OUR horses continue to run well and it’s fair to say we’ve had a great season so far. Sadly no Group One as yet but King Of Change, who was second in the Guineas. is back in full work and doing really well. There are a couple of options for him but we may go to Newbury in a couple of weeks and then we can decide about having a look at the QEII. Threat has come out of the Gimcrack in fine form and it was great to see him get his head back in front. I think we’ll step him up to seven furlongs now which brings the Dewhurst into the equation. Mums Tipple is the horse everyone seems to be talking about and on what he did at York, I’m not surprised really. He’d be a more relaxed horse than Threat and takes everything in his stride which makes my job much easier. I’d like to try and keep them both apart but they’re owned by different people so it’s not set in stone that they won’t meet each other before the Guineas next year – assuming they both get there in one piece! Realistically we’re looking at something like the Mill Reef for Mums Tipple’s next run and then we can make a plan after that. Cloak Of Spirits has a great temperament and looked ultra impressive at Ascot on her only start and is a filly we think an awful lot of. She’ll probably run in the G2 May Hill at Doncaster next week and then all being well go to Newmarket for the G1 Fillies’ Mile. I was pleased to see Dark Lady win at Salisbury yesterday as she deserved that after some good efforts this season. She doesn’t do anything impressively but has a lot of talent and she will now go to Newmarket for the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes.
HAYDOCK
2:25 G3 Superior Mile
Walkinthesand (Ryan Moore)
This looks a decent race but he’s in good form and ran well last time in the Unibet Handicap at Goodwood after winning nicely at Newmarket the time before. He’s still lightly raced and we’re going back to a mile on a long galloping straight which should really suit him and the ground won’t be a problem so hopefully he can run a big race.
3:00 Listed Ascendant Stakes
Sesame Birah (Ryan Moore)
She’s a lovely little filly who has a lot of ability and was unlucky not to win a Listed race at Newbury last time, but the ground was plenty soft enough there so I’m hoping there’s not too much rain as I’d be a little concerned if it came up really testing. Her work has been very good, though, and if she copes with the ground she won’t be far away.
ASCOT
1:35 Novice Stakes
What An Angel (Dane O’Neill)
He stepped up on his debut by running well at Newbury last time and, being by Dark Angel, any rain will definitely be in his favour but this looks a good Novice and he’ll probably be better in Nurseries.
Ruby Power (Rossa Ryan)
Similar comments apply to this filly as well in the fact she improved massively from her first run to her second but she will need to step up even more to figure here and we don’t know how good the unraced horses are. Hopefully one of them can run into a place.
2:10 Fillies’ Novice
Al Gaiya (Rossa Ryan)
A fine filly by Olympic Glory who we obviously know very well and she’s bred to get much further in time as her dam is a sister to Derby winner Australia. I expect her to improve for the run but she’s done everything we’ve asked and I’ll be disappointed if she isn’t capable of putting up a bold show.
2:45 Handicap
Tabarrak (Rossa Ryan)
He went down by a neck at Goodwood last time giving the winner 10lbs which is a lot of weight so it’s fair to say he lost very little in defeat. Seven furlongs is his trip and he’s not handicapped out of things. I think he has every chance of going close at decent odds with Unibet.
Rum Runner (Martin Dwyer)
The Handicapper very much has him in his grip and put him up 6lbs for winning at Newmarket last month so he has to pull out even more to win what is a very competitive Handicap.
3:20 Fillies’ Handicap
Canton Queen (Tom Queally)
She ran well behind stablemate Posted at Newmarket last time and a reproduction of that would give her a chance in this. The Handicapper isn’t taking any chances but she’s consistent and hopefully she can go well.
5:05 Handicap
Wedding Date (Thore Hammer-Hansen)
She’s a proper tough filly who never runs a bad race and wasn’t disgraced in that good apprentice race at York last month. Five furlongs on quick ground are right up her street and she has every chance in this.
KEMPTON
2:40 Nursery
Written Broadcast (Sean Levey)
He’s getting a little bit expensive to follow and probably should have won by now but we’re in Nursery company for the first time and going up in trip which should be a good enough combination to see him in with a winning chance.
Cheat (Hollie Doyle)
We’re also stepping him up in trip as he looked to get a little bit outpaced at York last time and if he can put up the same effort that saw him finish second at Salisbury on his penultimate start he’d have an each way squeak.
3:15 Handicap
Kuwait Currency (Sean Levey)
Our perseverance with him finally paid off as he managed to win over course and distance last time but the handicapper has whacked him back up to 94 so I’m not convinced he’s that well treated to follow up here. However, he’s in good form and that win will have done his confidence a lot of good so you never know!
3:50 Nursery
Always Fearless (Sean Levey)
He finished second last time conceding 12lbs to the winner and wasn’t beaten far so it’s hard to knock his form. To be honest he deserves to get his head in front but has a little to find on form with the likes of Dubai Souq and Hexagon; that said he’s getting better with each run.
4:25 Sirenia Stakes
Oh Purple Reign (Sean Levey)
He runs pretty much every week and rarely runs a bad race and I see no reason why he can’t put up another good effort. He’s run on the All-Weather before and six furlongs around here will suit his running style.
Lexington Rebel (Hollie Doyle)
This is a big step up but he won easily enough at Chepstow last time and the owners were, quite rightly, keen to have a crack at this race with the hope of getting some Black Type. His work is pretty smart and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go well.
Sun Power (Jack Mitchell)
Seven furlongs on soft ground is probably not what he wanted last time so we’re dropping back to six and switching to the All Weather, which he’s already won on. Night Of Thunder is making a great start to his stallion career and his rating of 102 entitles him to plenty of respect.
5:00 Handicap
Ritchie Valens (Sean Levey)
I like this horse as he’s got a great attitude and is extremely consistent. You never like to see horses put up for getting beaten but I can see why the Handicapper has done it (after Newbury last time) and he arrives here in very good form so won’t be far away.
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