Hot To Trot: Bin Suroor targets German Prize Money

Flat: Saeed bin Suroor

Aside from Chelmsford on Saturday night, Saeed bin Suroor’s focus this weekend is on mainland Europe, in particular Turkey (Veliefendi) and Germany (Baden Baden). Dream Castle and Carry On Deryck are two of several British raiders in the Group 2 Topkapi Trophy, a race which has eluded Bin Surroor to date. Both look to be major contenders, with Gerald Mosse an eye-catching jockey booking on the Guineas fifth Dream Castle. With Future Empire a likely non-runner, Bin Suroor relies on Secret Number in the Bosphorus Cup. Secret Number hasn’t been seen since finishing down the field in an Australian Group 2 last November, but he has a good record fresh and also looks to hold leading claims. Over in Germany, Prize Money and Best Solution will face a strong home challenge – led by Guignol and Iquitos – in the Grosser Preis Von Baden. Both Godolphin runners chased Iquitos home in a Group 1 at Munich in July, with runner-up Best Solution, beaten a length and a half, doing easily the best. Though Iquitos won this race last term, the return to a mile and a half gives hope that Best Solution can turn the tables here and emulate Marienbard (2002) and Mamool (2003) who both won this race for Bin Suroor.

Jumps: Donald McCain

Donald McCain may lack the star names (and number of horses) from yesteryear, but he has his stable in good nick at present, with this August proving to be his best for several years.

Indeed, the run to form percentage of his horses this season is significantly up, and he has had a higher proportion of both winners (21%) and placed (34%) horses, with notable success in recent weeks including the 10-year-old Danceintothelight who obliged at Sedgefield at 16/1 and the year-younger Tawseef who won at the same price at Cartmel under Lorcan Murtagh. The young conditional – son of trainer Barry Murtagh and older brother of Connor who rides for Richard Fahey – is enjoying his best season, having already bettered his previous best of 10 winners. Looking ahead to the coming days, Derrynane is entered at Worcester on Sunday. He hasn’t progressed as hoped since joining McCain from Ireland, but makes his handicap debut off a mark of 93, and he might have more to offer after a fourth month break. Dark Confidant, a winner at Thirsk for Ella McCain last month, has issues with consistency, but should at least appreciate the step back up in trip if declared at Brighton on Monday, while a host of entries at Hexham on Tuesday includes the in-form Man Look.

Under the Radar: Peter Bowen

As the visualisations below show, Peter Bowen is a trainer who has a clear trough/peak pattern to the calendar year (image 1), which tends to coincide with general ground conditions (image 2).

After setting son Sean Bowen off on his career, Peter now also has the services of Sean’s younger sibling James – who set a British record for point-to-point wins by a novice rider earlier this year – to call upon. James’ 10-lb claim was soon reduced after wins on Get Home Now, Mont Choisy and Strumble Head last month, however he’s clearly a young rider to keep on side at this embryonic stage of his riding career. Francky du Berlais, the first foal of a dam who won in France, is unlikely to come into his own until granted a stiffer test of stamina, but he’s still an interesting runner in a bumper at Worcester on Sunday, while Fair To Middling could make the long trip to Hexham on Tuesday. A blunder four-out didn’t help his cause at Cartmel last time, and this more galloping course could suit him better. Lime Street, who has twice run well in defeat since scoring at Uttoxeter in June, could join him in the horse box. He has improved since switching from Tom Symonds’ yard and will continue to give a good account.