A good start to the week on Sunday for Somerville Lodge in the build up to the bid of Maltese Cross in the Arc De Triomphe.
The fact that Haggas sent 4 runners to Epsom on Sunday was a tip in itself. Quite Cheeky got the ball rolling following up his debut win in the conditions race back at Epsom.
It would be no surprise to see him back at Epsom for the Derby Trial in April and then if that goes well take his chance as a lively outsider in the main event in June. The team at Somerville Lodge will be delighted for owner Tim Bridge who is a big supporter of the yard.
After the 3yo Rowlf ran very green on debut, Matins proved that Haggas was right to find a relatively easy task for the unbeaten 95 rated colt when at 4/7 on he slammed the five runner field stepped up to 10f.
It was a performance that suggested stakes races will be on the cards and he will be a 4yo to follow next season. He was entered in the upcoming Tattersalls Autumn in Training sales by his owners the Cheveley Park Stud who routinely sell their 3yo colts and geldings that are not group class each season but Matins will almost certainly be withdrawn after that performance.
Crown Office was again held up and again failed to finish off his race I am sure he would have been better suited to being ridden closer to the pace especially at Epsom. He will be heading for the sales.
In Cologne Dubai Honour bounced back to form finishing 2nd in the Group 1 without being able to cope with the odds on Goliath and questionable riding tactics of Christophe Soumilion.
At the Curragh Valiancy, as I warned, for a second time refused to raise a gallop and was pulled up by James Doyle – he is another likely to be heading to the sales.
The main focus this week aside from Longchamp will be on Ascot where on Friday the highly talented Infraad looks to have an easy task in the listed Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot. On Saturday Thunder Call will be a warm order to continue his rise up the ranks in the 7f Heritage Handicap.
Only one horse the 2yo Al Qayed is entered on Tuesday and two runners feature on Wednesday. A son of Baaeed Al Qayed has shown promise on both his outings suggesting that he will win races given time and experience. In the Bath 8f novice at 3.32 he will appreciate the step up in trip but he faces a tough opponent in the Ascot runner up Divide and Conquer who looked a potential stakes horse when second on his debut. Trained by Ralph Beckett the son of Camelot will be at very short odds to go one better and Al Qayed is best watched and is a horse to look out for in handicap company next season.
On Wednesday the 6f Class 2 conditions stakes at Kempton, sees the reappearance of the stable stalwart Montassib who runs in preparation for another tilt at Ascot’s Champions Sprint where he will meet stable mate Almeraq.
Montassib is already a Group 1 winner but has only been seen on the track on 6 occasions since finishing 5th in the Group 1 Ascot race in 2024. He runs well fresh, 3 of his 8 wins coming off a break and he won on his only AW start.
The race is farmed by Goldophin and James Fanshawe who are represented by 3 in the 7 runner field and the market will be dominated by two of those Kind of Blue and Wise Approach. The presence of Spy Chief will ensure an end to end gallop that will suit Montassib.
It is a fascinating contest in which the hope is Montassib will show himself to still be capable of running to a mark of 110+ and continue what has been a stellar career.
The decision to run Venetian Lion at Kempton rather than Nottingham strongly confirms that Haggas is keen to avoid fast ground for the rapidly improving 3yo who heads for the Class 4 0-85 handicap at 7.00pm. The draw in stall 2 should enable Tom Marquand to get a good position on the far rail and then find the gaps to win with a bit in hand.
The 5lb rise for his latest win at Pontefract was very generous from the handicapper, only rivaled by the 2lb rise Silver Lake was given for her first Salisbury win.
Venetian Lion as we highlighted before his Pontefract win has enormous scope for further improvement. His dam has produced nine winners, seven have been rated 90 or higher. The manner of his Pontefract win suggested he could join her 90+ rated progeny – even with the 5lb rise he is still on a mark of 81. He should have won on the AW at Southwell on his first try on an artifical surface. Most of his highly rated relatives have excelled on the AW.
Tom Marquand won this race in 2024 for Ed Walker on Devoirs Choice who was completing a hat trick and although he faces 7 course winners in the maximum field of 14 only trouble in running looks the danger. The forecast strong pace will be a big help to Marquand in negotiating a clear pathway through.
The market involving fancied Haggas horses has become a major issue over the season and from next season I will be changing my staking method. The simple 1-2-3 pt system is no longer an accurate method to advise the level of bets, given the lack of liquidity in the markets. However as long as we can get bigger than 2/1 I do rate Venetian Lion a 3pt maximum Bet under the current system
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