Paul Jacobs’ Sunday Racing Tips
14:20 Southwell – Streak Lightning (Each-Way)
16:03 Tramore – Gateau De Miel
16:15 Pontefract – The Cookstown Cafu (Each-Way)
17:15 Pontefract – Tenerife Sunshine
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
14:20 Southwell – Streak Lightning
A class six handicap of 13 runners, none of which won last time out and only three have won all season, will for many of you hardly be the best medium to have a bet on, but there is an upside as such a set-up matches beautifully the ethos of this ‘value’ column. As there are at least six or seven each-way plays at double figure prices we could run with.
Super Hit remains relatively unexposed to his rivals and ran a fair race over the course and distance three outings back and will surely play a part here if young Kyle McHugh can settle him a little bit better; there is certainly nothing wrong with his handicap rating. Thanks Dad, Petra Celera and the veteran Airshow also have claims of sorts, but in the end I decided to pick Ruth Carr trained runner STREAK LIGHTNING.
Just as frustrating as the majority of his rivals, this seven-year-old has a better strike rate than most (six wins from 26 and placed on six occasions) and has shown glimpses this season that the fire still burns bright. A rating 8lbs below his last winning mark also helps even though he is the sort to need plenty to go his way through a contest.
16:03 Tramore – Gateau De Miel
I was lucky enough to go the County Waterford track a few years ago and like many courses elsewhere you only really get the topography of it when you see it in the ‘flesh’. For example Hexham is hard to climb on foot on the rise to the winning post, which you don’t see on TV, while similar remarks apply to the roller coaster ride of Hamilton Park and even Brighton which is acutely against the grain from just over two furlongs out.
Tramore is hugely downhill from the end of the back straight and even though the run home is short, it’s stiff and several races this week at the track have changed hugely inside the final two furlongs. So, a course winner is an advantage here and Natural Breeze and Smitty Bacall fill that category but not over this trip. A mark of 99 still gives the in form Tullyveery Lad a chance, with the competent Paddy Hanlon on board, and he could easily be worth a saver while True Faith would have a claim based on his beginners chase win, but that was some time ago which leads me in the direction of what looks like Henry de Bromhead’s second string GATEAU DE MIEL behind Garde La Peche.
A winner of a beginners chase at Fairyhouse at the back end of 2022, he’s since been placed off 118 and was subsequently given some tough tasks behind the likes of Dersertmore House and Mars Harper. A full 8lbs lower than for those two runs, this is his easiest task to date, and any support in the market would be very interesting.
16:15 Pontefract – The Cookstown Cafu
The frustrating Zozimus finally got back on the winning trail (second win in his 42nd attempt) when ridden much closer to the pace last time out over course and distance and winning comfortably. Already well weighted for that run a 4lbs penalty is neither here nor there in this race and if he’s in the same form then obviously a big run can be expected with the scenario of giving weight to lesser horses more his domain.
But, surely the percentage call is to go against the top weight and play with one of the other two course and distance winners. Kevin Ryan’s charge THE COOKSTOWN CAFU has not troubled the judge since winning here in May ‘23 in a class four off a rating of 79, and indeed took nine further runs before he was even placed again off 74 at Carlisle two starts back.
His latest run at York was at least on a par with his Cumbrian venture, as he ran Craven to a couple of lengths in a contest with a deal more strength in depth. Set to run off 73 here, in his first run in a class five event for two years and looks the each-way alternative to the top weight and Naval Academy.
17:15 Pontefract – Tenerife Sunshine
The Grand Visir has looked ready for retirement for the past 18 months having looked sluggish and not in love with the game of late, albeit he’s been also set some stiff tasks. Then out of the blue the veteran showed a lot more sparkle last time out, staying on nicely behind the equally well handicapped Ranch Hand, in the Shergar Cup last week. I know connections would dearly love to go out with a victory with him and only a pound higher here than eight days ago makes him an obvious player.
Although there are no front runners in this field of seven, six of the entries like to race prominently and/or pull hard, so I suspect there won’t be a lack of pace and that could suit the Charlie Johnston charge TENERIFE SUNSHINE who can settle in these races. He still looked to be going nicely at the three furlong pole in the two and a half mile Goodwood Stakes before receiving a hefty bump which ended his chances. Only a pound above his last winning mark and with ground and a shorter trip in his favour he gets the nod over the old boy and the new kid on the block, Godsend. The last named is a typical Sir Mark Prescott bloomer, he’s won four of his last five starts ranging from an opening mark of 58 to his current rating of 79. This looks his toughest task to date against some hardy old sprinters, and although he is the most likely winner, his price will reflect that.
Paul Jacobs’ Sunday Racing Tips
14:20 Southwell – Streak Lightning (Each-Way)
16:03 Tramore – Gateau De Miel
16:15 Pontefract – The Cookstown Cafu (Each-Way)
17:15 Pontefract – Tenerife Sunshine
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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