Respect is due in Chipchase Stakes

Jun 28 2008 The Journal

Doug Moscrop previews The Journal Chipchase Stakes and the other supporting races on the Newcastle card.

WHEN the ground is soft, Utmost Respect is a class act. Good enough, in my opinion, to score in Pattern company.

He gets that chance in today’s Group Three Journal Chipchase Stakes and I am hoping there is sufficient juice in the surface for him to show his true colours.

The rain came in time for the mud lovers at last year’s meeting and, though it was on the soft side of good for the opening day on Thursday, the forecast is more favourable for racegoers than for those performers looking to get their toe in.

Utmost Respect won both his starts as a juvenile when conditions were to his liking and it was a similar story when he landed a gamble in the Ayr Silver Cup on one of his four appearances as a three-year-old.

There was enough cut when he reappeared at Thirsk in April where he gained a smooth success over Big Time at level weights and his rival has subsequently boosted the form by landing the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot off a mark of a 100.

While Utmost Respect isn’t best in on official ratings here, he will not have to improve much to win and is less exposed than some of his rivals. He missed the Golden Jubilee Stakes at last week’s Royal meeting because of the quick ground, but the fact he was considered good enough to run in the Group One contest gives an indication of the high regard in which he is held. I do think there is a big prize to be won with him.

Confuchias came over from Ireland to take this prize last year. He is now with Karl Burke at Leyburn and ran well enough on his first start for his new trainer when fourth to Balthazaar’s Gift in a Listed race at Windsor. This is tougher though and is a better contest than last year. Brave Prospector has improved greatly since fitted with a tongue tie and got off the mark in a decisive manner when lifting a valuable three-year-old handicap at York last month. This represents a significant step up in class but on the latest evidence he looks a decent sprinter in the making and is respected.

Greek Renaissance, representing Godolphin, makes his belated seasonal debut. He is undoubtedly a smart colt but could be vulnerable under his Group Three penalty. Beckermet was runner-up in this race two years ago but is likely to struggle against better class opponents.

Lady Grace, in foal to Nayef, showed her well-being when dropping back to handicap company at Sandown. She’s a Listed race winner and has been placed at Group Three level, and connections will be looking for some black type again before she retires to the paddocks.

Zidane wasn’t disgraced from an unfavourable draw in the Golden Jubilee and, provided he has had time to recover from his Ascot exertions, he should be in the shake-up. Utmost Respect, though, gets the final vote with Brave Prospector and Zidane fighting it out for the minor placings.

Damika keeps creeping up the weights for not winning and the handicapper may have the measure of him at present. He shoulders top weight in the totescoop6 Handicap and I prefer the chance of Burning Incense, formerly with Roger Charlton, who changed hands for 85,000 guineas and is now with Michael Dods. He is a tricky customer, who proved expensive to follow last season, but he is in good hands and has the ability to win off this sort of mark if he recaptures his three-year-old form.

Game Lad won the toteswinger Handicap 12 months ago. He is 4lb higher, hasn’t added to that success, and there are others I like such as the three-year-old Redford. He failed at Royal Ascot last week but it would be no surprise to see him bounce back here.

Celtic Change only just missed out at York and has to be on the shortlist for the totesport.com Handicap, while Reel Buddy Star is running into form and gets the nod over Nine Stories and Stevie Thunder for the Graphite Resources Handicap.