Prescription Drugs

One of my favourite ante post races and worth looking at now the weights have been released. Some strong trends in this race; since 1986 15 x 4yos, 8 x 5yos and 2 x 6yos have won, no others outside this age range. No horse carrying over 9st 6lbs has succeeded and in the 5 runnings since the track was re-configured, form on a polytrack surface has been a pre-requisite, the only race not going to a previous AW winner was last year when Great Leighs and Wolves winner Riggins was an unlucky 2nd.

While Green Destiny has been all the range since his impressive-looking Newmarket win on Guineas day, there are 2 similarly lightly raced 4 year olds with shrewd outfits that are worth more than a second look.

Noseda's Point North is too well-handicapped and won't get in the race off his 87 mark without a penalty (last year 91 was the rating of the last horse to make the cut).He is entered twice this weekend over 10 furlongs, including in the Zetland Gold Cup and although an impressive Kempton winner over 1 mile last time out, beating Tartan Trip who has franked the form last week, if successful he may be campaigned over the longer distance, given his dam was a half sister to Pilsudski. He is passed over for these reasons.

The other 4yo that interests me is the Swinburn horse Julienas, who from a poor draw and position in a slowly run race on his seasonal opener at Sandown ran on up the hill to just fail in a blanket finish. Normally prominently ridden and proven at the trip, this race looks the plan and a good performance in the Whitsun Cup tomorrow evening at Sandown will see his odds tumble from his current 20/1 - 1.5 points win H1lls

My other selection ticks the 'course specialist' box, despite being winless since 2008 (at Kempton). Noble Citizen's big race course record (on good or faster ground) reads..
'10 Victoria Cup ....4th  /  '10 Royal Hunt Cup...6th  /  '10 International....2nd  /  '11 Victoria Cup.....9th ....first home on the 'wrong' side.

In his 7f races he is always staying on and at 40/1 - 1 point e/w H1lls, off a mark of 91 having remarkably been dropped 1lb after the Victoria Cup, he rates a must for a place at least. If he doesn't make the cut, the 7f Buckingham Palace stakes will surely be a worthwhile consolation.