El Hadeeyah represents another time-handicap ‘special’ for juvenile aficionados in a Maiden Fillies’ Stakes over five furlongs of ‘good to firm’ Ascot today; earlier this week we nominated Navello as a ‘headline’ choice and George Boughey’s charge romped home under Nicola Currie around Chester to land a gamble and justify computation of his previous Brighton mark. That’s obviously important in my book because it instils confidence for readers/punters who follow this column, our priority.
James Doyle was aboard El Hadeeyah when the Invincible Spirit filly stayed on strongly first-up in a fiercely-competitive Newmarket ‘dash’ won by Desert Dreamer, form which rates alongside that of Navello now being prepared with group races firmly on Boughey’s agenda.
At least two winners have resulted from the HQ race, also several places, and El Hadeeyah, mount of Jim Crowley due to ‘politics’, surely needs only to achieve normal improvement; according to trainer James Tate his charge has indeed improved for the experience and we all know how much two-year-olds often benefit from their ‘first day at school’ when ridden sensibly and sympathetically. Doyle is a past master with the youngsters, a reason why he’s so important for the high-profile Godolphin operation.
Median criteria is instinctive in this ‘old soldier’ and I’m prepared to go into battle with El Hadeeyah; I’ll be scouting for the best price available on Betfair betting exchange which definitely displays best odds for punting and indeed laying, especially when I play short-priced favourites on high-profile football matches such as the Premier/Championship Leagues.
From tremendous experience as a teenage soccer player, at a decent level, I’m aware just how difficult it is to score and the unpredictability of the ‘beautiful game’ which still fascinates, even though a foreign infiltration has lessened the quality. The forthcoming Champions League final with Manchester City and Chelsea is mouth-watering to say the least and my old club Leicester City is in the FA Cup final against the latter a week tomorrow.
Back to the ‘day job’ of horse-racing which affords twice-raced, Wee Loch Lass, recent neck second at Thirsk, an excellent opportunity of going one better in a Novice Stakes over five furlongs of ‘good to soft’ Ripon, which is similarly-undulating. Mount of Danny Tudhope, is there a better jockey riding than the Northern-based ‘kick boxer?’
On the jumping front don’t miss Seisensational in the Maiden Hurdle over two miles of ‘good’ Market Rasen ground. Find one to beat Sam Twiston-Davies’ mount, I can’t!
Selections, Market Rasen, 12.30 Seinsensational; Ascot, 1.55 El Hadeeyah; Ripon 5.20 Wee Loch Lass.
by Jeffrey Ross whose ‘winner-a-day’ sequence yielded another ‘beaut special’ 4/1 double NAVELLO (5/4) and DRAGON BONES (5/6), Wednesday.