Mark Howard: Five handicappers for 2020

Ralph Beckett has assembled a quality squad of older horses for the year ahead and it was further bolstered during the winter with the arrival of BABBO’S BOY. A four year old by Mastercraftsman, he was a dual winner last term for Michael Bell and is officially rated 92. Successful at Yarmouth and Leicester last spring over twelve furlongs, he failed to fire at Royal Ascot and well held at Newmarket’s July meeting during the summer. However, he was only a length and a quarter behind the progressive Faylaq in receipt of six pounds on the all-weather at Kempton in September. Gelded since arriving at his new yard, he looks tailormade for races such as the Old Newton Cup at Haydock and other valuable middle distance handicaps. Yet to race beyond a mile and a half, he may even stay further. His connections believe he prefers some ease in the ground, although it was quick when scoring at Leicester in May.

IMPERIUM is bred to be useful being a gelded son of Frankel out of the 1999 Epsom Oaks winner Ramruma. A sibling of Flying Cross, who was placed in the Irish St Leger, the Roger Charlton trained four year old ought to have plenty more to offer off his mark off 77. Unraced at two, he improved when stepping up in distance last year winning narrowly at Kempton in September off an opening rating of 70. Successful on that occasion over a mile and a half, he then tackled two miles for the first time at Lingfield at the start of the following month. Beaten a length and three quarters, he stayed on stoutly and would have benefited from a stronger early gallop. Unexposed over staying trips, his best form has been achieved on artificial surfaces so far, although he has only had three runs on the turf.

Brentford Hope is expected to grab all the headlines this year as far as Richard Hughes’ three year olds are concerned following his mind blowing debut win at Newmarket last backend. However, the famous Weathercock House Stables is also responsible for another interesting prospect amongst the Classic generation, namely MAORI KNIGHT. It will be disappointing if the well bred son of Camelot can’t make an impact in middle distance handicaps off a rating of 83. Bought for €82,000 as a yearling, he is a half-brother to Balty Boys and Artistic Rifles and caught the eye on debut when a running on third in a seven furlongs novice stakes at Newbury in July. A shade disappointing next time at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting, he only finished fourth of five but was beaten less than two lengths behind Raaeb. Given a break, he returned in February at Chelmsford and relished the step up to a mile. Making all under Kieran Shoemark, he galloped his opponents into submission to win hard held by five lengths. Entered in the Epsom Derby, that is likely to prove a step too far but there are some good prizes to be won with him this summer and beyond.

With a fresh batch of new talent following a hefty spending spree at the Newmarket Horses in Training Sales last Autumn, Jedd O’Keeffe will have much more high profile horses this year, but it will be interesting to track the progress of the lightly raced PHILOSOPHICAL. Gelded during the winter, he is by Mukhadram and was given three educational runs as a two year old. Rated 66, he was fourth on his debut at Doncaster behind Wyclif (runner-up at Listed level and rated 100) keeping on. Two more outings at Newcastle and Redcar followed, all in the space of less than a couple of months, and they weren’t devoid of promise either. All three runs came over seven furlongs and, out of a mare who stayed ten furlongs, he will prove more at home over at least a mile this year. It is a big year for Micky Hammond’s former assistant and he could have a nice type on his hands.

It is often the case that smart juveniles can struggle at three and then bounce back as four year olds when the handicapper has given them some respite. Tim Easterby is hoping that proves the case with VINTAGE BRUT. A three times winner as a two year old, including twice at Listed level at Sandown and York, he began last season off a mark of 108. Having failed to trouble the judge in six outings, the son of Dick Turpin has dropped to an official rating of 99. Fifth in the Listed Queensferry Stakes at Chester last August, he has been gelded since the Autumn and appreciates cut in the ground. It is not hard to envisage him playing a major role in something like the Ayr Gold Cup in September, especially having finished a close second in the Listed Harry Rosebery Stakes at the same track during his two year old career. With Art Power, Lampang and Vintage Brut, King Power Racing have some decent prospects currently lodging at Great Habton.

Mark Howard, author of Ahead On The Flat, One Jump Ahead & Racing TV pundit.

Ahead On The Flat, which includes exclusive interviews with Andrew Balding, Ralph Beckett, Roger Charlton, Tim Easterby, Charlie Fellowes, William Haggas, Jedd O’Keeffe, James Tate and Roger Varian can be purchased for £10.99 (including postage) from www.mhpublications.co.uk

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