Paul Ferguson has two selections for us on Saturday from Newbury; Defo (2.25) and Mam’Selle (5.15) and one from Perth; Mirsaale (3.45)
Though he again steps up in grade Defoe (2:25) is progressing nicely and might well be capable of completing the four-timer in Newbury’s Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes this afternoon.
Frontiersman certainly brings the stronger form to the table and strictly on his penultimate start would look a fair price here, but his resolution has to be questioned after his latest effort, whilst the selection has done nothing but improve this season.
A winner at this track in the London Gold Cup back in May (off just 88), Roger Varian’s three-year-old defied a 10lb rise when scoring impressively at York, before landing the Listed Glasgow Stakes at Hamilton last time. The form of that race has worked out well, with runner-up Frankuus winning last weekend’s Rose Of Lancaster Stakes and the fourth Euro Nightmare beating Weekend Offender (a winner this week) in a handicap at Ayr, and with the promise of more to come now he goes up in trip, the grey is taken to score under Andrea Atzeni.
Later on the card Mam’Selle (5:15) is fancied to land the concluding Betfred Ladies Derby Handicap, for William Haggas.
A maiden winner at Salisbury, she failed to handle the track at Goodwood (never really travelled at all before running on in the closing stages) but bounced back to win convincingly at Lingfield, despite again showing signs of greenness on the turn for home. She appeals as the type to step forward once again and Newbury’s long home straight could be right up her street. The daughter of Teofilo needs to defy an 8lb rise, but looks up to the task.
Up at Perth Mirsaale (3:45) can follow up his recent course-and-distance success under top-weight in the extended 2m-handicap hurdle.
The seven-year-old, who was contesting graded novice hurdles last season (finished runner-up to Moon Racer in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham), was having his first start for six months when winning here earlier in the month. Twice a winner here at the start of last season – the first of which came on this card – he clearly relishes this track and the Keith Dalgleish stable continue to send out winners.
Saturday’s selections:
2:25 Newbury: Defoe
3:45 Perth: Mirsaale
5:15 Newbury: Mam’Selle
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