Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Newbury and Newmarket on Saturday. View selections below.
THE Godolphin operation has been under a cloud for obvious reasons but FARHH (3.50) can kick-start their season on English soil by scooping the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
Farhh kept the very best of company last year, twice chasing home Frankel, before bringing the curtain down on his campaign by running Moonlight Cloud to a head (pair well clear) in the Group 1 Prix Du Moulin at Longchamp. This year’s Lockinge renewal, a component of the British Champions Series, doesn’t look particularly strong and there is plenty of confidence behind the boys in blue. Farhh wouldn’t want the ground to get too lively and, hopefully, the track will be watered ahead of their big early-season race. Aidan O’Brien despatches Declaration of War and although his colt has won four of his five starts, this represents a rise in class.
HIGH TROJA (3.15) could also do with a spot of rain before his participation in the 1m 2f handicap. The son of High Chaparral thumped Mombassa on a yielding surface at Leicester last month and appeared to find the good/firm ground at Newmarket a tad too fiery when third 13 days ago. He remains on the upgrade.
Mark Johnston has for many years found Newmarket a happy hunting ground and the Middleham maestro has prospects of a big-priced treble. RED ORATOR (2.40) likes to bowl along and Joe Fanning will be pressing on from an early stage in the 1m 6f handicap. Red Orator couldn’t get to the front when beaten fair and square by course specialist Callisto Moon at Bath 12 days ago but the very slick ground that day wouldn’t have helped his cause. Red Orator was a progressive three-year-old last season, beating Ardlui in a two-mile Ascot handicap under today’s pilot.
MISTER IMPATIENCE (4.05) drops down two furlongs after being put firmly in his place by Ruler Of The World in the Chester Vase. That was still a fair effort, with the 100-rated Havana Beat held in third, and Mister Impatience is quite capable of serving it up to likely warm favourite Tha’ir from the Godolphin yard.
LOVE MARMALADE (5.50) faces only four rivals in the concluding 1m 4f handicap but should still go off at tempting odds. He looks a typically tough Johnston middle-distance three-year-old and he made short work of the opposition at Nottingham eight days ago over a shorter trip. This is a tougher test but he could surprise a couple of these well-touted rivals. All three Johnston runners would appreciate a shower or two to take any sting out of the ground.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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