Race Conditions:
Open to 3yo+ rated 56-75. 3yos receive a 9lb WFA allowance. Penalties apply for wins after August 2nd (3yo: 6lb). Surface: Turf (Good to Firm). Tight, flat track with a relatively short home straight – suits speed and tactical positioning.
Pace Angle:
Even pace expected. Media Mogul and Pappa Louis may race handily, but no confirmed front-runner, which could result in a steadily run affair.
Draw Angle:
Low-to-middle draws are typically neutral here over this trip; nothing in the field is compromised or notably advantaged.
Strongest Contenders + Main Dangers + Interesting Outsiders
Strongest Contenders:
Iwantmytimewithyou – Progressive. Upwardly mobile 3yo seeking to resume progress after a modest effort when dropped in trip last time. Dominant Ripon win over 12f and a battling Bath success indicate he’s best over further. Back up in trip and class drop – prime “go day” profile. Must go close.
Media Mogul – Proven. Stays well and has responded to headgear in the past. Recent runner-up at Salisbury reads well in this grade, and he has multiple strong RPRs in the 75–80 range over this sort of trip. Slightly quirky but clear ability.
Phrygia – Promising. Unexposed filly with stamina in her pedigree. Bolted up at Kempton and shaped better than bare result on turf last time (outpaced late). Return to 12f a big plus, and she retains upside. Should be more to come on just her third turf run.
Main Dangers:
Telecommunication – Improving. Bounced back to form here over shorter, keeping on nicely. Return to this C&D is positive, especially with Buick booked. Still lightly raced and has handled faster ground. One-paced at times but not without claims in a muddling race.
Pappa Louis – Unexposed at trip. RPR of 78 at Chester in late May signals ability, and latest 2nd at Catterick confirms he stays 12f. Not the most consistent but holds ability; headgear may sharpen him up. Competitive off this mark.
Interesting Outsider:
Record Art – In form over hurdles, now switches to the Flat. Recent hat-trick over 2m+ under NH rules shows fitness and confidence. Officially rated 100 over hurdles and returns to turf off just 55 here. Well-handicapped if he can replicate any of that form back on the Flat.
Runner Scores and Suitability Analysis
- Iwantmytimewithyou: 9/10 – Trip, going, profile and setup ideal. Progressive 3yo with scope to rate higher.
- Media Mogul: 8/10 – Suited to conditions, effective with cheekpieces. Slightly quirky but consistent.
- Phrygia: 8/10 – Still learning, unexposed over ideal trip. Big chance if improving again.
- Telecommunication: 7/10 – Likes the track, working back into form. Ground/trip okay.
- Pappa Louis: 6/10 – Best efforts suggest he stays, but patchy profile. Danger if in right mood.
- Woodstock City: 5/10 – May prefer slower ground, recent form patchy and doubts on trip.
- Record Art: 5/10 – Fit and in-form over hurdles but a leap of faith needed for surface switch.
- Keep an eye on the market for support or big drifts for runners returning from layoffs of 90+ days.
- Watch out for in-form sprinters returning quickly; they can be hot.
Each-Way Angles
(8 runners – EW terms apply)
- Telecommunication and Phrygia appeal as each-way players depending on prices, both having progressive profiles and tactical suitability.
Private Tissue Estimate
- Iwantmytimewithyou – 5/2
- Media Mogul – 4/1
- Phrygia – 9/2
- Telecommunication – 13/2
- Pappa Louis – 8/1
- Woodstock City – 12/1
- Record Art – 14/1
- Market watch advised for runners making their 2nd start.
Summary + Professional Punter View (Smart Play)
This looks like a race where the improving 3yos could hold the key. Iwantmytimewithyou is well-placed to resume his upward curve stepping back up in trip after a respectable effort in stronger company. Media Mogul is a danger if keeping it together late on, while Phrygia brings untapped potential over this trip and deserves close consideration.
Smart Play:
- Win Selection: Iwantmytimewithyou – Strong profile, thriving over this trip, and likely still ahead of his mark.
- Each-Way Saver: Phrygia – Unexposed, bred for this test, and shaped well in the context last time.
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