The Group Two Prix du Muguet over a mile at 15.50 CET is the main feature at Saint-Cloud today and has often been won in the past by German-trained runners. That will not be the case today, but there could be a winner with German conections,as Andre Fabre saddles two runners, Baron Ullmann´s Persian Storm (Stephane Pasquier) and the Japanese-owned Turfrose (Johan Victoire), who were both bred in Germany. Hot favourite here is Olivier Peslier´s mount, the very consistent Spirito del Vento. There are two German-trained runners on the undercard, Andreas Trybuhl´s Ziethe (Antony Crastus) in the opening mile race for 4yo´s at 13.50, and Dr. Andreas Bolte´ s Pompidou (M. Scandella) in the 2100 metres conditions race at 16.30, but both face a very stiff task.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Evening racing at Great Leighs, Huntingdon and Tipperary
There is racing ths evening at Great Leigs (all-weather), Huntingdon (flat) and from Irelada mixed meeting at Tipperary. Most interesting event at the Irish track is the 7 furlongs race for 3yo maiden fillies at 19.30 CET. Cherassdotcom (Mike Halford/ Robbie Cleary), thoird last year on his only run, is the pick on public form, but the two well-bred newcomers from top stables look dangerous - the Aga Khan´s Raydiya (John Oxx/ Mick Kinane) and Hamdan al Maktoum´s Anaaween (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen). Luca Cumani and Jamie Spencer look the team to follow at Great Lewihs, and can score a double with Boz in the 1 3/4 miles handicap at 18.50 and Sky Dive in the mile handicap for 3yo´s half an hour later. The novice hurdle at 19.10 at Huntingdon looks to lie between German-bred Fairyland (Nicky Henderson/ Andrew Tinkler), a half-sister to Fair Along, and Noticeable (Alan King/ Christian Williams), runner-up in a similar event at Kempton last time out. The beginners chase an hour later also looks a two horse race, between Heathcote (Gary and Jamie Moore) and Misbehaviour (Jim Best/ Robert Lucey-Butler).
Folkestone, Hereford, Redcar
It is not a public holiday in Britain today, so there is a normal programme with 3 cards this afternoon and 3 this evening (including Ireland), all featuring very low level racing. This afternoon´s racing come from Folkestone and Redcar (flat) and Hereford (N.H.). At the latter track, Alan King´s Oh Crick (Robert Thornton), who was quite a useful hurdler, is expected to get of the mark over fences at the first time of asking in the beginners chase at 15.40 CET. There are big fields at Hereford (6 of the 7 races have 14 or more runners), with16 lining up in the mafres novice hurdle half an hour later, but this should only concern Arctic Magic (Wilf Kittow/ Paddy Brennan)and Hora (Nicky Henderson/ Felix de Giles). At Redcar, where the going is very soft after yesterday´s heavy rain, (and there will be lots of non-runners as a result), two likely winning favourites are Alan Swinbank´s Stevie Thunder (PJMcDonald) in the 3yo mile handicap at 16.00 (raised 8 lbs for a very easy win of the soft 3 weeks ago) and Storyland (William Haggas/ Kerrin McEvoy), who created a favourable impression when 7th of 15 in a good Newmarket maiden last October and can take the 3yo maiden over 7 furlongs at 16.30. At Folkestone the 6 furlongs handicap at 16.50 could develop into a match between the two top-weights Savile´s Delight (Tom Dascombe/ Robert Kingscote) and After the Show (Rae Guest/ Chris Catlin), who is going for a four-timer. James Fanshawe´s Nutkin (Oscar Urbina) should win the concluding 10 furlongs handicap at 18.20.
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