Post by Old Timer on Apr 20, 2021 10:25:50 GMT
After Sunday’s performance a good friend suggested I should give up as I’m never going to match that again! Well, I’m not about to do that, but my expectations may be a little lower!
Epsom 14.50 Cl 2 Handicap 139 (94.3) 10f gd – 10 Run
Harrovian 5-9-5 (101) Dr 8 (2.0)
’20 record: 1/0/4 Best: 193.3 off 101 carrying 9-11 (Cl 2 Hcap 10f gd/fm Newmkt)
08/08/20 Cl 2 Hcap (97/96.8) 10f gd/fm Nwmkt 9-11 7/1 2/4 2.25 l off 101
close up in 4th, pushed along 3f out, headway to go 2nd inside final furlong, no threat to winner
Plus: distance (W); down 6lbs (wt);
Minus: class; going; course (?); 255-days break;
Verdict: just the 4 starts last year but having won a Cl 3 at Doncaster disappointed in the John Smith’s at York and could only finish 2/4 to Cognac on his final run at Newmarket; Good Birthday (+1) was 5.5l further back last; likely to improve again this season and could score on his return.
Sky Defender 5-9-7 (104) Dr 5 (6.5)
’20 record: 3/5/15 Best: 191.8 off 99 carrying 9-5 (Cl 2 Hcap 10f gd Epsom)
’21 record: 0/1/5 Best: 197.3 off 103 carrying 9-7 (Cl 2 Hcap 9.5f AW Wolv)
02/04/21 Cl 2 Stks (515/) 10f AW Ling 9-5 28/1 4/6 3.5 l off 104
soon led, pushed along 2f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, no extra
Plus: class (W); going ((W); distance (W); going (W); form run lto (18 days);
Minus: up 2lbs (wt);
Verdict: game front runner who gives all he’s got and won over C&D here last July off 5lbs lower mark; hasn’t won since, but has run some decent races including lto in the Easter Middle Distance Classic at Lingfield;
Good Birthday 5-8-3 (86) Dr 10 (7.2)
‘20 record: 0/1/9 Best: 181.8 off 83 carrying 8-13 (Cl 2 Hcap 10f gd Sand)
10/10/20 Cl 2 Hcap (81/84.4) 10.5f sf York 9-9 9/1 8/14 14.75 l off 88
held up towards rear, not clear run and switched left inside final 2f, soon ridden and no impression
26/09/20 Cl 2 Hcap (747/97.0) 9f gd Nwmkt 8-4 20/1 8/27 7.67 l off 90
slow into stride in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, one pace final furlong
Plus: class (W); going (W); distance (W); down 20lbs (wt); down 2lbs (OR);
Minus: course (?); 192-days break;
Verdict: inclined to ignore final run on grounds of going, and didn’t run badly in the Cambridgeshire before that; however, the losing run is 10 and hasn’t win since 31/08/19 at Beverley off 95; won his return that year, so could bounce back, but unlikely.
There remain the likes of Blue Cap who could well improve this year, but as yet has not got the form in the bank, while Sarban has to prove it on turf. Alfred Boucher is another with something to prove in this class. Victory Chime is a 6yo drawn 1, both marked by their scarcity of winning. Early season yet though and anything can happen, but I’m going to go with a proven winner in Sky Defender who should certainly make the frame. Following him home I’ve got Harrovian and hopefully an improved performance from Good Birthday to take third.
Epsom 14.50 Cl 2 Handicap 139 (94.3) 10f gd – 10 Run
Harrovian 5-9-5 (101) Dr 8 (2.0)
’20 record: 1/0/4 Best: 193.3 off 101 carrying 9-11 (Cl 2 Hcap 10f gd/fm Newmkt)
08/08/20 Cl 2 Hcap (97/96.8) 10f gd/fm Nwmkt 9-11 7/1 2/4 2.25 l off 101
close up in 4th, pushed along 3f out, headway to go 2nd inside final furlong, no threat to winner
Plus: distance (W); down 6lbs (wt);
Minus: class; going; course (?); 255-days break;
Verdict: just the 4 starts last year but having won a Cl 3 at Doncaster disappointed in the John Smith’s at York and could only finish 2/4 to Cognac on his final run at Newmarket; Good Birthday (+1) was 5.5l further back last; likely to improve again this season and could score on his return.
Sky Defender 5-9-7 (104) Dr 5 (6.5)
’20 record: 3/5/15 Best: 191.8 off 99 carrying 9-5 (Cl 2 Hcap 10f gd Epsom)
’21 record: 0/1/5 Best: 197.3 off 103 carrying 9-7 (Cl 2 Hcap 9.5f AW Wolv)
02/04/21 Cl 2 Stks (515/) 10f AW Ling 9-5 28/1 4/6 3.5 l off 104
soon led, pushed along 2f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, no extra
Plus: class (W); going ((W); distance (W); going (W); form run lto (18 days);
Minus: up 2lbs (wt);
Verdict: game front runner who gives all he’s got and won over C&D here last July off 5lbs lower mark; hasn’t won since, but has run some decent races including lto in the Easter Middle Distance Classic at Lingfield;
Good Birthday 5-8-3 (86) Dr 10 (7.2)
‘20 record: 0/1/9 Best: 181.8 off 83 carrying 8-13 (Cl 2 Hcap 10f gd Sand)
10/10/20 Cl 2 Hcap (81/84.4) 10.5f sf York 9-9 9/1 8/14 14.75 l off 88
held up towards rear, not clear run and switched left inside final 2f, soon ridden and no impression
26/09/20 Cl 2 Hcap (747/97.0) 9f gd Nwmkt 8-4 20/1 8/27 7.67 l off 90
slow into stride in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, one pace final furlong
Plus: class (W); going (W); distance (W); down 20lbs (wt); down 2lbs (OR);
Minus: course (?); 192-days break;
Verdict: inclined to ignore final run on grounds of going, and didn’t run badly in the Cambridgeshire before that; however, the losing run is 10 and hasn’t win since 31/08/19 at Beverley off 95; won his return that year, so could bounce back, but unlikely.
There remain the likes of Blue Cap who could well improve this year, but as yet has not got the form in the bank, while Sarban has to prove it on turf. Alfred Boucher is another with something to prove in this class. Victory Chime is a 6yo drawn 1, both marked by their scarcity of winning. Early season yet though and anything can happen, but I’m going to go with a proven winner in Sky Defender who should certainly make the frame. Following him home I’ve got Harrovian and hopefully an improved performance from Good Birthday to take third.