SCOOP6 – SATURDAY 28th FEBRUARY
£200,000 estimated Win Fund
£200,000 estimated Bonus Fund
Leg 1 (1.45 Newbury): Richard Johnson rode yet another winner for Philip Hobbs here at Newbury on Friday and IRISH BUCCANEER could set the bandwagon rolling again in Newbury’s opening contest. Let’s hope that Richard remains fit and well for many years to come and that he can gain a well deserved jockey’s title after Tony McCoy retires. As for this event, connections might have most to fear from the likes of PROVO, LEAVE IT BE and LAUGHTON PARK.
Leg 2 (2.15 Newbury): There is definitely a place for these ‘speciality’ races in the calendar in my opinion, especially at a course like Newbury when so many memories of great races fill the memory bank. A few years ago the race for grey horses was instigated on the level, and here we a have a ‘veterans only’ event. Why shouldn’t we offer these fine old warriors another chance of visiting the winners enclosure before they are sent out to the paddocks? It’s worth noting that ten-year-olds have won five of the six contests to date (barely into middle age) and vintage representative SOLL looks to have a decent chance in this grade/company. TRANQUIL SEA is an interesting each way alternative option, even if likelier winners include the Venetia Williams pair RELAX and BALLYOLIVER. Two of the six favourites (gold and silver medallists) have secured toteplacepot positions thus far.
Leg 3 (2.50 Newbury): Six-year-olds have secured six of the last 10 contests, with a 16/1 vintage representative beaten by only a neck last year when trying to improve the ratio further still. Vintage representatives are 7/2 to extend the recent trend before the form book in taken into consideration and choosing between BABY KING and ATWAAL is not the easiest job I will undertake this weekend. Suffice to say that both horses will be included in my toteplacepot mix, possibly accompanied by FIRST MOHICAN. Two clear market leaders and two joint favourites have prevailed via the last 13 renewals. Eight of the 15 favourites have claimed toteplacepot positions during the study period.
Leg 4 (2.55 LIngfield): Four-year-olds won the first two renewals before one of the three vintage representatives last year claimed the bronze medal at odds of 10/1. Just two four-year-olds line up in this fourth renewal with both HOLIDAY MAGIC and HALATION holding win and place claims in this decent looking Class 3 handicap. If the four-year-olds are to be denied, SECRET ART could prove to be the joker in the pack. All three (2/1–5/2–11/4) favourites have finished out with the washing thus far.
Leg 5 (3.25 Newbury): Paul Nicholls has snared six gold medals and three of the silver variety via the last nine renewals of this event via just 19 runners. Paul held two options at the penultimate stage and the trainer has offered the green light to SOUND INVESTMENT on this occasion. A winner of five of his 17 races under rules, Paul’s Dr Massini entry looks sure to become competitive turning for home. That said, eight-year-olds have won four of the last six renewals whereby the chances of SEVENTH SKY, MIDNIGHT BELLE and WESTWARD POINT are respected. Five of the eight market leaders that failed to win (alongside four successful favourites) finished out of the frame.
Leg 6 (3.45 Doncaster): Only one favourite has scored via eight renewals during the last decade during which time, three of the ten market leaders have finished in the frame (exact science). Nine-year-olds have won four renewals during the study period, three of which has score within the last four years. Seven of the eight winners carried a maximum burden of 10-12 and putting all the facts and figures together, FARGREAGA, DROP OUT JOE and STREAMS OF WHISKY are nominated against the other nine contenders.