UK Horse Racing Tips

Little Jo couldn’t quite make the transition from winning a 0-75 affair on the Tapeta surface at Newcastle to winning the Silver Cambridgeshire at Newmarket three weeks later, but was only headed in the dying strides when beaten two necks in the latter contest and can make amends in the WSG Sports Signage Handicap (4.00) back on the Rowley Mile on Friday. Brian Ellison’s four-year-old is 5lb higher in the weights on this occasion, but eased slightly in grade, so a fourth win in five starts would be no surprise. The Major Cadeaux gelding has clearly benefited from a wind operation in March, completing a hat-trick within the space of four weeks in August and September, and may still have more improvement to come.

Of course, Little Jo has already officially improved by 28lb since making his seasonal reappearance in a lowly 0-60 contest at Newcastle in July, but while it’s inevitable that the handicapper will catch up with him in due course he may not have done so just yet. He’s had a five-week break since his Silver Cambridgeshire effort, so should be fully recovered from his exertions and looks a decent bet to round off his, already successful, season with another victory. Jockey Callum Rodriguez has ridden him just once, steering him to victory at Newcastle on his penultimate start, and looks to have every chance of maintaining his 100% record.

Selection: Newmarket 4.00 Little Jo to win 7/2

Introduction

Sea the Stars is one of those horses with an iconic name, one that is very easy to remember. The fact that the majority of its successes as a racehorse came in a single year, too, is pretty impressive. Having appeared on the scene in 2008, it went on to win a glut of trophies from 2008 to 2009. Proving itself to be among the finest in the business, the incredible Sea the Stars became a horse well worth remembering for years to come on the horse racing circuit.

Career Summary

It’s first season as a two-year-old was hugely impressive, seeing it pick up impressive finishes at the likes of Curragh and Leopardstown. However, it’s main 2-year-old achievement was to come away with the Beresford Stakes in 2008. This was to be the start of the next year of success that made Sea the Stars become a sensation among racing fans and casual observers.

In 2009, it picked up an incredible range of successes after riding a suitably perfect campaign as a three-year-old. With six Group I races won within a six-month stretch, it took the likes of the English Classic and the French Classic among others.

Indeed, it’s described by many as being the finest modern racing season in recent history. Such was its precision and utter dominance for that single year, that afterward things came to a relative halt for the horse.

Afterward, it was rated with a Timeform rating of 140 – the 7^th highest in the history of the entire sport. In 2009, it was retired and moved into a successful studding career.

Achievements & Highlights

Wins – Beresford Stakes (2008), 2000 Guineas (2009), Epsom Derby (2009), Eclipse Stakes (2009), International Stakes (2009), Irish Champion Stakes (2009), Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2009).

Associations – Christopher Tsui John Oxx.

Earnings – £4.4m.

Recent winning form is in short supply in the 188Bet Casino Handicap (7.45) at Newcastle on Wednesday evening, but Newmarket Warrior scraped home by the minimum margin at Ayr last month and again ran well when a never-nearer fifth of 15, beaten 1¾ lengths, behind Bezos, in a similar race at Pontefract nine days ago. Iain Jardine’s seven-year-old also won a small 0-80 handicap over course and distance in March, off today’s handicap mark of 71, so must be of interest in this slightly easier grade.

Admittedly, the son of Dalakhani has failed to trouble the judge on three subsequent starts at High Gosforth Park this season, but has run creditably in defeat on all three occasions. He could be ready to win again after two highly encouraging runs on turf since his last visit in early September. Indeed, his latest course and distance form, when a keeping on fourth of 13, beaten 6½ lengths, behind Little Jo, has been franked by the winner, who was only beaten two necks in the Silver Cambridgeshire at Newmarket, off a 5lb higher mark, next time. The fifth, War Department, also won his next two starts, in taking style, so the form looks plenty strong enough in the context of this race.

Apprentice Jamie Gormley, who’s won on him three times, including twice over course and distance, knows him as well as anyone and it’ll be disappointing if the partnership doesn’t go very close to winning what is, in the main, a fairly ordinary contest. Recent Wolverhampton winner New Orleans looks his main rival.

Selection: Newcastle 7.45 Newmarket Warrior to win 8/1

Despite just eight runners, the Londonmetric Noel Murless Stakes (3.35) at Ascot on Friday presents a thorny puzzle, with doubts about each of the participants for one reason or another. Sevenna Star carries a Pattern race penalty for winning the bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown in April, but subsequently disappointed in the Derby and the Great Voltigeur Stakes, while Austrian School, too, is becoming frustrating after finishing second on five of his last six starts. Mekong evidently enjoyed testing conditions, not for the first time in his career, when hacking up at Haydock last month, but is consequently 1lb worse off for the 1¾ lengths he finished behind Ghostwatch on his previous start, on faster ground, in the Melrose Handicap at York.

With the weather in Berkshire set fair for the next few days, Ghostwatch could be the one to take advantage. Gelded in August, the son of Dubawi won the Melrose Handicap on his first start back and, although no match for First Eleven – trained, like Sevenna Star, by John Gosden – over 1 mile 4 furlongs on this course next time, should appreciate stepping back up in distance. The gelding operation appears to have corrected his slightly ‘wayward’ tendencies, as was always the intention of his trainer Charlie Appleby, and the son of Dubawi looks ready for his first crack at some ‘black type’.

Selection: Ascot 3.35 Ghostwatch to win 11/4