Races

Michael Heaton’s Sunday Northam Preview

Posted on | Posted by Michael Heaton

RACE 1

QUEENSHIP is also accepted to race at Belmont on Saturday but will have plenty of admirers if she’s scratched in preference for this race. Showed a sharp turn-of-foot to run over the top of Sockoff in a six-horse field last start, gets similar conditions here and sneaks in at 54.5kg. STARS APLENTY went within a nose of going two from two this prep when gunned down by the impressive Costume Party last start. Lightly-raced 4YO who loves the short course and has upside. FOREST WAR ran Reign Of Fire to a head two starts ago and was only beaten a length last time out. Like the booking of a senior rider here. FAMOUS JURNEY is a Northam specialist but is also accepted to race at Belmont on Saturday.

Numbers: 5 – 3 – 2 – 1

Suggested Bet – QUEENSHIP WIN

RACE 2 

HOOAH HAVANA ran the fastest last 400m and 200m sectionals of the day on debut when recording a fast-finishing second at this track and distance before again drawing wide and running Saloon Bar to a length last start. Comes up with a perfect draw here and should prove too strong late. MALKAR PINDARI has run the fastest last 800m, 600m, 400m and 200m sectionals of the day in both career starts to date, can position up closer from a better draw here and looks like he’ll appreciate stepping up to 1300m. CITINO jumped tardily but made good late ground in his recent trial and can land in a nice spot here if he begins cleanly. YARRALEA has drawn awkwardly but wasn’t beaten far by the progressive Leniency last time out.

Numbers: 1 – 4 – 3 – 5

Suggested Bet – HOOAH HAVANA WIN

RACE 3

PARLONS was the target of late betting support before running a fast-fishing second to Does He Know first-up. The extra 200m here looks suitable and she looks likely to land one-out and one-back from the good draw. STARCHIENNE has run well at both career starts and doesn’t look like being a maiden for too much longer but could end up in an awkward spot three-back-the-fence in a likely slowly-run race. QUEEN’S GIFT has drawn wide in all four starts this campaign and was desperately unlucky three runs ago when travelling like the winning and being blocked for majority of the straight. Looks a much better setup for her here from a better draw and with the benefit of a claim. SECRET IDENTITY will be doing his best work late but a slow tempo might be against him.

Numbers: 4 – 5 – 3 – 8

Suggested Bet – PARLONS WIN

RACE 4

LAQUETTA’S GIFT trialled up well before bumping into the talented Here’s Dreaming (subsequent Belmont winner) on debut. Should enjoy the run of the race from her inside draw and looks well placed with 52kg to hopefully end a long run of outs for Martin Allan. SEND ‘EM hasn’t been too far away this campaign and looks like riding the speed again. AIDAN’S CHOICE made a disappointing return after racing too fiercely first-up and has drawn awkwardly with some speed underneath him here but looks capable of bouncing back. FIELD OF BATTLE’S barrier quirks would be very frustrating for the Sharon Miller stable but it was hard to miss his booming recent trial win and if he jumps with them he can give this a shake.

Numbers: 11 – 1 – 2 – 3

Suggested Bet – LAQUETTA’S GIFT WIN

RACE 5

RUSTIC ROSE gets her chance in a nine-horse field with five debutants engaged. Made a solid return when working home for fourth behind subsequent winner Cosmopolitan Girl then hit the line well behind Gratias Deo last time out. AFTER PARTY makes his race debut as a 5YO and off the back of only one public appearance when winning a Lark Hill trial but he did everything right and covered the ground nicely. Looks capable of holding a forward position. SHOOT TO FRILL is another debutant and looks like a speedy filly who will be suited to these types of races. BASIL’S DREAM next best.

Numbers: 5 – 1 – 9 – 6

Suggested Bet – RUSTIC ROSE EACH-WAY

RACE 6

BOY BLUE has been the target of late betting support at both career starts, the first when hitting the line well behind Fly Away Home and subsequent winner George Gently and the second when stepping up to a mile and getting gunned down by Anna’s Boy over the final stages. Should be at his peak third-up now and looks the likely leader. MANHATTAN STRIP drops sharply in class and looks like he’s been looking for a mile. Gets that here but is likely to settle in the second-half of the field from a tricky draw. MR HOLLYWOOD has been building into his campaign and was only beaten a head at this track and distance last time out. Should get another favourable run from the good alley. SPECIAL SORT has been a beaten favourite at his past two outings and the outside draw doesn’t help.

Numbers: 3 – 12 – 2 – 11

Suggested Bet – BOY BLUE WIN

Same Race Multi – Boy Blue (Top 2) + Manhattan Strip (Top 4)

RACE 7

ANNA’S BOY beat home three subsequent winners when second to Bigdayonit three starts ago, finished second to a subsequent winner in Queen Alina two starts ago and charged home from near-last to run over the top of Boy Blue when stepping up to a mile for the first time last start. Can position up closer from a better draw here and prove hard to beat again. ARROW SONG won her maiden in C1 company when defeating subsequent winner Ruby Noir last start off the back of three solid placings. Gets a decent weight pull on her main rivals here and will be strong at the finish. GRATIAS DEO jumps 1200m to 1600m at his second run back from a spell but has always shown a level of ability and won like a horse with upside first-up. BROADWAY BRENDA was never going to be suited first-up over 1300m at York last time out and will appreciate the step up in distance.

Numbers: 1 – 4 – 3 – 6

Suggested Bet – ANNA’S BOY WIN

RACE 8

CELEVACCI was ridden cold from an awkward draw first-up over 1400m and savaged the line to run the fastest closing splits, including the fastest last 200m of the day. His city form from two preparations ago is more than good enough for this and he can position up closer from a better draw. SCORPION STORMZ’S last win was at this track, grade and distance seven starts ago and five of his six runs since then have been in higher grade. Well placed here but will need luck from a tricky draw. ENGLISH HERITAGE is a consistent type who hasn’t been far away of late and should enjoy the run of the race. ZADAR ROCK’S trials have left a bit to be desired but he was a dominant winner in this grade first-up last campaign and usually grows a leg when he can find the front.

Numbers: 2 – 1 – 5 – 4

Suggested Bet – CELEVACCI WIN

Quaddie (Race 5 – 8)

5,1,9,6,4

3,12,2,11

1,4,3,6

2,1,5

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