Ben Linfoot is looking forward to Hunt Cup winner Settle For Bay's Meydan return, while he picks out some points of interest at Ludlow and Southwell.
1. Bay of plenty at Meydan
Thursday marks the return of Settle For Bay, last year’s classy Royal Hunt Cup hero.
Not seen since his Royal Ascot exploits due in part to a stone bruise he picked up in the summer, David Marnane’s five-year-old makes his comeback in the Group Three Singspiel Stakes Presented By Longines V H P Collection over nine furlongs at Meydan (4.50 GMT).
It’s not really a surprise the Rio De La Plata gelding has jetted off for a Dubai campaign.
One of his owners, Denis McGettigan, also owns the McGettigan’s Irish Pub chain, who have just as many outlets in Dubai as they do in Ireland, while Marnane himself is no stranger to Meydan.
The County Tipperary handler always tries to target the carnival with Dandy Boy, Elleval, Jamesie and Nocturnal Affair all winning for him out in Dubai in recent years.
Settle For Bay will bid to add his name to that list in the coming weeks and months and a positive spin can be put on his Hunt Cup form as he bids to make the transition from top handicapper to a group horse.
Though those immediately behind Settle For Bay in the Hunt Cup didn’t do much for the form, many a big race winner came out of the contest.
The fifth home, Flaming Spear, won twice subsequently. The seventh, Raising Sand, landed the Challenge Cup at Ascot. Eighth home Seniority won the Golden Mile at Goodwood. Burnt Sugar, midfield in the Hunt Cup, won the Bunbury Cup and International handicaps. 16th home Mukalal won at Leicester. Even the 22nd home, Gabrial, won at Epsom.
So, the Hunt Cup form isn’t bad. And Settle For Bay won it easily, off a mark of 99. You would expect him to make the leap to Group Three company on that evidence and his 197-day absence isn’t so much of a concern when you consider he’s won off a 199-day break before, even if that was at a much lower level.
The Dubai Turf over Thursday’s course and distance on World Cup night is the dream for Settle For Bay’s connections. In the Singspiel Stakes he takes the first step on that road and it is with hope this slightly fragile but highly-talented horse can make it a winning one.
2. Top duo could double up at Ludlow
Noel Fehily has a good 17 per cent strike-rate from approaching 2000 rides for Charlie Mann but his record for that trainer at Ludlow is even better.
Fehily has won 16 races for Mann at the Shropshire track from 68 rides at 24 per cent, so the combination are always worth a second look at this particular venue.
On Thursday the duo team up twice, firstly with Capone in the opening Best Wishes For 2019 Juvenile Hurdle (thank you, and you, Ludlow) and secondly with interesting hurdles newcomer Financial Conduct in the Call Jeeves Telephone Answering Service Maiden Hurdle (remember when you could just Ask the big J?).
Capone was put in his place by Quel Destin at Doncaster last month, but that horse is as short as 8/1 for the Triumph Hurdle with Sky Bet (Non Runner No Bet) and 10/1 elsewhere, so there was no shame in that and he could well improve now unleashed in calmer waters.
Meanwhile, Financial Conduct was a prolific Dundalk winner when trained in Ireland and was 97-rated when racing twice for David Simcock in the Qatar Racing colours, so it’ll be interesting to see how strong he is in the market on his hurdling debut.
If he has schooled well and confidence is high a Fehily-Mann double is not out of the question, as Capone looks to have been found a nice opportunity in what looks a weak race.
3. Weld Al Emarat can reverse Angel Palanas form
One of the key pieces of form at Southwell ahead of the sunracing.co.uk Handicap (3.10) on Thursday is the Follow Sun Racing On Twitter Handicap over the course and distance on December 11.
The top three from that race, Angel Palanas, Weld Al Emarat and Hammer Gun, all reoppose, with the winner, Angel Palanas, running off an 8lb higher mark.
The one to focus on, though, could well be Weld Al Emarat, as he dotted up at the same track on his previous start, winning by six lengths off a mark of 70 over a mile, and it looked to be his draw rather than the 10lb hike or drop in trip that did for him last time.
Berthed out in 13, he endured a wide trip throughout while Angel Palanas, who has been beaten twice at Southwell subsequently, made all from stall one.
The pair are drawn next to each other in three and four this time around, and it would be no surprise to see Weld Al Emarat extend his good Southwell record (two wins, one second from three runs) for a sire that does so well with his progeny there (Dubawi, 31 wins from 120 runs at 26 per cent).