STORM TO PROVE ELECTRIC AT FLAT HQ

15:50 Newmarket

The final race on the card at flat HQ looks a very open looking contest where a mixture of promising three year olds go up against handicap veterans to see who comes out in this Class 4 handicap over seven furlongs.

The likes of Get Knotted and Flaming Spear both drop into races that look, on paper, much more winnable than those they’re more accustomed to competing in. However is it just a case that, with them both now at the age of eight, are they nowhere near the forces they once were?

On the opposite end of the spectrum you have the ever green, lightly raced three year old contingent who could potentially, given time, go on to be much better than their older rivals. Aspiration and King’s Knight have done very little wrong this season and as such take their place at the head of the betting as the current market protagonists. However neither offer great value for punters.

Course and distance winners Hunni and Sir Titan demand respect for their previous exploits here at HQ but both seem to have had pretty tough campaigns and look vulnerable to fresher, younger legs.

Newmarket is on the doorstep of powerhouse trainer Saeed bin Suroor and his illustrious, royal blue silk emblazoned ownership of Godolphin. They have a great record at what is seen as their local course and they look to add to their tally in the form of ELECTRICAL STORM. He may be a six race maiden and he produced a poor effort on return at Newcastle but I’m still convinced he holds a solid chance. Raced here at Newmarket on four separate occasions and hasn’t finished outside of the top three on all course starts. He’s finished behind subsequent Group 2, Group 3 and Listed winners in his first three outings and that two year old form looks to be very strong. He was gelded at the end of last term and after over 13 months on the sidelines can be forgiven his all-weather return and with fitness now on his side and if his gelding operation producing improvement he looks to potentially be a horse that’s slipped under the radar.

ELECTRICAL STORM

written by Rory Paddock