THE CASHEL MAN HAS CLAIMS
October 7th, 2016 | Ian Carnaby's Racing News
Last weekend worked out well enough with Quest For More winning the Prix du Cadran at Chantilly, though it would have been even better, had Pixeleen managed to poke her nose in front at Newmarket. She is a luckless filly, perfectly genuine but just touched off on a number of occasions.
She ran very well last week, probably because she’d had a longer rest than usual. That will not be the case in the opener at Newmarket on Saturday, of course, when I think she will be flying rather high in Listed company. I’m not keen on this race, though Spring Fling is not out of it if she can be nursed along. She is not the type to appreciate a flat-out drive for the line.
It’s a very difficult card indeed, though many will be happy enough to accept a short price about Churchill and the unstoppable Aidan O’Brien. The danger, if there is one, is quite possibly Andrew Balding’s South Seas, though there are only seven runners and the each-way profit for finishing second would be negligible.
The Cesarewitch trial over course and distance has been of limited help to punters these past few years but I did think THE CASHEL MAN ran very well to be second. He is certain to stay and races off the same mark, so I shall support him each-way. The bookmakers must have thought he would drop out because they weren’t quoting him in midweek but he is on the 16/1 rung now. They will pay on the first five and he should be in the shake-up. Nominating the dangers is not difficult; Starchitect has clearly been laid out for it since Salisbury in May and St Michel is tossed in on his Doncaster Cup third. The other one to make some appeal is Mark Johnston’s Yorkidding, who may well appreciate the marathon journey.
CAPTAIN COLBY did us a major good turn last time out and should go well again in the six-furlong handicap on the Knavesmire, though the handicapper has had his say. I am most reluctant to leave out Lexington Abbey, who has done little of late but is exactly the sort Kevin Ryan coaxes back to his best for a pot like this.
