Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, picks out five to follow at Ascot, Chester and Haydock on Saturday afternoon
FOR a horse short on experience, FRANKEL (2.20) has already established a tall reputation and he puts his head on the block in Saturday’s Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot. After making a winning debut at Newmarket, Henry Cecil’s colt blew away only two rivals at Doncaster, but it was the whirlwind nature of his success which had his admirers shouting for more.
On the same card, WHITE MOONSHINE (3.05) is another Doncaster winner stepping up in class and the Godolphin filly earned rave reviews from Frankie Dettori after she had spreadeagled her rivals all over Town Moor.
A long-distance handicap brings the curtain down on an excellent card and I’m hopeful the first-time visor will spark a revival in fortunes for OMOKOROA (5.25). Mark Tompkins’ four-year-old has been knocking on the door all summer and the more rain the merrier.
The ground will be very testing at Haydock but that won’t inconvenience mudlark RANGEFINDER (2.35). The six-year-old has a bit to find with top weight Kansai Spirit on recent course form but will be much more at home on this surface.
It will also be soft underfoot at Chester where BOUNDARIES (2.55) can continue Tim Easterby’s streak of good form. His two-year-old has been a model of consistency all season and finally poked his head in front at Musselburgh earlier this month. Boundaries is well berthed against the rail, whereas principal danger Foghorn Leghorn has drawn the widest stall of all in box eight.
Tally Ho
Alan
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