Spanish Sunday - Dos Hermanas

If you are new to Spanish Racing, this series is designed to try to bring more light on to the sport there and I will do my best to preview some of the weekend meetings throughout the year ahead. I feel that I need to make a few points before we begin. If you enjoy a bet, you can bet with most UK firms on the races in Spain, however, with the occasional exception of Bet365, you will find that most of these bets are offered at SP only and there are limited or often no additional markets on offer.

Sunday’s meeting comes from Dos Hermanas in Seville with a 5-race card. The final race is probably the best on the card, with 5-runners who have won 45 races between them. I can’t split them, but there were some angles into the opening races, with some ex-British trained horses who offered some hope on their form. Here are my notes:

 R1 – With an unexposed profile it is hard to get away from the case for Go with the Wind. Although he was beaten last time, he bumped into Kergrist, a multiple winner in both France and Spain and there is nothing of that quality in this field. The pair had pulled clear of the rest by the time they reached the line and there is enough in that form, and his 2nd placed finish on his previous start, to suggest that his turn is coming once again. Vaclav Janacek gets back onboard for the first time since his debut, which is an obvious plus.

Go with the Wind has a far more interesting profile than his main danger, Arenal, although that rival does have a vast experience edge. He is a multiple winner, including at this track and his latest start, when 3rd here in December, would suggest that he will at least give the younger horses something to think about. However, with weight to concede I would expect Go With the Wind to have too much for him this time.

Selection: Go With The Wind

R2 – This is a fair contest for the 3-year-olds and there isn’t a great deal between them on their most recent form. Tiora is the obvious starting point for me.  He won a Nursery handicap for Patrick Owens at Doncaster last Summer and reached an official rating of 67 before being sold to race in Spain for his new connections. He made a pleasing start when 4th here at the end of December and although he has work to do to reverse that form with Tenhotfourcrazy. Their form is certainly stronger than that of Gold Coast Galleon and Golden Mountain, but I think they will all need to find a lot of improvement if they are to get the better of the top weight, Sleven and Lady Wulfrun.

Sleven also began his career in the UK, reaching a mark of 70 for Ralph Beckett before leaving to join the Anaya yard. He made the perfect start to his Spanish career when he won over 1,500 metres here in December and he ran at least as well when 2nd to Origen here last month, beaten less than a length. He ran well enough at Newmarket (when 4th to Lady Wulfrun) and Pontefract last season to suggest that he will see out the mile here and he looks to be capable of going close.

That’s the recent Spanish form taken care of, but I like the angle into this race with the ex-Andrew Balding trained, Lady Wulfrun. She won a Newmarket Novice race in August, when beating Sleven and followed that with a 3rd placed finish in a Nursery just 7-days later off a mark of 77. I am not entirely sure how this Saxon Warrior Filly, who previously ran in the Royal colours, has ended up in Spain, but on these terms, she looks to be a very attractive proposition to make a winning start.

Selection: Lady Wulfrun