2.20 York – John Smiths Silver Cup Stakes – 1m 6f
The Silver Cup is a tough one this year and quite simply, it
looks like the odds compilers are a step ahead of us here, with the top 3 in
the market (Waila 5/2, Al Saham 11/2 and Nearly Caught 8/1) holding the leading
claims. The only horse which stands out in any way other than these three
market leaders may be Ian Williams’ 25/1 charge, Body Language.
Waila ran very well and looked like she was ready for an
extra 2f when finishing 2nd over a mile and a half at Pontefract
last time, following up from a disappointing seasonal debut to finish 4th
of 9 at Newmarket. Connections will be hoping that the ground stays good or
firmer, with a disappointing record of being unplaced on both starts on good to
soft ground. However, Ryan Moore has shown his class of late and has the wind
in his sails at the moment – he has a good book of rides at York today and has
passed up on the chance to ride at Newmarket to come here, so any of his rides
must be noted.
Al Saham certainly
looks better this season than he has in the past, to win over a mile and a half
at Ascot and Windsor on his first two starts of the year. This will be a
tougher task than either of these starts, but he is certainly in good form and
a better horse for Godolphin than we saw in previous seasons. He wouldn’t be
particularly bothered by weather changes and wouldn’t mind a bit of an ease in
the ground. Meanwhile, Nearly Caught is unexposed on any faster ground and we
have no way of knowing whether the going will suit today. He ran to a career
best last time out when finishing 2nd at Haydock, but that was over
two miles and followed up from a career worst run over a mile and a half when
finishing 9th of 9 on his seasonal debut at Newbury.
Worth an honourable mention and very possibly overpriced is
Body Language, who has come 14th twice in Class 2 handicaps and 4th
twice in listed races on his four starts so far this season. A proven stayer,
he has found better form from July onwards in past seasons and is liable to run
a big race at a decent price. At 25/1, I’m happy to have an each-way bet, along
with a relatively solid each-way bet on Al Saham.
Al Saham E/W 6/1
Body Language E/W
25/1
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