3:45 – Hamilton – WEATHERBYS BLOODSTOCK INSURANCE HANDICAP (CLASS 5) (3yo+ 0-75) – 1m1f36y
There has been some discussion in racing circles over the last few days about when is the best time to start backing 3 year old horses against their elders in Handicap races. Opinion is divided between those who think that one should back them straight after the Royal Ascot meeting and those who prefer to wait until after Glorious Goodwood. So far this season since the finish of Royal Ascot, 3 year old’s have run against older horses in handicaps over distances of 1 mile 1 furlong and further 12 times and have won 4 times. This is hardly surprising as at the moment 3 year old horses are in receipt of up to 14 lbs in longer distance races against their elders.
The race that Circle Of Angels runs in today is a case in point. She is receiving 5lbs and 8lbs from the older horses in the race. Today’s race is just her third career start. She ran at Beverley on debut on 8 June in a 7 furlong contest and finished fourth. She would have done better had she not been hampered. She was stepped up in trip for her second start over today’s course and distance on 15 June. She got better the further she went and was well on top inside the final furlong, winning by 3¼ lengths.
The going at Hamilton today is Good to Soft. Circle Of Angels has only run in Good to Firm and Good going to date but her breeding suggests that today’s going will not inconvenience her. The weather at Hamilton is also warm and sunny today, so the ground will be drying out.
She is ridden by Silvestre De Sousa today who has had 7 winners from 39 runs in the last 7 days. She is trained by Mark Johnston who has a decent record in middle to long distance handicaps at Hamilton with his 3 year old horses. Since 2005 he has run 56 three year olds over distances of 9 furlongs and further in Handicap races of which 14 have won giving a winning strike rate of 25% and a profit of £380.50 for a level stakes bet of £10 on each of his runners over that time.
Circle Of Angels is definitely improving and it will be very interesting to see how progressive she is. She has four more entries after today between 30th June and 2nd July, so if she wins well today she may be worth following.
My view is to back 3 year olds against their elders in 10f+ races from May onwards. The wfa concession is huge, and the longer the race, the bigger it is. You write some really interesting stuff – thanks and keep it up.