The weather forecast for the weekend seems a little better but unfortunately we have already lost racing at Newcastle tomorrow. On the positive side some of the races from the abandoned York card have been relocated elsewhere and will add to the interest tomorrow.
I will go through Friday’s meetings in alphabetical order, so first stop will be Bath. I have done quite well over the years following John Dunlop’s 3 year olds and Fearless Warrior went on my list to follow at the start of the season. I am always reluctant to give up on horses like this one as in the past they have tended to improve with time, but in truth Fearless Warrior has not shown much in his recent runs. He has come down in the weights and wears first time blinkers so I wouldn’t rule him out in the Bath 7.00.
There are a couple of runners from my list to follow in action up at Hamilton, Scanno (7.50) and Rossini’s Dancer (8.20). The latter has the better chance having finished 3rd at Beverley last week.
Art Connoisseur lost his unbeaten record at The Curragh but may have been beaten by a really top class horse. He may be able to regain winning ways in the 1.45 at Newbury.
Sweet Lilly won 4 times as a two year old for Mick Channon and I see that her full brother Eddie Boy makes his debut in the 3.20 for trainer Michael Bell.
Proclaim gave me a winning tip when he won at Chester last month and I think I will stick with him tomorrow in the Newbury 2.50. He is a half brother to the decent handicapper Dhaular Dhar.
The 3.25 is one of the races that have been rerouted from York. Luca Cumani was the winning trainer last season and this year he is represented by Bauer. He has a big chance here with the one worry being the ground. He has yet to win a race with an “s” in the going description. Milne Graden is in the “could be anything” category. He is inexperienced for a race of this calibre but has only run 4 times in his career, winning 3, and is certainly open to improvement. He is by Montjeu and should handle some ease in the ground. He was disappointing when losing his unbeaten record at Goodwood last time out when 6th behind Sandbuch, a stable companion of Bauer. It is too soon to rule him out yet though.
Pippa Greene was an impressive winner at Ascot last month over 12 furlongs. He shaped as though the extra distance tomorrow would not inconvenience him and he does appear to handle any ground.
Pevensey has run some good races this year without actually winning. He finished well when runner up at York in May and was then 4th in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock. He could only finish 14th of 15 on his last run in the race won by Pippa Greene. He wore a visor on that occasion but it is left off tomorrow. He is a winner over hurdles so the distance tomorrow shouldn’t be a problem. Good ground suits him well but his form has been rather in and out.
Course and distance winner Tropical Strait is interesting as he comes into this race on the back of a win here only last week, for which he has a 4 lbs penalty. If he has fully recovered from that race he would be in with a chance.
Luca Cumani is very shrewd when preparing horses for these big handicaps and Bauer would be my choice if the ground dries out sufficiently.
Sovereign’s Honour has been contesting Group races but remains a maiden after 4 starts. She ought to win the 4.15 but will start at a very short price.
The Yorkshire Oaks has been switched to Newmarket tomorrow (2.05). Sir Michael Stoute has supplied the winner of this race 4 times in the last 10 years and his Allegretto is very much respected. Three year olds do have a good record in the race though and I am tempted to side with Lush Lashes who looked unlucky when 2nd at Good wood last time. I would also expect Dar Re Mi to run well, but Lush Lashes gets the nod.
The Nunthorpe (3.05), another race rescheduled from York could well go to Kingsgate Naïve who won the race last season as a 2 year old. Sakhee’s Secret was most disappointing on his last run at Ascot, but taking the line that something must have been amiss that day it wouldn’t surprise me to see him bounce back to form tomorrow particularly on fast ground. The King’s Stand winner Equiano would be a big danger as well.
Pacific Pride and Tudor Prince represent my list to follow in the 4.10, which looks a very open contest, while the admirable Birkside is another runner from the list in the 5.15 where he will be looking for his 14th win since the 30th of May last year.
My thanks to John Thurm for today’s photograph.
I am off to follow the Olympics on the TV. See you tomorrow!
ahorse 