In this regular Monday segment, racing expert Scott Armstrong rounds up all the action of note from this weekend’s racing for SBC Blog readers.
This week Scott picks apart the action from Saturday’s Sprint Cup at Haydock including how his 7/1 each way shot fared in a photo finish. He also highlights some of the weekend’s other horses of note, including a juvenile requiring further and one to watch if upped in trip next time out.
Dream Ahead confirmed himself as king of the sprinters in a pulsating Sprint Cup on Saturday. The three-year-old colt ran listlessly last time out at Deauville but bounced back in style to land the £134,000 pot. Always travelling well, Dream Ahead struck the front two furlongs from home under William Buick. A frantic battle ensued in the last furlong with Bated Breath as Dream Ahead veered off a straight line in the fight for the post. Hoof It joined both horses with a flying run on the outside and all three horses flashed past the post in unison. It took a full five minutes for the photo to be called, followed by a stewards enquiry with Dream Ahead prevailing by the smallest of margins. The win maintains Dream Ahead’s unbeaten run over six furlongs. Trainer David Simcock is considering stepping him up in trip with the Prix de la Foret in France an option. Bated Breath was the each-way suggestion on Friday at 7-1 and performed admirably while Hoof It can be considered extremely unlucky as Dream Ahead swerved in his path leaving him short of racing room as he flew home at the finale. Hoof It is an exceptional sprinter and if he takes up his entry in the Ayr Gold Cup he will take a lot of beating despite carrying top weight.
Red Gulch took the honours in the London Mile Final at Kempton. This horse does things easily and when push came to shove on Saturday he showed a fine turn of foot to win by one and a half lengths. The Cambridgeshire at Newmarket on the 20th of the month is now his target and he looks worthy of an each-way play at 20-1.
Sir Michael Stoute’s Modun won the September Stakes at Kempton, quickening clear to land the Group Three race. The step back in trip suited though it’s debatable regarding his ability to transfer the form to turf and he may be destined to continue his career on synthetic surfaces abroad.
In Ireland , So You Think landed the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes though you would have needed to lump money on him at prohibitive odds of 1-4. Aidan O’Briens superstar thoroughbred remains an unchanged 5-1 for the Arc on October 2nd.
One horse to note from the weekend is James Toller’s Saigon who was unplaced in the King Sernia Group 3 Stakes at Kempton. The juvenile looked as if he required further when fifth in the Richmond and this was confirmed on Saturday over six furlongs when he was rattling home, beaten only half a length into third. Consider him next time out provided he is stepped up to his required seven furlongs.
Back on Friday and I should have news on a horse who has been flying at home and is expected to do the business at Chester on Saturday.
Scott Armstrong
Scott’s service is one of the many racing and sporting tipsters that we monitor and recommend at the Smart Betting Club. You can read more from Scott via his racing blog at the Smart Betting Club every Monday and Friday.