The Neighsayers - Thursday 29th June

 

3:10pm - NEWMARKET - RACECOURSES SUPPORTING RACING STAFF WEEK HANDICAP STAKES

A typically competitive sprint at flat racing’s headquarters however I’m strong on one I think is absolutely rock solid down in grade. Crow’s Nest is definitely respected on handicap debut but I’m not sure there’s much juice in his mark (which feels strange to say with a George Boughey trained runner), Fox Master is still unexposed enough to improve, but I think last time out would’ve been the main aim for him, on the card his owners sponsored. He’s been doing his best work late so 7 furlongs could bring out further improvement in time. 

The one I’m interested in is KNEBWORTH. His form is absolutely rock solid, 2 starts back over this course and distance is phenomenal. Quinalt, Washington Heights and Exigency who were 1^st,2^nd and 3^rd here, came 1^st, 2^nd and 4^th in a class 2 heritage handicap at York. Funny Story won next time out at Nottingham and then was 5^th in a listed race. Ararat won for the horses to follow too in 6^th and behind in 8^th Mutaany won also. The form couldn’t have more substance to it for the grade.

He likes to be held up, but with Crow’s Nest, Girl Magic and Premiere Beauty likely to contest the lead. He should get a good tow into the race and pass them all late on. In this grade he should be hard to beat. 11/2 generally available.

4:30pm - NEWCASTLE - THE JENNINGSBET IN ALLERDENE HANDICAP STAKES 

Races like this can normally be trappy affairs but with Borough and Family Ties in the race, it should ensure the race is ran at a decent gallop and should be no hard luck stories. DESERT GAMES ought to be winning this, he ran a huge race in the 3YO sprint in the Sunday series at Beverley recently finishing 2^nd after being short of room at a crucial stage. He faces thankuappreciate it here again, on 3lb worse terms but looking back at that Beverley run, that shouldn’t be enough to overturn the form and DESERT GAMES should have more up his sleeve.

I was looking to take on the favourite, with the view that she wants at least another furlong further than the 5F that’ll be run here. Beezlebub has the scope to improve also, but he’s another that would appreciate the extra furlong. I can see the angle with the headgear for him as he has hung and been keen, but I’d rather see him in a hood or eye shields perhaps.

Overall, I’d make DESERT GAMES an outright favourite and definitely juice in the current price of 7/2 which is generally available.

6:45pm - LEICESTER - THE HOPE - SPONSORED BY EUROKEY - LINDA WARNER HANDICAP STAKES

A couple in here making their handicap debut’s, but there’s one in particular in here that looks to have been let off leniently. DICKO THE LEGEND and a mark of 70 just seems generous looking at the form book. The 3 year old’s get a whopping 9lb weight allowance here too. On debut he got within 4L of the now 115 rated, G1 placed Charyn. His 2^nd start was in one of the best novice events of last season. Won by Jersey 2^nd Zoology, listed winner Proverb in 3^rd amongst other horses handicapped up to 90 rated.

He seemed to lack the pace over 6 furlongs in novice events, so he steps up to 7 furlongs here now handicapping. He’s now gelded so that should improve him and he’s hooded for the first time which I can’t see why he’d need but his new yard must be trying something.

He’s entered up into the July sales so you can guarantee he’ll be off for his life here, hoping to add another few thousand onto his price tag. He’s also entered at Doncaster on Saturday, so it’ll be interested to see if he’s declared there this morning and we could see him out under a penalty.

He’s best priced 10/1 with Bet365 and 9/1 generally available. He should be a cracking each-way bet.

8:00pm - HAMILTON - THE PATERSONS OF GREENOAKHILL HANDICAP STAKES

JM JUNGLE is the progressive horse in the field and should continue to improve here, back on a more suitable track. He ran with plenty of zest in the 3YO Dash at Epsom before succumbing to the quirks of Epsom and just saw his effort peter out into 4^th. He’s come back this year a much-improved horse and I’d fancy him to take this event with relative ease.

He’s just found an improver in every start this year against his own age, but now in open company and with a 6lb age allowance he should be right there at the finish. In this small field it’s hard to work out how it’ll be run, with Abate being the only one certain to go forward on paper. The selection has raced prominently this season, but I’d hope here that he sits just behind Abate to get a good run into the race.

I’d upgrade his Epsom run as he was the only one to make any progress into the race from the rear, he was the only one in the first 5 home who weren’t racing toward the fore. With all this being said I just think he’s a solid bet and should take all the beating. 3/1 available.

8:15pm - LEICESTER - THE HOPE - SPONSORED BY NUCLEUS HR HANDICAP STAKES

Those of you who are regular to our page and in particular Quinny’s weekly eyecatcher blogs. You’ll have seen KAMINAKA in there. She was hampered multiple times in the run and finished a very unlucky 5^th. She’s remained unchanged on 63 for that, but on that evidence there’s some movement in that mark and she should be very close at the finish here. She reopposes I Still Have Faith here on the same terms and with just a length to overturn, you’d think that would be easily done.

There’s no qualms about the trip, even with a clean run and should she get into a battle she is bred to stay further so she should find plenty, being a half sister to a winner up to 13F’s. There should be an honest pace on too with another previous eye catcher Expert Witness likely to go forward along with Crosstitch and Going To The Moon.

Unfortunately, the 6/1 which the books opened with has long gone (it was very generous) but she should be solid to beat here and 5/2 generally available I’d be more than happy to throw a dart.

 

Good luck if you’re following and we’ll be back for this weekend’s blog on Friday