Alaskan Gold nb – 2.40
will not be a surprise if causing one in the eleven-runner group three Greenham Stakes over seven furlongs of ‘good to soft’ Newbury this afternoon; there has to be a good reason why prolific ‘winning machine’ trainer Karl Burke has reached for the phone and booked former multiple champion jockey Oisin Murphy for the consistent progressive Kodiac colt which will be tackling this distance for the first time!
After perusing this traditional classic trial it was soon obvious Ballymount Boy was obviously the one they all have to beat but then the time-handicap indicated Alaskan Gold, a short-head winner at Carlisle last August, achieved a similar mark when beaten only half a length at Doncaster two months later, under Murphy!
Oisin’s agent has doubtless been on the phone to Karl; sometimes it’s easy to put two and two together and I’m looking forward to this attempt by Alaskan Gold to infiltrate the 2000 Guineas betting which has been dominated throughout the winter by unbeaten Aidan O’Brien-trained City Of Troy for which the waters have become rather choppy in the last few days.
Jayarebe recorded a career-best’ mark when winning the listed ‘Fielden’ over nine furlongs unchallenged at Newmarket last Wednesday and chances are veteran trainer Brian Meehan will persuade his earnest owner Iraj Parvizi to drop him back in trip for the ‘big ‘un’ a fortnight today, over the famous Rowley Mile.
Ballymount Buy will be firmly on the Berkshire premises with James Doyle who partnered Aidan Keatley’s charge first time to a gamely fought half length victory over six furlongs of ‘very soft’ Doncaster last October which resulted in a BHA Rating of 104, same as forecast-favourite Zoum Zoum!
Strangely Alaskan Gold has been accorded 98!
One of us must be wrong but I’ve been right often enough through several decades to suggest Alaskan Gold smacks of a serious each-way betting proposition in a most intriguing ‘trial’ on a top-grade racetrack. He’ll be ridden to come home!
In stark contrast a Junior ‘Bumper’ around two miles of ‘soft’ Bangor which looks to concern Nicky Henderson’s Doctor Kildare and Walden, stable companion of Realco, a 10/1 winner for this column recently.
Despite two successes earlier this month with Jonbon and Sir Gino I’m not convinced Nicky’s yard is firing and reckon
Walden bn – 4.35
also rates a solid each-way Trixie bet with Lewis Stone claiming a valuable 3lbs allowance on a tough surface
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