Former Talksport man Charlie McCann marks your card at Saturday’s meeting’s at Newbury, Newmarket and Market Rasen with seven to follow. View selections below
Not vintage racing this weekend with the Open Championship the big betting and sporting event of the week. At the time of writing the ground on most tracks is forecast to be on the fast side of good, but heavy showers are forecast for all areas and underfoot conditions could deteriorate.
Heavenly Dawn (2.55 Newbury) bumped into a very well handicapped horse on her reappearance (forget the winner’s subsequent Pontefract defeat) at Newmarket and is entitled to come on for the run.
She has been raised 4lbs for that effort and will get further in time than today’s mile; note the selection has yet to encounter soft ground and as a daughter of Pivotal one would expect she would be suited to such conditions. Do note, however, that her full sister Heaven Sent didn’t go on soft ground.
The progressive Deacon Blues (2.20) did us a favour in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot last time and he can follow up in the group 3 Hackwood Stakes although I expect a much improved show from Royal Rock who did not have things go his way in the Golden Jubilee last time.
Trainer Richard Hannon has saddled the winner of the juvenile Super Sprint four times in the last nine years and he has four of the 25 two-year-olds who will face the starter in this year’s race.
Eureka is the mount of Richard Hughes and looks the yard’s first choice, but Richard Fahey is also four-handed and the filly Lily’s Angel (3.30) has only 8st 3lbs to shoulder and would not be inconvenienced if there was significant rain.
The Aga Khan’s French raider Shimraan (4.05) is a fascinating contender for the Listed Sheventon Stakes. Off the track since finishing third in the Longchamp Group 2 back in October the selection has only had six career starts and remains open to further improvement. One couldn’t imagine trainer Alain De Royer crossing the Channel unless he felt this was a winnable starting point for his colt and I agree.
At Newmarket Ceilidh House (2.35) must give weight away all round and has a bit to find with Sea Of Heartbreak on recent Warwick running, but the yard are in decent form at present and she could improve past the Roger Charlton trained filly especially if the rains arrive.
Kirthill steps up a couple of furlongs on his handicap debut for the leading combination of Luca Cumani & Kieren Fallon and he promises to be well suited by today’s trip, but Godolphin’s Tahaamah (4.45) was a ready scorer at Chester last time and could defy the 9lb rise.
There is a good jumps card from Market Rasen and Kangaroo Court (3.45) has not quite fulfilled the promise he showed as a novice hurdler, but has run a couple of decent races over hurdles since returning from a near 12-month break back in the spring.
Back over the larger obstacles he is not obviously well-handicapped but in a wide-open event he gets the nod for Emma Lavelle who may have had this race in mind for some time.
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Charlie
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