Belardo Half-Brother, On Debut At Ayr
It’s another busy Monday, with 5 UK meetings to run the rule over. There are 8 races on today’s Ayr card.. The action starts at 2.20, with a 6f maiden. There are 3 debutants and Portland Street is the one that catches the eye. He’s a half-brother to a quartet of winners, including the Dewhurst-winning Belardo. Watch market moves. Sabrina Brazzo is also well-bred and we’ll see if Jim Goldie’s Insurplus looks a bargain (he was bought as a yearling for just 11,500 euros).
The 3.50 is the Weddings At Western House Hotel Handicap, a race won by Al Khan in 2015. Funding Deficit will not be short of pounds, as the course and distance winner carries 5 more than when he last won (Redcar, in August). Mount Tahan won over 7f, at Newmarket during the same month. He competes off the same mark and is slightly preferred. Sea Wolf may leave connections of both howling, if Michael Dods runner can deliver without the cheekpieces. He won his first race in 2014 and this does not look beyond him, either.
Fitzwilliam Conqueror Takes On Giovanni Di Bicci
Polytrack racing at Chelmsford City gets underway at 2.00, with a 1m 2f handicap for horses aged 4 and over. There are some handy sorts in this race and none more so than Giovanni Di Bicci, who will partner Frankie Dettori. The Medicean-sired horse has won at the last 4 times of asking, all of which have come in this calendar year. Hit List defeated Fitzwilliam, among others, back in October and should be a genuine challenger. He’s already finished 2nd of 11, on the Chelmsford all-weather surface.
Italian Beauty is 5lb worse off than when the filly last won at Epsom, in September. She showed glimpses of that form when 3rd behind Bahama Moon, at Newbury in March, but still looks vulnerable in the 3.30. Mezzotint has won twice over course and distance and has scored elsewhere of an 11lb higher mark. The Third Man also appeals, at a big price. Dane O’Neill’s inmate has yet to bring his best form to Essex, but should figure if he can discover it this afternoon.
2-Year-Olds, On Debut At Southwell
The first race at Southwell (2.10) is an opportunity to see four interesting juveniles put through their paces. Danielsflyer’s pedigree indicates he’ll enjoy considerably longer races, but David Barron’s charge should start as favourite. Vaux cost a pretty penny, although so have all of Ben Haslam’s juveniles if you’ve been backing them in maidens. Both Sumner Beach and Princess Polly appeal more.
Don’t forget that there is evening racing on, tonight. The meetings are Wolverhampton and Windsor. The Berkshire course has a couple of Class 4 handicaps, at 7.00 and 7.30.
Listed Action, At Naas
Irish racing fans are in for a Monday treat, with fixtures at both Tramore and Naas. The later card at Naas stands out, with Listed action in the Woodland Stakes at 6.40. Moviesta will be making his 2016 reappearance, a horse with plenty of black-type mileage on the clock.
The American runner last won at the Curragh, in last August’s renewal of the G3 Renaissance Stakes. Toscanini and (more notably) Gordon Lord Byron were beaten on that day, although Moviesta then disappointed in the G2 Flying Five Stakes at the same course.
Fort Del Oro looked extremely progressive in 2015. The filly tries this trip out for the first time, which is a slight concern. Maarek has won on this course, over this 5f distance and was victorious in Listed company only last August (Beverley).
On The Continent
There’s good racing to look forward to in France, with above-average cards at both Saint-Cloud and Angers. There’s also the Listed Premio Emanuele Filiberto taking place, at Milan.
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