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Today's best bets, by Greg Wood
Thin fare at at Folkestone today after four days at York, where the first running of the Ebor on a Saturday drew nearly 30,000 people to the Knavesmire despite there being so many alternative sporting attractions to choose from, in Yorkshire and beyond.
Only the maiden at Folkestone has attracted a double-figure field, and with several non-runners elsewhere, it will be the only race to offer each-way betting to three places. Ziefhd (3.10) did enough at Newbury last time to be difficult to beat in this, and while Paul Cole's filly is the first runner to put the form of that race to the test, the winner looked decent both to the eye and on the clock.
The concluding handicap is arguably the most competitive race of the day despite the small field, and Captivator (nap 5.15) is worth a bet following a solid second at Chester last time out, form that has since been franked by wins for the first and third.
The major action this afternoon is in Deauville, where Frederick Engels (2.40) gets a chance to record the Group One win that should possibly have come his way in the Phoenix Stakes last time, while Timepiece (3.10) should give Henry Cecil another chance to unfurl the family colours over Warren Place with victory in the Group One Prix Jean Romanet.
David Pipe runs Mamlook (3.00) in the valuable Lord Mildmay Memorial Handicap Chase at Newton Abbot, but has set a poser by telling the Racing Post that he would be "worried if the ground turned soft".
Well, the going has apparently softened up in the last 24 hours, but only to an official "Good to Soft". It may be best to wait to hear if the first race tells us how the track is riding, particularly as Mamlook would not be the only one who would possibly be be inconvenienced by proper-soft conditions. Any late support in the market for Buck Mulligan could be interesting.
But the each-way attractiveness of this race has been reduced by the withdrawal just after midday of the fast-ground loving Bushwacker, cutting the field to 15 (and therefore just three places with most bookies).
Hoof It back in handicap company?
Hoof It could revert to handicap company for his next start after failing to make an impact in the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday. Both the Ladbrokes Portland at Doncaster on 10 September and the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup a week later are under consideration for the Mick Easterby-trained sprinter.
Hoof It had earned the right to go for glory at the top level at York with a convincing win under top weight of 10st in the Stewards' Cup at Glorious Goodwood. The four-year-old, co-owned by golfer Lee Westwood and his manager Andrew "Chubby" Chandler, is certain to face a similar heavy burden should he go back to handicaps.
"I've put him in the Portland, it's an open handicap, and the Ayr Gold Cup as well," said Easterby. "I've put him in the Portland Handicap because Lee Westwood lives near there. That's the reason. He'll have top weight and nearly all the rest will be out of the handicap if he runs."
Easterby reflected on Hoof It's run in the Nunthorpe, saying: "Personally I don't think he was quite good enough. I walked the track since and I think he [Kieren Fallon] should have come down the stands side. When the other one [Masamah] went to the far side, he tried to follow it. And I don't think that ground helped the horse." PA
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2011/aug/21/horse-racing-best-bets
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