
in the main since and drops into handicaps on his lowest mark since
that day. Drawn with a high draw and from a yard in flying form and
always worth keeping on the right side in handicaps at this track.
Hasn't shown top form in top races and a lot rely on this return to
handicaps and if he can quicken to not allow those in front slip the
field.
My tissue price - 20/1
10 - Dabbers Ridge - Made the
running over the straight track of Ascot last time and put up a
performance potentially better then when winning the international
stakes which could be the next target if failing to land this prize
today. The form of that race has been franked by the 2nd good run in
a group race and Dabbers Ridge has a massive weight pull with that
rival today. This quicker surface has to be a slight concern with
his best form coming with some ease in the surface, but well drawn
against the stand side rail should help him as he cuts out the
running in a field that hasn't got much pace in and could get a easy
time on the front end today. Stuck on well at Ascot after being
headed and clearly in good form of late and should be involved in
the finish in this race if the ground doesn't get to quick and he
handles this track as well as he does Ascot.
My tissue price - 7/1
11 - Skhilling Spirit - Non-runner
12 - King of Argos - Big flop
when a well backed favourite in the Victoria Cup and then proved
that ground with cut in it wasn't ideal for him with a narrow
victory off the same mark when beating Audience at Goodwood.
Interesting that the top weight trained by Ed Dunlop has been taken
out after keeping the weight down on his 2nd runner and with Jamie
Spencer on board and a progressive profile in which despite the
narrow victory from a serial loser last time won with a bit in hand.
Drawn on the low side and likes to come from behind he may be beaten
by the draw today, but looks the most likely from the low numbers to
defy the apparent bias this week.
My Tissue price - 9/1
13 - My Paris - may be paying
for his early season form with the handicapper now as he struggles
to win of marks in the high 90's at this stage of his career.
Finished 16th in this race 2yrs ago off the same mark behind Mine in
a similar class of race and should be much more suited to the fair
pace in this race from a leading position on the far rail and even
though the draw is against him he has been in good form and the
blinkers are applied to try and help get more out of him at a track
where he is a dual winner and is certain to improve on that effort
two years ago with the ground on the quick side today. Gave a good
effort at Royal Ascot and could reverse the form with Vortex today
if the blinkers were to give him that little extra. My tissue price
- 16/1
14 - Gift Horse - They seem
to be struggling with this horse since his win in the Stewards cup a
few years back and is fast dropping towards that mark with the
potential of giving it another shot. Not certain to retain the same
ability, connections will be hopping of a good run to help him with
a sharpener for that target and would require some rain to be at his
best as his form on quick ground over sprint distances have been
average.
My Tissue price - 40/1
15 - Fixboard - Wont go into
this horse to much as there is very little I can say about the
French raider and the market will be the best guide to what is
expected from this handicapper today. Best form in france has been
on very soft ground which has to be a concern, but u can never be
sure what to expect but judging by the tissue prices quoted it will
be a surprise.
Tissue price - 33/1
16 - Dhular Dhar - Another
like intrepid Jack but maybe not as classy as that rival and seems
to enjoy sharp tracks such as Chester and Catterick as his main
places to win at. Stepped back up in trip after contesting sprint
races in a bid to get some relief from the handicapper. 2nd at
Newcastle to Giganticus he reversed that form at Chester, which he
was entitled too and is potentially well handicapped with both
Zomerlust and that rival on this running. Zomerlust is likely to
give him the most to do at the weights today in reference with that
race as that rival hits top form after maybe needing the run.
However he looks like he is being campaigned towards some northern
races for later in the season and will be a surprise if coming out
on top in this top handicap today.
My tissue price - 25/1
17 - Fantastic View - Got
tired in the Royal hunt Cup which he was entitled too after 3yrs of
the track and there has to be a concern about the bounce factor
today despite the 23 day break as he does go well with time in
between his races in general. Still uncertain as to how good he is,
he was expected to run a big race in the royal hunt cup and wasn't
disgraced in that race so there is reason to believe he is still
showing good form at home and has class having been sent of 100/30
in the Craven in which Haafad won before landing the guineas and was
the same price. Have Question marks to be answered. but an
interesting runner.
My tissue price - 16/1
18 - Zomerlust - Been in good
form of late and stayed the 7F well at catterick two runs back to
suggest that he may get the trip with the ground on the quick side
after failing to make any impression in two Victoria cups. Goes well
with cut in the ground over sprint trips, but has recently been
caught out by rivals getting the first run on him. Has reason to be
able to reverse Newcastle form with both Gigantcus and Dhular Dhar
today, as he is very much in form even though not helping his cause
with the handicapper with these consistent performances. John Quinn
will no doubt be targeting the Ayr Silver cup which he has gone well
in twice for this horse or maybe a tilt at the Ayr Gold cup if the
weights were to prove conclusive and his come from behind tactics
will leave him staying on once again here I feel.
My tissue price - 16/1
19 - Giganticus - Beat two of
his rivals over today trip when successful at Newcastle at the start
of the season in which he got first run of a muddling pace to land
the spoils that day and has always been highly thought of by his
trainer. Philip Robinson is in for the ride today in what looks the
2nd string on jockey bookings with Dabbers Ridge. Improved
performance last time at Chester but this is much tougher and has
what is regarded as a negative being drawn in 3.
My tissue price - 20/1
Tissue prices - Dabbers Ridge 7/1, King of Argos 9/1,
Something 10/1, Intrepid Jack, Mine 12/1, Grantley Adams 14/1,
Zomerlust, Fantastic View, My Paris, Fajr, Vortex 16/1, Giganticus,
Jedburgh, Bentong 20/1, Dhaular Dhar, Racer Forever 25/1, Fixboard
33/1, Gift Horse 40/1
Verdict – Open
handicap as always, but not the classiest renewal of this great
handicap and Mine could become a legend in the game, if he was to
win this for the 3rd straight year and isn't without claims. The
fast ground is the only concern on Dabbers Ridge winning this race
today, as he has the claims but has proved in the past to handle
ground as quick as this at Ascot, even though there could be reason
to believe it wasn't as fast as advertised that day. Something leads
the runners from the Wokingham here and has claims, while the
progressive King of Argos could surprise from the low numbers, with
the help of some pace set from My Paris.
Selection –
Dabbers Ridge
2pts win @ 8-1 (9-1BF)
Well Chief
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