National Hunt racing will soon start to take centre stage but there’s still some life in the Flat season before its hibernation begins.
Redcar hosts its biggest meeting of the season on Saturday and there’s a very competitive eight-race card to look forward to. Conditions look set to be on the soft side, which could have a significant impact on the results.
The Two Year Old Trophy is the big race of the day but there’s more Listed action, in the shape of the Guisborough Stakes, as well as a very competitive handicap over a mile. We’ve had a good look at the card’s highlights and picked out our strongest selection for each.
3.20 - Two Year Old Trophy
A field of 20 has been declared for the £150,000 main event and Eve Johnson Houghton’s Billboard Star heads the market. His best form in Group company puts him bang in the mix but he could be vulnerable to a less exposed sort.
Tom Clover’s runner INVICTUS GOLD fits that profile and the thrice-raced gelding has won his last two starts. There’s only two places to go from here; handicaps or a step up in grade and the son of Invincible Spirit has earned a shot at the latter. It was a particularly smooth performance under a penalty at Newmarket last time out and if progressing again, he surely won’t be far away. His trainer has been in particularly good form recently and that certainly bodes well for Invictus Gold’s chances.
Uncle Don beat the useful Big Mojo easily at Beverley in July and was second in a Listed race at Ayr when last seen. The return to 6f isn’t guaranteed to suit but he should be thereabouts provided he gets the trip.
One that appeals at a bigger price is Midnight Strike for Joseph O’Brien, who is having his first ever runner at the track. This horse has some very respectable soft ground form in Group company and may well have snuck under the radar.
SELECTION: INVICTUS GOLD
NEXT BEST: MIDNIGHT STRIKE
1.50 - Racing TV EBF Stallions Guisborough Stakes
The form book suggests this could be a pretty open and shut case, as GREY’S MONUMENT has been presented with an excellent opportunity upon his return to Listed company. With an official rating of 111, Ralph Beckett’s four-year-old is the best horse in the race and it’s tough to see him getting beaten here. He won a soft ground handicap at Ascot off 105 when last seen and was a Listed winner at Kempton in December, making him very difficult to oppose.
All three of the three-year-olds in the field are fillies and Mick Appleby’s Eminny is perhaps the most interesting of them. She bolted up in a handicap at Hamilton over 6f when last seen and although improvement is required, she appears to be going the right way.
There’s probably not a lot between Northern Express and Ramazan but the latter’s Group race form makes him best placed to give Grey’s Monument a run for his money.
SELECTION: GREY’S MONUMENT
NEXT BEST: EMINNY
2.25 - Woodsmith Construction Group Straight-Mile Series Final Handicap
The veteran Cruyff Turn comes into this full of confidence, having returned to winning ways in good style at Thirsk last month. A 5lb higher mark will make life harder here but he’s more than capable of going close if reproducing his best form.
Another last time out winner, Edward Bethell runs NAEPOINT here and the progressive three-year-old is well set to continue on his current upward trajectory. The son of Blue Point has won two of his last three starts and made all the running to score over course and distance back in August. This horse was a narrow second on his sole start on soft, so the conditions shouldn’t be an issue. It would be a surprise if he doesn’t improve beyond his current rating of 83.
Empire Of Light has been admirably consistent of late and found only Naepoint too good last time. Grant Tuer’s three-year-old has a 4lb swing in his favour here and that should help him to get closer this time around.
SELECTION: NAEPOINT
NEXT BEST: EMPIRE OF LIGHT
