The Daily Yankee
NAP OF THE DAY: Ripp Orf, (1445 Ascot), 2pts win, 5/1:
Won two and was placed in the other three in his five course and distance runs last year. Has slowly sunk to a similar mark this season despite running generally well particularly when 4th and 5th in his two big handicaps here again this year. Everything looks set to go close again, and although very valuable, there may not be quite the strength in depth here that he has faced in his other Ascot runs this season. Well worth supporting to run a huge race.
First In Line, (1350 Haydock), 11/4: John Gosden is invariably a force in these high class middle distance 3yo handicaps and he looks set to take this with First In Line. Tis highly promising colt made his handicap debut last time in the ultra competitive Melrose at York, leading late on but being edged into second by a potentially very well handicapped winner. Is up 4lbs but this looks like a weak version of the Melrose and Gosden’s runner is surely open to further improvement.
Hello Youmzain, (1610 Haydock), 7/1: upgraded handicapper Khaadem and the exposed Dream of Dreams have inherited the battle for favouritism for this Group 1 after the defection of Advertise and Ten Sovereigns. They aren’t convincing market leaders and its worth noting that when the original favourites were 1st and 4th in the Group 1 Commonwealth at Royal Ascot they were departed by Forever In Dreams and Hello Youmzain. Both are Haydock winners and both are bred to enjoy this surface. Hello Youmzain is more proven on it and he looks a decent price given his credentials.
Gnaad, (1705 Ascot), 9/1: trainer Alan Bailey has a useful and consistent handicapper in Gnaad whose best run probably came when 3rd over this course in May. Also ran well at Salisbury recently on which performance there should be little between him and favourite Texting, but Gnaad may not have had much luck there, or subsequently at Sandown. He can improve for the return here, has a useful apprentice booked, and is drawn close to the likely pacesetter.
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