The defeat of Ides In March by stable companion Whistlejacket at Navan in April highlighted that the son of Wooton Bassett was a sprinter destined for Group 1 races this season.
Had Ryan Moore been on Ides of March instead of the Group 1 winner Whistlejacket he would have been a clear winner.
This is the first horse O’Brien has ran in this Newbury race and it looks a prep for a serious tilt at the Commonwealth Cup and if he wins as expected on Saturday he could supersede Whistlejacket as the stables No 1 choice for that Group 1 event at Royal Ascot.
There will be plenty of pace on and I expect Ryan Moore to do what Ryan Moore does and produce Ides of March inside the final furlong to win with something in hand and land a Maximum 4pt Bet
Onto The William Haggas team with 7 runners declared. Although don’t be surprised if there are one or two non-runners. The success of the yard is down to meticulous preparation and planning. Crown of Oaks was withdrawn at York today and there were three top quality horses entered at Newbury on Saturday withdrawn due to the fast ground.
Al Aasy proved himself better than ever when winning first time out at Sandown and I am surprised that he is on offer here at 9/2 given everything about the race provides him with his ideal conditions.
There looks to be no guaranteed pace but his rivals all seem to have something to prove especially the favourite Kings Gambit fitted with first time blinkers.
At the price of 9/2 with 8 runners declared he is worth a small each way bet to nothing
0.5pt each way Al Aasy 12.50 Newbury
The other runners at Newbury:
Wonder Star in the 3.10 . This filly won impressively on seasonal debut at Sandown last weekend and is thrown into the deep end here to find out just how good she is and possibly get some black type. She has 15lb and more to find here with the principles and I will watch her with interest.
In the 3.45 Elmonjed runs here in preference to York and is set to clash with Aramram and the improving Completly Random
Aramram on paper looks to be one of the unluckiest horses in training bumping into two very well handicapped improving horses in More Thunder and Ferrous and finishing runner up on 4 occasions.
However he has only been put up by the handicapper (3lb) for the last of those runs and with Ryan Moore taking over from Joe Leavy who claims 3lb he is 6lb worse off with Elmonjed for a 1L defeat at Newmarket.
Elmonjed needed the outing that day and was i believe being prepared to come back to Newmarket on Guineas Day – however the performance of More Thunder meant that he replaced Elmonjed in that race in which he won.
The 4yo was entered at York and was Ante Post favourite for the 6F handicap on the opening day but was taken out at the overnight stage and rerouted to this race at Newbury.
Elmonjed needs a strong pace and good to firm ground and gets both here with the slightly stiffer Newbury 6f suiting him better than York.
Completely Random is likely to go off favourite on the back of two facile victory’s but has gone up 12lb for those wins in times that suggested he was going past tiring horses.
Elmonjed if running to his best must go close here and is a rock solid 1pt ew bet with 4 places on offer at 4/1
Regalian runs in the 4.55 but he doesn’t look well handicapped off a mark of 85 given to him for winning a very weak 3yo novice stakes at Newcastle. He was then well beat at Southwell. Best Watched today.
There are 3 at Newmarket
Beginning with the enigmatic Waleefy 1.05 Newmarket now a heavily gambled favourite on each of his 9 outings following his failure first time out over 6f at Goodwood.
His best performance too date was his win when ridden by Cieran Fallon at Doncaster over 7f on genuine fast ground. He gets those conditions on Saturday and has proven form at Newmarket albeit on the July course. He also ran well at Newbury over 7F on fast ground when beaten by Lethal Levi who then went onto win the Ayr Gold Cup.
Cieran Fallon gets on really well him and this could be his day – i think he will get a good toe into the race from the high drawn horses and Cieren can produce him on the far side to get up inside the final furlong. He is a horse that is always well backed so I have taken the 4/1 early price.
1pt ew Waleefy 1.05 Newmarket 4/1
I thought Tom Marquand stole the race on Art Market at the Craven meeting and he has gone up 5lb for a win where the form has not worked out well.
There is a very well fancied improver in the shape of the Roger Varian trained Fondo Blanco at the head of the market in the handicap at 1.40 and I will watch this race without having a bet.
Finally Gold Cup Day in the 3.25. Won a very weak Salisbury maiden but faces a serious rival in Pole Star. Likely to be shorter than our minimum 7/4 price.
Confirmation of Saturday Bets – (Interesting 30 mins 12.50 -1.20)
0.5pt ew Al Aasy 12.50 Newbury 9/2 or bigger
1pt ew Waleefy 1.05 Newmarket 4/1 or bigger
4pt win Ides of March 1.20 Newbury 7/4 or bigger
1pt ew Elmonjed 3.45 Newbury 4/1 or bigger 4 places
Russ Diary of a Season
Chrysalis Consortium 
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