11.15am July Cup winner Limato on course for Deauville
Tony Paley: July Cup winner Limato is to skip the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood this month in favour of a run in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.
“Limato, as is his wont, was still very excitable when he returned to the yard and was very chuffed with himself,” said winning trainer Henry Candy on Sunday.
“He was throwing his head around and slightly banged the top of his head and also had a scrape near his eye. In view of all that, I”d say he probably took more out of himself then I originally thought and I think the Sussex will come too soon now.
“If the ground is right for him he’ll go to Deauville, and if it doesn’t suit him then Twilight Son could run there. It’s very likely Twilight Son will run at Haydock in the Sprint Cup next but Deauville is there if we want to. You could tell he’d had a race on ground firmer than he likes. He was a bit stiff and sore but he’s cheerful enough.”
On Limato’s July Cup performance, Candy added: “It was a most exciting performance. The only horse I can remember watching as exciting as that is one my father [Derek] used to trainer called Song, who won the King’s Stand [in 1969]. He used to be dropped out last. The commentators would ignore him and then he’d come sweeping through. He would have to be the most exciting sprinter I’ve trained.”
Monday’s best bets, by John O’Hara
Hugo Palmer has only ever had five runners at Ayr, which is hardly surprising as it a near 800-mile round trip from his Newmarket base, but the ones he has sent have yet to produce a winner. That should finally change this afternoon when Aventinus (2.00) make his third racecourse appearance, in the opening maiden race.
The son of Zoffany lost by a couple of pixels last time out at Kempton and, with the exception of Eldorado Creek, there doesn’t appear to be much strength in the opposition.
South Lanarkshire trainer Keith Dalgleish has several strong chances but his best could be Roc De Prince (5.00) in Ayr’s finale. The seven-year-old has been in great form of late and, after a four-length win at Catterick in May, has twice gone close off a higher mark. His current rating of 62 is not too steep and stepping down to 1m5f from 2m could be the answer.
Boater (2.15) looks a banker bet to take the opener at Chelmsford for Mark Johnston. His placed efforts behind Vona, Grizzewl and Mubtasim look too good for his main rival Rosabelle, who will have to up her game to even get close to Boater’s shadow.
The best each-way chance at the Essex track to my eye is with Mustaqqil (4.00) in the mile handicap. David O’Meara has a knack at improving horses and cheekpieces have made a positive difference for his runner. The selection looks to be coming into form and should be a fair price.
My nap of the day is Tis Marvellous (6.30) who runs in the six-furlong maiden event at Windsor. Clive Cox’s youngster looked an unfortunate loser behind Mutawatheb at Newbury recently when a length second. He ran into traffic problems in the 14-runner field yet flew when he got out. On that particular morning I had had a conversation with connections close to Mutawatheb and they wouldn’t hear of defeat, so he is clearly highly regarded. There doesn’t appear to be anything of that class in this field and although the selection will be around evens, she should be a steal.
Tipping competition - a new week
Congratulations to Toptrapper, who catapulted himself to the top of last week’s leaderboard in the very last race by picking Ode To Evening (25-1) for a score of +20. Commiserations to pkhughesy92 (+15.50) for getting done on the line by such a dramatic late finisher. Toptrapper, we’ll be in touch!
This week’s prize is a pair of tickets to Ascot to see the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday 23 July. Our most prestigious all-aged Flat race could bring together Postponed and Hawkbill this time. The tickets, generously offered by the Queen’s track, are for the Winning Post Enclosure, which, as the name suggests, will get you very close to the action. If you don’t win, you can buy tickets here.
To kick things off, we’d like your selections, please, for these races: 3.45 Chelmsford, 4.30 Ayr, 9.00 Windsor.
As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price on our nominated races, of which there will be three each day up until Friday. Non-runners count as losers.
In the event of a tie at the end of the week, the winner will be the tipster who, from among those tied on the highest score, posted their tips earliest on the final day.
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
