The Racing League gets underway for the summer on Thursday, with racing from Yarmouth. Matty Sutcliffe has picked out three selections for you to follow during the evening.
Published: 11.35am, Wednesday, 24th July (Prices correct at time of publishing)
5:30 Yarmouth – £50,000 Guaranteed Tote Placepot Racing League Race 1 Handicap (Trainers Reg’ To Racing League) (Class 4) (3yo+ 0-85) – The Thunderer 0.5pt 14/1 EW 3 places
THE THUNDERER was a four-length fourth over the 1m6f race on this card last season, and the drop back to a shorter trip could possibly work in his favour. He’s edged right down in the weights since then after a series of losses, but his best form has come over 1m4f so this extended 1m3f might prove the oracle.
His record on good to firm ground reads 62221, including at this trip and on this course, so given he’s not had those conditions since last June, then there’s every chance he can bounce back to form. His customary slow starts are often a burden, but the forecast pace looks to be a strong enough one for him to benefit off a pace collapse, and the form of his two length fourth at Goodwood last time out has worked out well with the winner following up next time out, and the second also winning a competitive class three next time out before being beaten three length in the 41K Mettal Handicap at Newbury last weekend.
The Thunderer has certainly been campaigned with the racing league in mind, and given he’s 12lbs below his fourth on this card last season then he has to be seriously considered providing he gets a good clip to aim at.
6:30 Yarmouth – Racing League Race 3 Handicap (For horses In The Care Of Trainers Registered To Racing League) (Class 4) (3yo+ 0-80) – Carolus Magnus 1pt EW 4 places (22/1 William Hill/Coral)
I’ve been waiting for the right time to back CAROLUS MAGNUS since putting him up at 100/1 in the Cambridgeshire last September, where I thought we were terribly unlucky not to have at least been rewarded with some each way money as he was delivered too late when poorly positioned by James Sullivan. That was still a smart performance to be beaten three lengths in a strong renewal, and he’s dropped 12lbs below that mark which makes him a seriously well handicapped sort.
Admittedly, he’s been out of sorts since this spring, having been beaten 6L, 4L, and 4L in three races in May, though those efforts weren’t devoid of promise. The fact he was racing over seven furlongs on two of those occasions likely tells you the intent of those runs given all his bets form has come over 1m-1m2f, but he was ‘denied’ a clear run at York on the first occasion when staying on strongly after, suggesting there’s a bigger target in mind.
Better could have been expected last time out at Wetherby but we can possibly draw a line through his performance, as nothing got into the race over on the far-side rail and he was looked after by Jo Mason late on when weakening in the final furlong.
He’s evidently been campaigned with a certain pot in mind, and perhaps the valuable Racing League events has long been on the agenda. The addition of first time cheekpieces are bound to spark an improvement which is also likely a signal intent, and he can bounce back to form back on a straight track with his preferable rattling ground conditions and Brandon Wilkie taking 5lbs off.
7:30 Yarmouth – Follow @toteracing On X Racing League Race 5 Handicap (Trainers Registered To Racing League) (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-90) – Miss Attitude 6/1 1pt WIN
It’s no surprise that connections have reached for cheek-pieces on MISS ATTITUDE as she can often carry her head awkwardly and rarely does a whole lot in front, so if those aids sharpen her up then she’s likely to fare much better in a finish.
She looked to have the race wrapped up in a small field at Doncaster last time out, but couldn’t quite fend off the late challenge of Karl Burke’s Harvanna, who was in receipt of a hand 5lbs 3yo allowance. While it was disappointing she didn’t battle on in the final furlong, she didn’t lose an awful amount in defeat to Harvanna who’s still potentially well handicapped off her revised mark of 89 given her 5th in a competitive handicap at York where the front three were all separated by three lengths in the Palace Of Holyrood House Stakes at Ascot (Pilgrim was the winner, 3L in front of Harvanna at Ascot in receipt of 7lbs).
Prior to Doncaster, she posted a solid effort when taking a 0-85 Fillies Handicap at Haydock, quickening up well having broke slowly in rear and fending off the challenge of an unexposed three year old she was giving 9lbs to. She didn’t do an awful amount in front there but she travelled like a seriously well handicapped filly, so it was no surprise to see the two length third beaten a head next time out before winning a competitive class three on the July Course last time out, and the five length fourth ran out a cosy winner at Musselburgh on Wednesday.
The Channon team evidently thought a lot of he last season to give her a chance in listed and group three company despite rated 81/82, but she’s very much bred to improve with age and we’re starting to see glimpses of that potential this season. I’d be interested in seeing her dropped in again as I don’t think she enjoyed making the running at Haydock, and the cheekpieces would sharpen her up when coming late in between horses. She’s won twice against colts as a two year old so that shouldn’t put us off in this field, particular given she’s physically a well built filly, and all three of her wins have come on good to firm ground so she’s got conditions to suit.
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