CUMANI STAR BET OF THE DAY
Friday June 23
Betting Box Tipping Guide
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BETTING BOX
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FIXED ODDS
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4pts Glistening at best morning price (4.55 Royal Ascot) |
Caught the eye last time and looks one to follow. |
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2pts Firenze at best morning price (4.25 Royal Ascot) |
Thriving at present and stable in cracking form. |
2.30: Irish raider Country Strong has won both his starts to date and has the assistance of Kieren Fallon in the saddle. Stamina isn't an issue after his head defeat of Hammers Boy last time but a two pounds penalty makes his task a difficult one. Always Fruitful just about sets the form standard on his length third to Sadeek in a Listed race at Epsom, particularly as he was going on well at the finish. He may struggle to cope with Champlain though. Michael Jarvis' charge was a major eyecatcher when third to subsequent Coventry Stakes runner-up Major Cadeaux in a warm Newbury maiden. He is crying out for this seventh furlong and can get the better of $600,000 purchase Cumin who looked a surefire future winner on her Haydock debut.
3.05: A fascinating renewal of the Hardwicke Stakes can fall to Hard Top who has long appealed as the type to develop into a high class four-year-old. He hasn't yet but was all at sea on soft ground at Newmarket on his reappearance and then trapped too far back and short of room at a crucial stage in the Grand Prix de Chantilly. Godolphin are showing distinct signs that a revival is just around the corner but their top horses are running just a tad rusty. Shawanda is their representative here and is a major player on the formbook. Maraahel threatens to win a race of this nature but his best form is at ten furlongs while Mountain High will love the ground but needs a personal best to pass the post first.
3.45: Takeover Target bids for a famous double but has been done few favours by the draw. He is clearly a leading player but could have to play second fiddle to Gift Horse. He looked in need of the race when traveling strongly for a long way in the Duke of York Stakes in May. He was a most progressive horse last season and will bounce off the ground. Amadeus Wolf reverts to sprinting after seemingly not staying when seventh in the 2000 Guineas over a mile. He is interesting but a bigger danger to the selection could be Iffraaj. He joined Godoldphin over the winter after a progressive four-year-old campaign and could take high rank among this season's sprinters although it is rather disconcerting that he failed to cut any ice on two previous tilts at Group One prizes.
4.25: James Fanshawe and Jamie Spencer have had a week to remember and it can get even better here with Firenze. She has snuck into the race at the foot of the handicap with stall one an added bonus. The daughter of Efisio is learning all the time and was always in control of a decent heat at Goodwood last time. We haven't seen the best of her yet. Ante-post plunge Intrepid Jack is respected but a draw of 15 hardly helps and Yomalo, winner at Leopardstown last time, may be a bigger danger. Mutamared was ill-at-ease on the undulations of Epsom last time and was going to be the selection until he landed stall 27.
4.55: Glistening looks the sort of horse Luca Cumani can plot a successful campaign with and he can start the ball rolling with victory here. The four-year-old, who was with Sir Michael Stoute last year, finished sixth behind Alfie Noakes on his first start for new connections at Epsom. That only tells half the story though as he was short of room throughout and finished full of running. Sharper for that outing, he rates as one of the best bets of the meeting. Top weight Balkan Knight returned to winning ways at Goodwood last time but while he will run his race as always, he is weighted up to the hilt. Thunder Rock is lightly raced and represents top connections, while it would be no surprise to see Chantaco go close after he seemed ill at ease at Epsom last time.
5.30: Cover Up has been something of a standing dish in this race and while he run his race again, he could struggle to cope with Vinando. That rival finished a good second in the Chester Cup before running with credit in the Henry II Stakes at Sandown. He eventually finished fifth behind Tungsten Strike and should appreciate this marathon test. Avalon shaped well behind Distinction at Newbury but whether he wants this sort of trip remains to be seen, a comment which also applies to Ebtikaar. Baddam was a runaway winner of the Ascot Stakes earlier in the week but has it all to do in this company.
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