Our racing pundit Tony McCormick from.irishbigracetrends.com has recently been signed up by geegeez.co.uk, the world’s largest independent horse racing website, to share his daily, each-way Double-Dutch selections.
More winners for our trainers to follow in May, highlighted in this column two weeks ago. While, my Richard Fahey and Saeed bin Suroor angles have struggled a little, the Sir Michael Stoute trend has returned a staggering 50% strike rate with no less than seven winners in the last week.
Cannock Chase at 11/4, winning at Chester, and Abingdon at 9/2, who landed the spoils at Ascot, being the highlights. Add to that, winners for David Elsworth, who saddled Justice Angel at 11/2, the Ralph Beckett-trained, Little Avon at 5/2 and an Aiden O’Brien shortie at Leopardstown, the angle seems to be ticking along nicely.
York’s Dante Meeting gets under way on Wednesday, with the main event on Thursday at 3.15, where Sir Michael Stoute’s, Sandown Classic trial winner, Midterm, puts his burgeoning reputation on the line.
There are 11 competitive handicaps over the three days and I have taken a look at the results of the last three years.
From the last 33 winners, all had an SP no bigger than 25/1, had an official rating of 72+ or had finished in the first six in one of their last three starts. Almost all handicap winners were aged between three and seven, while 30 of the last 33 winners were Irish or GB bred. When using these angles and when looking at trainers, David O’Meara, Mark Johnston and Sir Michael Stoute must be on your shortlists, while Richard Fahey’s runners need a second look, though some discretion is advised with the amount of runners he aims at such handicaps. Just a reminder that the Racing Post is giving away a free download, 100 Winners To Follow – Flat 2016. Available at racingpost.com here are a few more for your notebooks.
FOXTROT KNIGHT: The late and much missed Alan Amies, put a syndicate of friends and colleagues together after claiming this strong, well-made type at the tail-end of his fruitless juvenile career. Switched to Ruth Carr’s North Yorkshire yard, he thrived, taking handicaps at Catterick and Chelmsford in April and Windsor in June. A real speedball, sprinting is his game and he looks sure to pay his way again.
GAMESOME (FR): Gamesome only has a 2013 maiden score to his name from 11 starts to date, but he has run a number of decent races in defeat for Olly Stevens and, a 75,000gns purchase in October by trainer Paul Midgley, he could finally fulfil his potential for his new connections this term.
NINETTA (IRE): Bred for middle distances, this niece of Arc winner Peintre Celebre enjoyed a nightmare passage when runner-up on her racecourse debut at Beverley in August. Sent to Carlisle the following month, she made all to justify cramped odds in a mile maiden. On her final start she earned £29,550 when finishing an honourable third in a fillies’ sales race at Newmarket. Seven furlongs that day was on the short side for her and it is over a mile plus that she can be expected to add to her tally in her second season.