Post by SALFORD GIRL on Jun 6, 2023 21:27:55 GMT
RACING POST - BEST BETS
WEDNESDAY 7th JUNE 2023
By Mr Graeme Rodway..
4.00 - Nottingham - FUNNY STORY.
5.10 - Nottingham - GULMARG.
5.50 - Kempton - HELLFIRE BAY.
4.00 - Nottingham - FUNNY STORY.
5.10 - Nottingham - GULMARG.
5.50 - Kempton - HELLFIRE BAY.
There are six meetings and the best betting opportunities on a busy day's racing come at Nottingham, starting with the Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap (4.00).
I was at Newmarket to see Quinault win twice in the space of three days last month, including a traditionally hot 6f handicap on the second occasion, and in that race the fourth knocked my eye out as a possible future winner. The horse in question was Funny Story and she runs here.
Funny Story didn’t get a clean start and was caught out the back of the field early, but she travelled better than most and had trouble finding a clear path. When the gap appeared, she made good late headway to finish three lengths behind the bang in-form winner.
Her effort just flattened out near the line, so maybe she was in need of that first run since October, and she was definitely rusty at the start. She should be sharper this time.
She raced prominently for both of her wins last season, including on fast ground at Newmarket on her debut, and should be hard to beat in a weaker race than last time.
Another horse who ran on that same day at Newmarket is Gulmarg, and he rates a superb bet to go two better than he did there in the Bet At racingtv.com Handicap (5.10) over 1m½f.
Gulmarg has finished third on his last four outings including his last two starts on the Rowley Mile. He beat 12 of his 14 rivals when behind subsequent winner Surely Not on the first occasion and again shaped well when coming from off the pace at the same venue last time.
That race was contested by several unexposed three-year-olds and the front three pulled clear of the remainder of the field in a good time for the Class 4 grade.
He races off the same mark in what looks a less-competitive race and the return to a fast surface promises to suit. He was a winner on good to firm ground at Yarmouth last year.
I spent some time looking at the other cards for my final selection and came down on Hellfire Bay in the More Price Boosts Races At Unibet Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (5.50) at Kempton.
There is a chance she will be a short price as she ran an eyecatching race on her debut at Goodwood, but several top stables saddle equally promising runners against her that hopefully means her odds won’t be too cramped. Anything bigger than 7-4 would be fair.
Hellfire Bay was well-held at the line at Goodwood, but she went through the race like a classy filly and was beaten by two horses who both went into the contest after a run.
My selection wasn’t as professional as the two who beat her. She went right at the start and missed the break, and then ran green when asked for her effort. All things considered, she did well to finish three and a half lengths behind the winner after doing so many things wrong.
She should take a big step forward from that experience and the switch to Polytrack looks certain to suit. Her sister won on the all-weather and she is from a US family.
John Gosden has often run his best juveniles in June before turning them out quickly for a crack at Royal Ascot and he and son Thady might have that in mind for Hellfire Bay too.
There could be Royal Ascot clues aplenty at the Curragh as well, particularly in the Oak Solutions Group Irish EBF Race (5.30) where Aidan O’Brien runs the promising Alabama.
I was tempted to take him on with Valiant Force, who finished second to the equally exciting His Majesty on his debut and had little chance when racing alone in the centre in the Marble Hill at this course last time. I decided against a bet on him, but will be watching with interest.
