_edited.png)
14:40 Leicester
Quite an interesting five runner affair for which you can make a case for the majority of the field. William Haggas is enjoying a fine season and sends Sea Speedwell as his sole charge for tomorrow. He’s booked Cieren Fallon for the ride, who is in good form. The filly is well bred, being related to numerous winners, including Australian Grade One victor, Spillway. She is an interesting contender because she’s off a seven month break. She was last seen going from pillar to post to win with a couple of lengths in hand, at Kempton over a mile. This was despite her hanging left inside the final furlong. She may well have potential but given the circumstances and her task of having to carrying just over ten stone, this seems a big ask.
Qabilah has two starts to her name, placing third in her debut at Thirsk, over a mile, then following that up with a victory over two furlongs further at Nottingham. The form of that race has worked out quite well and Roger Varian has opted to keep her at this trip. She’s well bred and is definitely in with a shout today. The only concern is that she has to shoulder a slight penalty for her Nottingham success.
Ralph Beckett has been in decent form and teams up with Rob Hornby, whose two Group One victories in as many days seemingly hasn’t gone unnoticed. Oriole was fourth on her debut but was an eye-catcher. She didn’t get a great start and had a torrid passage, yet still finished a couple of lengths down on a possible smart performer. The form of that race has been franked and she gains quite a bit of weight off her rivals. She could well improve for her experience.
ORIOLE (WIN) 18:40 Epsom
A competitive maiden which has thrown up Group One winners in the last two years. Recent Falmouth Stakes victor Prosperous Voyage and Arc contender Alpinista. Charlie Hills’s Italian Lover makes his debut today but should be suited by the seven furlong trip he’s faced with, being by star sprinter Caravaggio. He’s a half brother to a few winners but experience may count today and he could find this tough.
Acotango was fifth on his debut at Newmarket, over seven furlongs and outran his odds that day. He was there towards the business end of the race but just faltered in the final furlong. He was handed a nice rating for that effort and is entered into a classy race at Haydock this weekend. He’s by Kodiac so you’d imagine seven furlongs would be ideal for him but he’s related to smart stayer Dee Ex Bee, so he could have a wide range. He’s got a bit to find on the ratings but he isn’t out of the contest.
Courageous Knight has been highly frustrating for Charlie Appleby. You can draw a line through his debut over six furlongs at Nottingham, which he seemed outpaced. He was narrowly denied at Haydock when upped to seven furlongs and again at Doncaster. In an effort to combat this, he’ll wear cheekpieces for the first time, which will hopefully help him focus. Despite the fact he’s still yet to find the winner’s enclosure, he has a lot of positives. He has ran well on both extremes of ground and has more than enough experience. Surely today must be his day.
COURAGEOUS KNIGHT (WIN) written by Kieran McHugh