Follow The Money: Canford Cliffs hanger?

Follow the Money / Follow The Money / 27 July 2011 / Leave a Comment

Will Canford triumph in the big race this afternoon?

"Canford Cliffs is attempting to win a race no horse has won twice."

The Follow the Money team serve up a Sussex Stakes special and provide a couple of other promising bets...

We start at Goodwood with today's negative where in the 15:10 Sussex Stakes ran over a mile Canford Cliffs has been easy to back, moving out from [2.36] to [2.60] as he attempts to win a race no horse has won twice. Richard Hannon's four-year-old has won five Group Ones in a row most notably last time out at Ascot beating the mighty Goldikova by a length. That contest six weeks ago may have had a different result if the French mare did not have to carry and extra 2lb, weight advantage could be crucial today, giving 8lb to his unbeaten three-year-old rival.

In the next Goodwood race at 15:45, Four Nations has seen significant support, moving from[11.0] into [7.4]. Amanda Perrett's three-year-old gelding has course form winning back in April over 1mile 2 furlongs. Stepping up to today's distance last time out at Newbury, he achieved a creditable second and looks set to go one better today, running off bottom weight. Considering the trainer's record in this race, victory is a distinct possibility.

At Redcar, in the 16:30, Intiqaal's price has shortened dramatically, from [8.3] into [3.8]. This is the four-year-old gelding's first run for trainer Keith Dalgleish, having previously been with Ed Dunlop. Although not having impressed after an encouraging reappearance, he is lightly-raced and his new trainer able to get the best out of him today.

Recommended Bets
Back Four Nations @ [7.4] Goodwood 15:45
Back Intiqaal @ [3.8] Redcar 16:30
Lay Canford Cliffs @ [2.6] Goodwood 15:10

Today's Follow The Money movers come from the meetings at Goodwood and Beverley....

Today's Follow The Money movers come from the meetings at Ayr and Yarmouth....

Follow The Money give us their usual two backs and one lay based on price movements on the Exchange....

Betfair website

Sussex Stakes Betting: Follow Frankel over Cliffs at Goodwood

Tipping / Keith Melrose / 19 July 2011 / Leave a Comment

Frankel storms to the 2000 Guineas in April

"It’ll be a long time before we see another win in a British classic as impressive as Frankel’s demolition job in the 2000 Guineas back in April."

You'd be forgiven for thinking that there's only one race taking place at Goodwood next week such has been the build-up to the Sussex Stakes. Timeform's Keith Melrose puts forward his view.

This Flat season has already provided some of the most mouth-watering clashes in recent memory, so it's pretty remarkable to note that we're yet to see the most hotly-anticipated of them all. The meeting of Frankel and Canford Cliffs in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on July 27 will decide who this season's champion miler, if not the leading racehorse of the year, will be.

The analogy with boxing in these big-race duels has already been made by Jamie Lynch in far better terms than I could ever muster, though it is worth pointing out that, unlike so many recent heavyweight encounters between human prize-fighters, both Frankel and Canford Cliffs have beaten credible opposition to reach this championship bout.

By now Canford Cliffs should need no introduction. After taking us by surprise somewhat in making up into the best 3-y-o miler of 2010, Richard Hannon's stable star did at the first time of asking what his predecessor Paco Boy failed to in four attempts, namely take the scalp of French wondermare Goldikova when they met in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. That day Canford Cliffs gave what is becoming a trademark performance from him, his potent turn of foot from over a furlong out proving decisive as he held off the charging Goldikova by a length. He does of course arrive in this race as defending champion, too, having accounted for Rip Van Winkle on his first run against his elders last July.

However, it'll be a long time before we see another win in a British classic as impressive as Frankel's demolition job in the 2000 Guineas back in April and on that form he's the one to beat. Sir Henry Cecil's colt is a potential all-time great in the making, and if spread-eagling an up-to-scratch classic field isn't enough to at least make you consider that possibility, then we wouldn't agree on much. Tom Queally clearly thought he was sitting on something rather special given the aggressive tactics employed on Frankel's next start in the St James' Palace Stakes, when he sent his mount for home far too far out and held off Zoffany by only a fast-diminishing three-quarters of a length.

Predictably, the cynics were out in force after that run, but the fact remains that no other horse in training could have won that particular race under such a demanding ride. The Sussex was always a natural next step for Frankel, and it offers the added bonus of affording him a short break after a couple of hard races. How own generation is probably nothing outstanding overall, but so far ahead of the pack is Frankel that his first shot against the older horses really should hold no fears.

It seems harsh to say that any horse 'is no Frankel', but Canford Cliffs, top-class and admirable though he is, is no Frankel. Assuming Queally doesn't suffer another rush of blood to the head, we see no reason why next Wednesday will prove anything other than a corontaion for a once-in-a-generation miler. What's more, at the time of writing you can back Frankel at odds against. Expect black armbands and red bank balances in this corner of West Yorkshire if the horse we've championed since last autumn loses his unbeaten record on Wednesday.

Recommendation

Back Frankel @ [2.08] in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood

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The International Handicap, the first leg of the Betfair Summer Double, looks as competitive as ever. Timeform's Stephen Molyneux has a look at some of the leading candidates, and reckons there are three to keep on side......

Three win selections for this evening's meeting at Ballinrobe......

Timeform run the rule over this sprint handicap......

Betfair website