My 16-1 Saturday NAP may shock you… but victory would be a fairytale
BOOKIES’ benefit? The last four Cambridgeshire winners have been sent off at 40-1, 40-1, 25-1 and 20-1.
So good luck to all of us trying to sort out today’s mammoth betting handicap. No wonder bet365 takes pleasure in sponsoring the contest!
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To some it will feel like an impossible task filtering through the expected 35 runner line-up.
But remember for many — despite those who regularly tell you the game has to be simplified — it’s the complication of horse racing which can be its abiding appeal.
In other words, solving the puzzle is the kick, far more than any financial reward. So what might happen this afternoon?
The big ante-post gamble is This Songisforyou, who actually had obvious form even before he was backed into single digits.
That said, not every Emmet Mullins gamble comes off.
I’m not a fan of Roi De France, so if he goes in for John and Thady Gosden it will be hold my hands up time with an admittance of ‘got it wrong, folks!’
I thought the youngster was given every chance by Kieran Shoemark at Yarmouth last time and, while he might settle better in this large field, he’s not got masses of scope.
I’m not ruling out Godwinson for William Haggas.
My selection, though, might shock you so sit yourself down and prepare for what would be a fairytale.
The six-year-old in question has an octogenarian trainer who has only sent out two winners in 2024 and has just three horses in his yard in Sedgefield, Co Durham.
Yes, people, I have a good feeling about RON O (3.40) and am praying he will run a huge one for Ray Craggs.
Rossa Ryan takes the ride so it is a case of ‘Come on you Rs’!
Ron O has been a revelation since ditching the artificial at Newcastle and being put back on turf.
In May he won at Redcar off a mark of 85 and then at York off 89.
He was then third at York again when rated 95, and second and fifth at the same course on his last two starts.
That fifth was a belter, as he kept on really well behind Sir Busker and Dual Identity suggesting a drop of a pound is generous.
Craggs winning the Cambridgeshire might seem like a dream.
But just remember those big prices over the last four years.
I’m happy to have a few quid on each-way. I just have to pray high numbers are favoured.
It’s a big day for the juveniles at HQ — with the Group 1 Cheveley Park for fillies and the Group 1 Middle Park for colts.
Unbeaten BABOUCHE (2.25) takes on unbeaten Lake Victoria in a smash up for the Cheveley. Either could win it, but I’ll stick with the former for Ger Lyons and Colin Keane.
She did well to beat Whistlejacket in the Phoenix and became the first filly to master the colts in that Group 1 since La Collina 13 years ago.
Lyons won this with Lightning Pearl in 2011 and Babouche looks a star of the future.
Success for Babouche would give a timely form boost for WHISTLEJACKET (3.00), who is back out in the Middle Park.
Whistlejacket has done little wrong as a juvenile, landing his Group 1 in the Morny at Deauville.
He stays and goes with cut and brings a high level of form to this event. Of course with two-year-olds you never quite know who is going to improve the most.
Dangers abound including Defence Minister, who has won both his races and Shadow Of Light.
The latter missed the Mill Reef at Newbury the other day when the ground went deep but has useful form, having chased home Cool Hoof Luke in the Gimcrack at York.
That said, he’s plenty to find with the favourite on what we know so far.
It promises to be a terrific day ahead. Let’s hope Ron O bags the Cambridgeshire for OAP Ray!
Good luck to all… We will need it. Yeeehaaa!
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