Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Newmarket and Wetherby on Saturday. View selections below.
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THE vibes haven’t been particularly strong for SAXON WARRIOR (3.35) but his class could come to the fore in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.
The son of Japanese sensation Deep Impact remains unbeaten in three starts, bringing the curtain down on a splendid juvenile campaign by lifting the Racing Post Trophy in gutsy fashion at Doncaster. Runner-up Roaring Lion rather let the form down when put in his place by Charlie Appleby’s hugely impressive Masar in the bet365 Craven Stakes but may not have been at his best that day.
Saxon Warrior could well turn out to be more of a Derby proposition and has been demoted as favourite for the first Classic by stablemate Gustav Klimt, winner of Ireland’s 2000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown on heavy ground. Gustav Klimt comes here race fit, which may be the main reason for his market superiority.
The clock-watchers have been enthusing about Masar’s closing fractions in the Craven and he looked a different horse from last year. Charlie Appleby was rampant at the last Newmarket meeting and has been bullish about Masar’s prospects. He seems certain to be involved if able to repeat that performance.
Appleby kicks off the meeting with OASIS CHARM (1.50) in the 1m 1f Class 2 handicap.
The four-year-old chased home Marzouq at Newmarket’s July meeting and wasn’t seen again until Chelmsford City last month, comfortably justifying short odds. The relatively unexposed Sharja Bridge will go off favourite but Oasis Charm makes plenty of appeal at double-digit odds.
SYMBOLIZATION (5.20) was beaten narrowly by John Gosden’s Purser at the Craven meeting which came as something of a surprise in receipt of 3lb.
There was a 10 lengths gap back to the third and it may have been a better performance than first perceived. The Godolphin colt is worth another chance for the formidable Appleby/Buick axis.
At Wetherby, HUMBERT (3.05) deserves a rub of the green having twice finished runner-up in highly competitive handicaps this season.
Hugo Palmer’s gelding was beaten a neck by gambled-on Taqdeer in the Newbury Spring Cup and also found one too good when beaten a neck by High Acclaim in the Doncaster Spring Mile. Humbert likes to get on with the job and stall three is a perfect draw from which to adopt attacking tactics now returned to a turning track.
Gay Kelleway has her team in good nick and YEAH BABY YEAH (3.45) should go well in the fillies’ handicap on the back of an excellent second at Doncaster last Saturday evening. The five-year-old is an infrequent winner but enjoys some ease underfoot.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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