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| Punter's Diary by Malcolm Heyhoe |
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| Updated: 28th April 2010 - GG.com |
Punter's Diary for May 2010
May's top-class racing action begins with a bang on the first of the month with the opening day of the Newmarket Guineas meeting. The 2,000 Guineas takes centre stage supported now by the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes and the Group 3 Palace House Stakes which is likely to be as competitive as ever.
All eyes will be turned towards St Nicholas Abbey, the hot favourite for the first colts' Classic and it will be fascinating to see whether Aidan O'Brien's superstar-in-waiting can start his season on a high note. The form of his Racing Post Trophy success has already been boosted by Elusive Pimpernel's Craven Stakes victory and the O'Brien horse looks the one they all have to beat.
Sunday's card at Newmarket on May 2 is all about the fillies with the 1,000 Guineas occupying pride of place and the Group 3 Dahlia Stakes and the listed Pretty Polly Stakes forming the core part of the undercard. The first fillies' Classic seems a much more open affair than its colts' counterpart and supporters of Special Duty will be hoping the French filly returns to the sort of form that saw her land the Cheveley Park Stakes in cracking style.
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In the same race Music Show will be bidding to uphold the Rockfel and Nell Gwyn Stakes form while Seta and Tabassum represent the best of last season's less exposed fillies from big Newmarket stables. The Flat carnival rolls on from the Rowley Mile's open spaces to the narrow confines and sharp turns of Chester and the prestigious three day meeting that takes place on the ancient Roodee turf.
On May 5, the meeting's opening day, the Chester Cup holds all the aces and the 2010 renewal looks as tricky and open as ever. Connections of Dazinski, the recent Ripon winner, will be hoping he slips into the bottom of the weights after turning in a decent effort to land the featured handicap at Ripon last time.
On May 7 the Ormonde Stakes is the day's big race and Aidan O'Brien may well unleash Age Of Aquarius who would surely have won the St Leger last season but for meeting with a setback and missing the race on the eve of the Classic action. Sir Michael Stoute's Harbinger is another likely runner and a danger to all on what promises to be a fascinating race that will go some way to establishing the merits of the older horses.
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On Saturday May 8 the Victoria Cup tests the patience of punters on a card that also includes the Buckhounds Stakes while over at Haydock the Swinton Hurdle gives the late-developing handicappers a chance to get ahead at the Lancashire track. Both Dee Ee Williams and Overturn have been in winning form lately and this pair should go well.
At Lingfield on the same day Henry Cecil might well give Timepiece a chance to redeem herself in the Oaks trial at the Surrey track while Derby aspirants will be at work in the Derby Trial at the course. At Leopardstown on the following day, May 9, the Derrinstown Derby Trial is likely to feature the best of the Irish-trained Derby horses.
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York's valuable three-day Dante meetings gets under way on May 12 with the Musidora and Blue Square Duke of York Stakes while on the second day Sariska and Dar Re Mi could well clash in the Middleton Stakes. On the same card Derby aspirants will be to the fore in the Dante Stakes including Godolphin's Chabal and Sir Michael Stoute's Workforce. York's valuable meeting closes with the Yorkshire Cup on May 14.
The high-class action moves on to Newbury on May 15 with the Lockinge Stakes putting the top milers through their paces and if Rip Van Winkle makes this his season's starting point then it is hard to see him getting beaten. Over at the Curragh Steinbeck could make his keenly-awaited return to action in the Irish 2,000 Guineas where he will be hard to beat and on May 23 the principals from the English 1,000 Guineas seem likely to play a big part in deciding the outcome of the Irish equivalent.
May's racing action comes to a close with the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on May 27 where Sir Michael Stoute is sure to have a leading contender while in the Heron Stakes on the same card watch out for John Gosden's Fallen Idol. Finally, Luca Cumani has a progressive handicapper on his hands in the shape of Forte Dei Marmi and he looks the one for the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar on May 21.
Malcolm Heyhoe writes weekly horse racing articles for GG.COM-Horse racing betting, information, news, results and free daily tips
Archive April 2010
