The wetter the better for Bateel
October 20th, 2017 | Ian Carnaby's Racing News
I was pleased and relieved when Dark Red came through to win the opener at York last week. Not only did he pay for the day at 10/1 but we were right to conclude that he needed to concentrate better. The first-time blinkers did the trick and he was well ridden by Franny Norton.
Upstaging was drawn 20 of 20 in the Coral Sprint and did well to finish seventh, beaten no more than three lengths plus. He could not get across in time from there and maybe there will be one more chance for him because there is still a big sprint handicap at the closing Doncaster meeting.
I shall not be heavily involved on Champions Day at Ascot. On a line through Inns Of Court, RIBCHESTER has the beating of Al Wukair in the QEII and I shall stay with him, much though I respect the chances of the progressive Beat The Bank. But impressive though he may have been at Newmarket last time, form against Sir John Lavery, who wants further, is not strictly relevant in the context of a red-hot race over a mile.
I’ve liked BATEEL ever since she came over to win at Haydock many weeks ago and I stayed with her in the Vermeille, where she won with some authority. She will be my nap in the Fillies and Mares, although I would just say that she wants to get her toe in. There is likely to be wind and rain in the hours leading up to the race and it should be soft enough for her, though monsoon-like conditions will not suit anyone.
From the sublime to the whatever, OUR CILLA is running well at present and, even though she possesses only a modicum of ability, the closing apprentices’ handicap at Catterick may be her sort of thing.
