Beverley and Haydock previews: War primed for battle
Published:
David Metcalf | June 8, 2016
So It’s War ready to strike at Beverley
So It’s War caught the eye last time out and looks weighted to get back to winning ways in the 7f handicap on today’s card at Beverley (16.30).
The Keith Dalgleish trained gelding came good at this time last season, scoring at this venue by a nose before following up off 6lb higher with a game 1/2 length success at Redcar.
So It’s War went on to finish placed three times off marks as high as 72, and is now able to race in this off 70.
That gives the five-year-old every chance from a handicapping perspective, and the son of Orpen comes into the contest having shaped as if coming to the boil when making good late headway to finish a never nearer 1 3/4 length fourth of 12 to Mr Cool Cash over 1m at this track.
The drop back in trip will hold no fears, and if building on his latest effort So It’s War looks weighted to take all the beating in the hands of Phil Makin.
Percy worth an each-way punt
In the 1m 4f handicap that closes proceedings (17.30), Goodknight Percy looks a live outsider and decent each-way value.
The Kevin Ryan trained gelding hinted at ability in three maiden runs as a juvenile, and was sent off favourite on handicap debut in a class 5 contest over 1m at Nottingham when finishing a staying on fourth off a mark of 68.
Goodknight Percy went on to finish fourth in class 4 contest at Ripon of 67, and shaped a bit better than the bare result and on his final start last season at Bath when getting hampered and finishing a 4 3/4 length fifth.
The three-year-old is now able to race in this class 6 affair off a mark of just 57, and that makes Goodknight Percy look potentially well-treated on the pick of his form.
Although well beaten on return to action over course and distance last month, Goodknight Percy shaped as if badly needing the outing and the stable is now in much better form.
Beverley selections
14.00: Tough To Bear
14.30: Emerald Bay
15.00: Silver Sands
15.30: Lopito de Vega (NB)
16.00: Lostock Hall
16.30: So It’s War (NAP)
17.00: Sehayli
17.30: GoodKnight Percy (E/W)
Kajaki can kick Haydock rivals into touch
Kajaki has shaped well in both starts this season and looks to hold leading claims of opening his account in the 1m 6f handicap at Haydock today (15.10).
The Kevin Ryan trained gelding had three quick runs in the autumn to get a mark, and shaped nicely on the last of those at Wolverhampton when fourth of 10 to City Of Ideas.
City Of Ideas has since come put and run well to be third off 75, and Scarpeta who finished seventh and nearly 13 lengths behind has gone on to score on two occasions.
That gave the form a decent look and suggested an opening mark of 70 should not be beyond Kajaki, and the three-year-old ran well of it when keeping on to finish third over 1m 2f on return to action at Beverley.
Kajaki backed that up with a solid second over 1m 4f at this venue 13 days ago, sticking to the task well after being headed at the furlong marker to be beaten just over two lengths.
Judged on that effort Kajaki will appreciate the step up in trip, and this looks a nice opening for the son of Mastercraftsman to get off the mark.
King Bolete poised to follow-up
Trainer Roger Varian has his team in good form and King Bolete can make light of a rise in the weights to provide him with another winner in the 1m 4f handicap (16.10).
The gelding had some useful form to his name last season when trained by Luca Cumani, scoring in good style at Newbury before finishing an excellent 2 1/2 length fourth of 17 to Space Age in the ultra-competitive class King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot.
King Bolete was then far from disgraced when fourth to subsequent dual Group 3 winner Dartmouth at Ascot, and took advantage of what looked a lenient handicap mark of 90 for victory in good style at the same venue last month on his first start for Varian.
The four-year-old travelled strongly throughout at the head of affairs and found plenty when pressed inside the last to score a shade cosily by 1 1/4 lengths.
It was a most taking performance which suggested King Bolete needed keeping firmly onside, and a 4lb rise in the weights looks on the lenient side.
This is also a weaker contest, and it will be disappointing if King Bolete doesn’t take it en route to better things.
Haydock selections
14.10: Most Celebrated
14.40: Fair Eva
15.10: Kajaki (NAP)
15.40: Eqleem
16.10: King Bolete (NB)
16.40: Plenary
17.10: George William
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