two listed races today

although the overall quality of racing at today´s six meetings is very low, there are two listed races - at Salisbury at 16.55 CET and in Ireland at Gowran Park at 19.55. Both are for fillies and mares only and they are almost identical distances around ten furlongs, which seems rather unnecessary, but they have both attracted competitive fields.


Aidan O´Brien -needless to say- is strongly represented in the Irish race with 3 runners; son Joseph partners Say, who is clearly the stable´s number one and also top-rated. She was well beaten in the Oaks, but ran well last time when runner-up in a Group race at the Curragh and this form should suffice. Along Came Caswey (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen) looks best of the older horses; she is a consistent performer at this level and is unbeaten in two starts at this track. The dark horse in the field is the Aga Khan´s Sinaniya (John Oxx/ Declan McDonogh), who won a maiden at the Curragh in June last year but has not been seen since. Her experienced trainer would not be running her unless he thought that she was good enough to take part, but Say has the form in the book and has to be the selection.

Bana Wu (Andrew Balding/ David Probert) is top-rated at Salisbury; she has finished in the money on all her 2013 starts but does not win very often. For those looking for longshot value, we recommend Semayyel (Clive Brittain/ Freddie Tylicki), who had no chance last time in the Group One Nassau Stakes; in fact she has been well beaten on all her recent starts, but we have no forgotten that she won a listed race last year at odds of 125-1 and she could well run well again today. However the likeliest winner is the much improved Rock Choir (William Haggas/ Andrea Atzeni), who has won her last two races in good style and can successfully take this rise in class.
Her owner-breeder, Cheveley Park Stud, look set for a good day; they can also win the 2yo maiden at Salisbury at 15.20 with Showpiece (Richard Hannon/ Ryan Moore) and also the 3yo handicap here over a mile at 16.´20 with Russian Realm (Sir Michael Stoute/ Moore), who seems extremely well treated on her first run in a handicap. Cheveley Park can also score twice at Kempton´s evening meeting, with Lyric Piece (Sir Mark Prescott/ Tim Clark) in the apprentice handicap at 19.15, and with well-bred debutant Adore (Stoute/ Moore) in the maiden race for 2yo fillies at 20.15.

Betting forecast Gowran Park:
1. Race: Mekong River - Tithonus - So So Far
2. Race: Bluebell - Princess Aloof - Mahon Falls
3. Race: What Style - Plinth - Leah Claire
4. Race: Say - Along Came Casey - Sinaniya
5. Race: Castle Guest - Teoirim - Tropical Mist
6. Race: Antiquus - Confident Cub - Passagere
7. Race: Laviniad - A Star Is Born - Roman Romance