Saturday preview
Dumas has claims to be the least successful horse on our list to follow. He has only beaten 2 of his 65 rivals thus far in his four races. He runs in a claimer at Lingfield tomorrow (5.30) where he wears a first time visor. In the 2.10 at Newbury Roger Charlton gives a debut run to Melodramatic who is well related being a half sister to the top class sprinter Tante Rose.
Talking of well related horses Classic Punch goes for a hat trick in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury (2.40) He is a half brother to the late great Persian Punch.
In the Hungerford Stakes at 3.20 Red Evie looks interesting. She drops back in trip to 7 furlongs where she has a 100% record from 4 runs.
Mullein made a promising start to her career when 7th of 16 at Ascot last month and should come on for that run in the 4.25. She is a half sister to Illustrious Blue, one of our horses to follow. Another that catches my eye in the same race is Dellini, trained by Mick Channon and related to several winners.
The all greys sprint at Newmarket is always a great spectacle if not necessarily the highest quality horserace in the world. Tomorrow (3.00) I will be rooting for the old timers Legal Set (11), Certain Justice (9) and Middleton Grey (9), because like me they are all grey and knocking on a bit. They should all go well but my selection for the race would be Milton Bradley’s Summer Recluse. The only runner from our list to follow is Grey Boy who is well handicapped on last season’s form but has shown little this time around.
Mia’s Boy has always been well regarded by his trainer and makes his handicap debut in the 4.10 at Newmarket. He got off the mark last time out in a maiden at Thirsk and could be an improver.
I have been working on a shortlist of 4 in the 3.45. Zomerlust won on heavy ground last time out at York. He is best with some cut in the ground so any rain will help his cause. Turnkey was 2nd in the York Race and he is another that shows his best form on softish ground. He gets on well with young claimer Adele Rothery and he should go well. Indian Trial has been unlucky on his last 2 starts and will be a big danger to all. Unlike the other two he is best suited by faster ground. The fourth one I like is Fullandby who won at Ayr a couple of starts ago.
Black Rock represents our list to follow in the 5.25 at Ripon. He won at Sandown 2 runs ago and has probably underachieved so far as he looks to have some ability. Tries a longer trip here.
I see that Peter Chapple-Hyam sends his very promising 2 year old filly Laureldean Gale to Deauville for the 7 furlong Group 3 race there. She was an impressive winner of a Newmarket maiden.
Another interesting English raider at Deauville is Michael Bell’s Regime in the 3.20. Regime was down the field in the Derby but has earlier won the Sandown Classic Trial and on his last outing only went down by a short head to Harland in a Group 2 at Maisons-Lafitte.
On Sunday the following runners are entered from our list to follow.
Bath 4.30 Rainbow Promises
Leopardstown 4.45 Haatef
Pontefract 2.40 Record Breaker; 3.40 Diamond Diva
ahorse 