So no Ayr Gold Cup after a waterlogging fiasco. A shame for us as we were on likely favourite Shanghai Glory at good odds weeks ago – stakes returned but an opportunity missed.
In Ayr’s absense there are still two big handicaps to get our teeth into.
Newmarket’s Cesarewitch is still a month away, but they run a useful dress rehearsal (1510 BST), which although not providing the big race winner (that’s booked for John Constable) is a good betting race in its own right.
It is very rare to get a 3yo weighted high enough for the main event, but one gets to sneak in here in the form of Time To Study.
He won just a week ago at Doncaster and a 4lb rise looks fair enough as that win may have been easier but for the jockey dropping his whip. It can be hard for the handicapper to tag these improving youngsters, and with the flying Andrea Atzeni on board, he can outclass a field of mostly exposed older sorts.
The youngsters may well be the place to look in Newbury’s valuable 10f handicap (1525) that is so often a guide for the forthcoming Cambridgeshire. However we want to take a punt on an unexposed older horse.
Azari, (the dyslexic Arazi), spent his youth in Italy and was brought to the UK initially with hurdling in mind. That wasn’t a success, but a switch to the flat has seen two wins and a somewhat unlucky second last time out.
All those runs were at 12f, this will test his speed but there may be a chance that a flat out gallop at 10f could suit this horse even more. He’ll certainly be finishing well and with 5lbs being claimed off and a useful inside draw he is worth a look at long odds.
Recommendations:
Azari, (1525 Newbury), 0.5pts each way, 25/1 generally available
Time To Study, (1510 Newmarket), 2pts win, 6/1 generally available
Azari & Time To Study, 0.5pts each way double, approx 180/1
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