The racing world was stunned on Tuesday evening when it was
announced that nine-time Irish champion flat jockey Pat Smullen had died at the
age of 43 following a brave fight with pancreatic cancer.
Universally liked, Smullen leaves a wife and three children.
He rode the winner of 11 classics across Europe including the 2016 Derby aboard
Harzand for Dermot Weld with whom he struck up such a wonderful partnership.
RIP.
Today sees the final day of Yarmouth's three-day September
Festival and the opening 10f handicap sees two progressive three-year-olds
Nasraawy and Crystal Pegasus (2.40) go head-to-head in what promises to be a
most informative race.
Nasraawy had been gelded prior to his smooth Salisbury
success last time out on ground that would not have suited this son of Kitten's
Joy on breeding. Jockey Kieran O'Neill reported post-race that the horse “shows
us a bit of class” at home and an 8lbs rise may not prevent him following up.
Crystal Pegasus gets the vote, however, with the form of his
neck second at Wolverhampton on his penultimate start having been franked by
the winner – Godolphin's Brilliant Light – who scored at Sandown last month
from a mark of 87. The selection who has subsequently easily landed the odds at
Bath can run off the same mark this afternoon and is taken to give 1lb to the
John Gosden runner.
Bodyline (3.10) was a big disappointment at York when well
supported for the valuable Melrose handicap last month when he failed to land a
blow, having been a shade too keen on ground that may have been softer than
ideal for this son of Australia. He is fitted with cheek-pieces for the first
time today by Sir Mark Prescott, and has bits of form from earlier in the
summer that makes him look well treated although he has yet to fully prove that
this 1m 6f trip is within his compass.
Al Saariyah (4.40) has finished runner up in her last two
starts to date but the horses who have beaten her – Devilwala and Alcohol Free
– have gone on to finish second in the Gp 2 Gimcrack and second in the Gp 3
Dick Poole Stakes respectively. The selection is 2lbs higher than when runner
up last time but has been raised another 3lbs from the weekend. This looks an
excellent opportunity with the stable of Simon & Ed Crisford in such good
form.
It would be wrong to say the Warren Greatrex yard are in
form but they did have one of their inmates run a good race at Uttoxeter last
week and I hope to see Bailarico (2.50) bounce back to form at Pontefract in
their 2m 2f handicap. The selection finished third on his sole start over
today's C&D from a 13lbs higher mark last April and this is his second
start since having his wind operated on in the height of summer.
Had you told me three furlongs out at Chepstow on his
penultimate start he would be beaten 13L I would have laughed in your face so
well was he going, but he went out like a light. Eddy Greatrex takes over in
the saddle and he has been in the plate for three of his four career wins on
the level.
The three-day Ayr Western meeting is set to begin on ground
described as good to soft at noon on Wednesday but with a dry forecast. Wondrous
Words will be a warm order in the fillies 10f handicap to follow up her recent
Redcar success for Roger Varian when having her first start at the trip.
Leading apprentice Ray Dawson negates 5 of the 9lbs she was raised by the
handicapper for that win and she is the one to beat.
Sarvi (3.30) won this corresponding race two years ago,
however, and finished fifth having pulled too hard in this prize 12 months ago
from an 8lbs higher mark. This looks to have been the plan again this year and
she gets the vote – 10/1 with William Hill – although she would not want the
ground to dry out too much.
Cormier will be all the rage for the concluding 1m 5f
handicap and the 4/1 with William Hill is tempting given he is 7lbs “well in“
despite carrying a penalty for his recent Catterick success. The eye is drawn
to the booking of Ben Curtis for Four Kingdoms and he can go close at a very
big price but I remember Dreams And Visions (5.35) doing us a favour in this
corresponding race 12 months ago and he can follow up on his first start since.
Trainer Mick Easterby has booked Dawson for the ride and you could argue that,
with his claim, he will be 2lbs lower in the weights than in 2019.
