Pointers for Calcutta races of 1st March, 2023.
I. THE AUDUBON HANDICAP
1.FOOTPRINTS 60.00(26), P TEJESHWAR: The five-and-a-half-furlong distance looks suited for her as she is bred for speed. Except for the ability to give weight to the field, she checks all of the boxes.
2.SCRIPT 59.50(25), AKSHAY KUMAR: He is no friend of the punters as he has won at longer odds twice this season, and to expect him to score with a top rider like Akshay seems rather farfetched. I'd be wary of him.
3.SEA DRAGON 57.50(21), SUJIT KR PASWAN5: A few of his previous siblings were speedy sorts. Another pointer to his prospects is that he is better off by 5.5 kg against Script. Any decent handicapper would rate his chances as good.
4.HUNAR 56.50(19), IMRAN CHISTY: He is an ordinary sort, and his sire, Phoenix Tower, has given more duds than performers with his recent crops. Perhaps advanced age could be the main reason for the decline in the performance of his offspring.
5.MISTY GREY 56.50(19), NIKHIL NAIDU: Her younger full brother, Touch of Grey, scored three in a line at Chennai, which included two graded races. I am of the opinion that she may have some ingrained defects.
6.LIGHTINTHESKY 54.50(15), ARMAN KHAN: One look at the name of the rider should be a good enough clue to his chances.
7.DADDY`S DREAM 54.00(14), VINAY JAISWAL: His last run was an eye-opener in which he almost scored. He can realise his dream of winning a race now.
II. THE ASTRODANCE HANDICAP
1.MAKHTOOB 60.50(63), AKSHAY KUMAR: He gave a scare to the field last time out with Gaurav Singh aboard and gets replaced by champion rider Akshay Kumar.
2.MANDOLIN 59.00(60), NIKHIL NAIDU: Every professional experiences ups and downs in their career and has bad moments. Trainer Christopher Alford is no exception. He's had it rough for a while and seems to have gotten over it. His horses are worth following now that his bad phase is behind him.
3.AGOSTINO CARRACCI 58.00(58), H RAHUL: His rider has yet to win this season in sixteen rides. That certainly cannot be overlooked.
4.GHOST 57.00(56), MD IMRAN: Hello! Can anyone tell me when and how frequently this rider wins races? Well. I've got an answer for you. He rode Script to victory this season, and he wins once every year. That should scare you into thinking his next victory will be far away.
5. EMRYS 56.50 (55), R S BHATI: His previous master, champion trainer Pesi Shroff, never discards a performing horse. I'm sure he has a good reason for discarding him from his stable. Well, whatever the reason, he should be considered.
6.PISA 56.50(55), IMRAN CHISTY: Scored his only victory with a start-to-finish bid at Pune. He's been consistent at this centre and may be able to sneak in a minor placing.
7.D MY HEART55.50(53) ARMAN KHAN: The names given to his horses by his owner irritate me to no end. Let me now get back to the contestant. I'd say her prospects are good despite the fact that her rider is a once-in-a-leap-year winner.
8.MARK ONE 55.00(52), P SURYA: She is purely a sprinter and will burn out when the race comes to a boil on this seven-furlong race.
9.MEZCAL 55.00(52), DASHRATH SINGH: She is yet another sprinter in here. The best she can do is finish in the money. However, winning is beyond the realms of reality.
10.ONLY YOU 55.00(52), SURAJ NARREDU: Everything has changed for her, from her owners to the master as well as the racing centre. I feel she will be in need of a run.
11.CASTILLO 54.50(51), P TEJESHWAR: I'm not sure why there are so many fast runners in this race. His hopes vanished out of the window with that thought.
12.HASHTAG 53.50(49) PRATHVI SINGH: Oh my god! Another speedy one. Gosh! Is there a dearth of horses here at this center? The seven-furlong race appears long and gruelling for him.
13.DREAMS 53.00(48), MD ISLAM: At last! He is the one runner with a good probability of scoring in this seven-furlong race. His shrewd trainer has declared him an average rider to get good odds.
14.SUMMER AIR 50.00(42), SUJIT KR PASWAN: Trainer Shyam Habbu has dealt a mortal blow to the punters three times this season. Remember his horse, Sun God? That was the biggest upset this season so far. Summer Air has the potential to win this race.
III. THECAMERON HANDICAP
1.DELPHINI 60.00(86), P TEJESHWAR: I would have made her my bet of the day, but the thing that deters me is that Akshay Kumar, who partnered her in her previous winning race, has opted for Pepper, who too was ridden to victory by him in his successful race last time out.
2.NEW LOOK 58.50 (83), PRATHVI SINGH: She is a good 10 kg better off than Delphini, and if her rooke rider can get her off to a flyer, it may prove difficult for this field to reel her in, or, to put it another way, reel her back.
3.PEPPER 57.50(81), AKSHAY KUMAR: Akshay's opting for him instead of Delphini clearly points out the fact that he feels he has a better chance than Delphini.
4.EXOTIC QUEEN 56.00(78), IMRAN CHISTY: Her rider has ridden most of the winners from this stable this season. I'd say this field needs to watch out for her.
5.RAISINA STAR 55.50(77), SURAJ NARREDU: She has everything going in her favour, right from her form to her age. She will prove a tough nut to crack.
6.TAIMUR`S CHOICE 52.50(71), VINAY JAISWAL: The question that comes to mind is why Vinay Jaiswal is riding this horse considering that it is her hat-trick bid. Aside from that, everything points to her having a good chance.
7.THOUSAND WORDS 51.50(69), SUJIT KR PAASWAN: At weights, he is better placed than Delphini and Raisina Star. That speaks more than a thousand words about his winning chances.
IV. THE ROBIN HOOD HANDICAP
1.DREAM STATION 60.00(41), NIKHIL NAIDU: What a shrewd move by his master, the Hyderabad-based trainer! He has declared a local rider who knows this track like the back of his hand. That is a big pointer to his chances.
2.CREATION OF GOD 59.00 (39), P. Tejeshwar: His dam was a two-time winner of ten-furlong races. There is no reason why he should not be able to compete in this longer distance race.
3.SO SO SPECIAL 59.00(39), SUJIT KR PASWAN: She is bred to stay. The Narredus are a shrewd clan, and they are probably trying to mislead by declaring Sujit Kr Paswan when Suraj is available. I smell a rat.
4.DEVINE CHAKRA 55.50(32), Imran Chisty: This is his first attempt at the longer 10-furlong race. I'm not sure if that would suit him.
5.EDMUND 55.00(31), P SURYA: He is from a mediocre sire. I would not waste my time and money on him.
6.PROSPEROUS PRINCE 54.50(30), HINDU SINGH: He has proven his worth by finishing second in ten- and twelve-furlong races twice. He should be seen in the thick of action.
7.NEW HUSTLE 53.50(28), PRATHVI SINGH: His master has rightly opted for an apprentice, whose four-kilo allowance could prove crucial. I feel he should finish in the money.
8.BEAUTIFUL 53.00(27), DASHRATH SINGH: The well-bred filly finally got going in her previous run. With her imposing bloodline, an encore seems like a distinct reality.
V. THE WOLF777 CALCUTTA ST. LEGER (2023)
1.HERO OF THE EAST 57.00(46), AKSHAY KUMAR: His sire isn't particularly impressive, but his dam has produced Temerity, winner of the Invitation Cup, and the Indian Oaks. If he has inherited her class, then this race is as good as his.
2.LEONARDO 57.00(72), SURAJ NARREDU: He could have been deemed the bet of the day but for the small setback that he suffered after running at Bangalore. If fit, he will make it a one-horse race.
3. MAGNETO 57.00(54), IMRAN CHISTY: He certainly has the ability to traverse the fourteen-furlong race, but whether he has the class is the only doubt. I say so because he fared poorly in the Calcutta Derby.
4.MONTEVERDI 57.00(84), HINDU SINGH: I am of the opinion that he may find the fourteen-furlong race too long. He may find it difficult to call the shots in the last classic of the season.
5, SONATA 55.50(64), DASHRATH SINGH: He is bred to stay till the cows come home. If he attempts a start-to-finish bid, then he can outstay this field.
VI. THE YEREVAN HANDICAP
1.REAGAN 60.00(26), P TEJESHWAR: He has failed far too often to be trusted. I would not touch him with a barge pole.
2.SPORTING TRAINER( 26), HINDU SINGH: His master has gotten him back to his winning class. I'm sure he will try to win his second race of the season.
3.INDIAN STAR 59.50(25 ), PRATHVI SINGH: His main owner is known for punting big, and his connections have declared him an apprentice to get good odds. Go for him if you see his odds contract in the bookie's ring.
4.ALGOZE 58.50 (23), R S BHATI: He did all of his trackwork with the declared rider. That indicates he knows the filly well and will ride her to her strength.
5.ASHWAMEGH 58.00(22), VINAY JAISWAL: He is the third runner from his stable in this race. I feel the speedy one will be used to set the pace for his stablemates in the race.
6.COPPER 57.50(21), NIKHIL NAIDU: I am not too impressed by his sire and would prefer to take a wait-and-watch approach.
7.OUR CHOICE 56.50(19), SUJIT KR PASWAN: This is another contender from a weak sire, but this weak field does give him a small chance.
If the preceding pointers were useful, draw your own conclusions.
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