Today’s best bets, by Chris Corrigan
Theresa May and her husband Philip are not due to make a further BBC1 appearance on this evening’s One Show – so no TV magic will be missed by switching over. If you can, switch to the Attheraces channel, which is showing a fascinating Listed race, the Royal Windsor Stakes.
The four leading contenders, according to the betting – Jallota, Kool Kompany, Firmament and Mitchum Swagger (7.20) – have official ratings which make them very closely matched. Having watched the last-named run fifth in a Group Two mile contest at Sandown Park two and half weeks ago, however, I think he can come out on top tonight. Under the conditions of tonight’s race, the five-year-old now receives 5lb from Jallota, who finished third at Sandown, a length and a half ahead (at level weights).
There is one problem: David Lanigan, the trainer of Mitchum Swagger, told me on Sunday his charge had come out of the Sandown race “in great order”. But then he added: “He could do with some rain.”
The going at Sandown was a little softer than the official “good” description. Windsor’s turf is also described as “good”, with some rain possible before the evening card starts. I’ll be waiting to hear the actual ground conditions before placing a bet. Mitchum Swagger has never run when “firm” has been mentioned.
Earlier on the same card, Last Voyage, who cost Godolphin $335,000 as a two-year-old, was priced up on Sunday night as a short-priced favourite by the bookmakers for this race for two-year-olds. The newcomer might be worth opposing, however, with Choice Encounter (6.20). who has a chance to continue the sparkling run of form being shown by Michael Bell. The trainer said on his blog on Sunday: “He went close at Yarmouth last time and looks to have progressed again for that run.”
Indeed, Bell’s site shows a video of Choice Encounter working on Friday with stablemate Main Desire, who has drawn an significantly enthusiastic account from the Racing Post’s gallops-watcher at Newmarket and is due to run in a Listed race at York on Friday. Main Desire was clearly superior to his companion in Friday’s gallop, but Choice Encounter could be worthy of consideration this evening.
The nap runs at Kempton. Seven Kingdoms (4.10) won on fast ground at Exeter four weeks ago but even if the track softened it should not hinder this follow-up attempt. It was on soft ground that this horse, who was very lightly raced in France, won on his British debut, over hurdles at Kempton.
Wetherby
1.50 Powderhouse 2.20 Red Royalist 2.50 Rose Marmara 3.25 Zodiakos 4.00 Mon Beau Visage 4.30 Newt 5.00 I’m Super Too 5.35 Midlight
Brighton
2.10 Golden Easter 2.40 Whitecrest 3.15 One Big Surprise 3.50 Munawer 4.20 Melabi 4.50 Bettsalottie 5.25 The Big Lad
Kempton
2.00 Ok Corral 2.30 Corrie Loch 3.05 Midnight Cowboy 3.35 Magic Bullet 4.10 Seven Kingdoms (nap) 4.40 Peppay Le Pugh
Windsor
5.20 Highland Cradle 5.50 Crowned Eagle 6.20 Choice Encounter 6.50 Sparkalot 7.20 Mitchum Swagger 7.50 Salieri 8.20 Chaparrachik
Towcester
5.30 While You Wait 6.00 Better Days (nb) 6.30 Nampararoo 7.00 Newton Geronimo 7.30 Clearly Capable 8.00 Bear’s Affair 8.30 Honest Vic
