Bobsbest reports…
The 2026 Jersey Guineas takes star billing at Sunday’s Liberation fixture at Les Landes, thanks to the generosity of an anonymous sponsor, but it has attracted a field of only five.
It’s not surprising because the race is dominated by the best horse in training in Jersey, Cueros. Under the race conditions he meets much lower rated horses at a distinct advantage. Cueros has a rating of 91 whilst the second highest, Never Said Nothing, is on a mark of 76 so at level weights the latter has an enormous task. That said, conditions races do sometimes throw up surprising results and Never Said Nothing, a stable mate of Cueros in Alyson Malzard’s yard, is a game and genuine battler.
Also from the same yard is the 4-year-old filly Countess Ciara, the lowest rated runner having her first outing of the season. On Song runs for Hawk Racing and Karl Kukk and the field is completed by Mc’Ted in the care of Reece Senior, a first season trainer, and the horse ran well on his Jersey debut.
It might take an act of the States of Jersey to stop Cueros from adding to his laurels.
Upper Lambourn trainer Archie Watson had entered and declared two horses for Sunday, but he has subsequently said neither will run. The reason given is that the local handicapper Gareth Colley has raised their weights above their BHA rating. Be that as it may, Watson’s decision has caused difficulty for local trainers.
The Hugh Raymond Memorial Sprint, sponsored by Bunny Roberts, included Watson’s Dyrholaey, considered nearly two stones superior to his rivals, which meant the weights were so compressed that more than half the field was out of the handicap. It’s hard to find light weight jockeys and almost impossible to find enough of them for the race as it was cast. After the struggle to find suitable riders, Watson’s withdrawal of Dyrholaey has meant an adjustment of the weights and, presumably, a shuffling of jockey arrangements. It’s just a pity the Lambourn handler didn’t make his decision earlier.
Profit and Loss is promoted to top weight and there may not be much between him and Al Farabi, but Fred Tett’s booking to ride the former is significant. Bank on Kent won well last time when everything dropped right for him and he will find this harder. Timetodock is in the veteran stage now and makes his seasonal reappearance while Spring ran quite promisingly over a longer trip last time. New Charter will surely win a race but may need more time. Profit and Loss is the selection.
The La Verte Rue Associates Handicap over nine furlongs is sponsored by Mr and Mrs Anthony Taylor for whom Just Jersey will run. In the finish of the last meeting She’s A Mirage mugged Birkie Boy on the line and there’s no reason why it will not be close between them and Petite Fiammetta, close up in that race, again. Strobelight is interesting, but may need a race or two; Casaruan ran a brave third last time, but this is harder while Nature has no secrets from the handicapper. That leaves Resilient Power who will have come on from his first run. Birkie Boy is narrowly preferred.
The Trillium Group sponsors the Emily Wilby Memorial race, a mile and a half handicap. Caustic was a revelation last time, winning with consummate ease and now he takes on stablemate Between the Covers, both owned by Hawk Racing and trained by Karl Kukk.
There’s just a pound between them on ratings and both are capable of winning. Maquignon stands in their way and Grecian Jewel from the same stable could surprise a few. Shahbaz is the other Archie Watson non-runner. Getting 18lb from Maquignon, Between the Covers could score for visiting jockey Cam Hardie.
It’s the same old, same old to open the programme in the George and Leonora Sullivan handicap hurdle, sponsored in their memory by the Sullivan Trust. The same three runners as last time, Diplomatie, George Bancroft and Bigup meet again. Perhaps Fred Tett nicked the race last time on Bigup when Diplomatie seemed to have a bit too much to do. It could be different this time, but George Bancroft ran no sort of race that day and is expected to put in a much better shift.
Selections
Diplomatie
Profit and Loss
Cueros
Birkie Boy
Between the Covers
