Who will step up to win the Bargain Bred Racing Series Hunt Turf Cup?
A group of 11 hopefuls go to the barriers this week in search of a bargain bred racing series stakes victory in the Hunt Turf Cup.
Taking a quick glance at the runners, it’s hard to pick the winner in what is sure to be a tough-fought race where punters are sure to be very cautious with their money.
Topping the card is vimes’ Clearance Clarence, a perennial runner in the Bargain Bred series.
He finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Cougar Bite in 2005 and 2006 but despite a solid race record including a stakes win last year, this 6 year old out of Storm of Indiya has yet to win a Bargain Bred race.
It’s hard to judge how he’ll run seeing as two back he ran a magnificent 105 to take an allowance race whereas last start he ran a rather poor 88 in stakes company, both at this very distance.
Certainly has a strong chance at 5/1 but his inconsistent form is worrying.
Jumping from barrier 2 is dundey5’s Pepe’s Pipes. This horse out of Singingintherain looked to have a very promising career ahead of him after a superb 4 year old year but hasn’t really done anything of note since winning the G1 Pennsylvania Handicap in late 2005.
Has managed only low 90 speed figures of late and that probably won’t be good enough here.
He struggled to win a NW1y allowance last start and could struggle against some fitter, younger horses here.
Next on the list, is curiostud’s very lightly raced 4 year old colt, Ten Lost Pyramids by Tenpins.
He has moved forwards in leaps and bounds this year, producing 3 triple digit speed figures in 4 races including a nice 100 to finish 3rd a stakes race at this distance.
He is yet to win at stakes level, but has gone very close recently and all signs point to this race being a chance for this colt to break through that barrier.
Plenty of talent and nice value at 5/1.
The most in form horse in the field, and the 7/2 favourite Ankaline, runs under the number 4 saddlecloth for trainer jdoggtx.
Looking to post his 4th stakes win and his 10th career win here, it is tough to see him getting beaten here with his speeds consistently in the high 90’s.
Out of bargain-sire Anziyan, he seems to have been suffering from a bit of second-itis lately, and despite his consistency, he has only hit the triple digits once.
He won’t be far away but will be stepping back up in class after a couple of small-field allowance races.
I had the pleasure of looking at wariuz’s lightly raced colt Hawkz Quest (IRE) in his last start where he was soundly beaten into 3rd by two horses on the up in his first stakes start.
This time round, he comes off a 7 week break and his fitness will be tested here against another solid field.
He has only ever been out of the top 5 once from 9 starts and this Hawker’s News colt will be looking to keep that record in tact here.
He should be suited by the trip and is very good value at 13/1 for a place finish.
The first of the Royal Belgian Kempen Farm hopefuls is So What (AUS), a nice looking Charge Forward.
The only Australian bred horse in the field, he has recently put his best hoof forward on the track, winning 2 small allowance races with low 90 speed figures.
Didn’t take to the 10 furlongs last start and he might find that even 9.5F is a bit far but he certainly deserves his shot here.
Could end up anywhere from 1st to last depending on how the rest of the field runs and how he takes to the distance.
The second Royal Belgian Kempen Farm runner is yet another up and comer in Rosenkrantz (GB).
Running for the ce5s97p stable (which really tests this author’s text copying skills), this guy posted a fantastic 102 speed figure last time out at 9 furlongs last time out.
This
Scrap the run on the off track and his recent performances are very imperious and he should be right there at the finish.
Edburgat sends out Sleep to Dream (FR) representing the okdavid stables.
Since claiming this 8 year old out of Dream Well last year, he has managed to take him to 2 mid-class allowance race wins.
On his day, he’s a very tough competitor but can be somewhat disappointing as his record shows.
He should get the distance nicely looking at his past performances but it’s a matter of whether he turns up on the day.
Another horse that could finish just about anywhere depending on the day.
Another 8 year old, zman2 sends out Dan’s Stands (IRE) to fly the flag for his stables.
An up and down career has stopped this Sexton Blake progeny from gaining that all important stakes win.
His best ever performance, a 108, was only good enough for 2nd in an allowance but that was 3 years ago and speed figures have changed.
Again, his best effort could win here but his worst could see him at the back of the field and he may struggle at this distance.
Representing the firstmate stable is the hardest horse I’ve ever had to sum up in a BTB article.
In his last 3 runs he’s posted 39, 17 and 101 speed figures.
Either this guy has the worst luck with injuries or he’s got his trainer and punters running in circles to figure him out.
I’ve already put 3 horses in the “anywhere from 1st to last category” but this guy makes them look incredibly consistent.
The 101 is a standout in his career, never having got close to it in his other runs but was it a fluke or might he be getting better with age?
Maybe he won’t get the distance; maybe he won’t even have finished before the next race on the card starts but fear this High Brite offspring by all accounts if you’re punting on this race.
The second and less talented of the
Other than an 88 SP last start, there is not much in favour of lgbost7’s charge here and it could get a little embarrassing here if the rest of the field runs to the best of their ability.
The distance is right but the class is tough and minus this guy running out of his skin, he might go home feeling a little more like a bargain bred than the week before.
So, for the punters out there, I guess I should try and pick a winner here; a truly onerous task.
I’ll go fairly safe with Ten Lost Pyramids to win from Ankaline and Rosenkrantz.
Good luck to all entrants!