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13:50 Newmarket
A decent looking three year old handicap over a mile and a quarter, where a few of these could potentially be heading towards group races.
New London was considered to be a little disappointing when a beaten odds on favourite in the Chester Vase last time out. However he was beaten by Changingoftheguard who went on to be fifth in the Derby and then win the King Edward VII at Royal Ascot. He clearly stitches has plenty of potential.
Reelemin did well to win from uncompromising position at Sandown last time. The step up to ten furlongs that day seem to improve him a fair bit, and he’s still unexposed over this trip. This race has seems likely to be run at a decent pace, and that will suit.
Yonafis stands out and is the selection. Winning his first three career starts, all on all weather surfaces, he ran in his first turf race in the ultra competitive Brittania handicap at Royal Ascot and finished a respectable eighth only beating four and a half lengths. Looking at his run style and particularly his pedigree he looks to have done remarkably well to be winning at a mile thus far. By Golden Horn out of a middle distance mare, this step up in trip should be ideal.
YONAFIS (WIN) written by Matt Polley
14:05 York
This probably revolves around Southern Voyage and whether or not he is ready to roll on his seasonal debut after having two-hundred and seventy-five days off the track. Quite progressive at three and with just half a dozen lifetime starts, he is clearly the potential fly in the ointment here and the gelding operation during that break could prompt further improvement from the Archie Watson trained four-year-old.
El Picador has had a fairly busy campaign though he has made hay, with to wins and a couple of places already this season. Fairly weak in the betting when a never-nearer fourth at Carlisle last time, he looks as likely as any to run his race today although he is something of a hostage to luck given his running style (Dropped right out usually) and the handicapper may well be catching up.
My Little Queen is another who will want a decent pace to aim at and she is very closely matched with El Picador on the pairs Carlisle running, twice a winner before that, one would have to afford the Fahey runner plenty of respect although she is now twenty pounds above the mark she won off this time last year and this represents a step up in class.
Forza Orta can be forgiven for disappointing at Ayr last time as he never got a run at a critical stage and he was hardly knocked about thereafter. His effort here two starts back when second reads really well in the context of this although he did throw in an absolute shocker at Hamilton the time after and the excuses are starting to stack up. Dismissing the Kevin Ryan runner here is very difficult but he is plenty short enough in the betting and he is hardly bomb-proof.
Fairmac is below his last winning mark and has bits and bobs to be recommended on despite having the look of an exposed type, further confidence for his followers can also be taken from the form of the Johnston runners this week and respect is certainly afforded. Bollin Joan knows how to win around here but looks high enough in the weights and Geremia is basically out of form. Strawman rounds out the field and he arrives in fair form for another yard amongst the winners but a chance will be taken on Southern Voyage who looks worth keeping an eye on for the future should he need this first outing.
SOUTHERN VOYAGE (WIN)
written by Chris Connolly 14:25 Newmarket
If there was more than the six runners that are set to go to post I'd be all over the David Loughnane trained Queen Olly who looks markedly overpriced at current odds of 10/1 but with just the two places on offer I'm left hunting down a winner.
Although perhaps a tad harsh on the other half of the field I just cannot look past the top three in the betting. A duo of Royal Ascot runners-up in the form of Mawj who claimed second in the Albany and Maylandsea who went close in the Queen Mary both hold obvious and clear chances and have the best form in the book. Of the two I'd be more inclined to side with Michael Bell's runner but it'd be no shock to see Godolphins charge get her head in front.
Despite the above I'm hoping the unbeaten Lezoo can maintain her 100% record. A course a distance winner who clearly handles conditions and with Frankie bagging a winner here yesterday she has the right man on top. Although she needs to improve further and based on form alone she hasn't achieved as much I'm happy to side with Ralph Beckett's runner who shouldn't be far away.
LEZOO (WIN)
written by Rory Paddock
14:40 York
If you're looking for the most likely winner then the form points solely in one direction and that's towards the current market leader Flotus. She's had a fantasic season and is ultra-consistent however if you sift through the form book a little deeper you have to acknowledge that she's only won twice in her nine career starts and that includes her maiden success and a listed contest at Ripon. She deserves to win a race of this nature but with twelve runners in the lineup I'm going to hunt down some each-way value.
Sticking with form clues and based solely on their performances as a two year old you could easily argue that Zain Claudette has some blistering performances on her record. She was mightily disappointing at Ascot when making her seasonal reappearance however I'm hoping she can put that run behind her and should be much fitter this time around. A course and distance victory should also boost her chances and if she can reproduce anything like her form from last term she'll go very well indeed.
Of the remainder you couldn't discount Clive Cox's Benefit who aims to claim back to back victories.
ZAIN CLAUDETTE (E/W)
written by Rory Paddock
15:00 Newmarket
16 are set to run in this Class 2 handicap race at Newmarket. Favourite Candleford won at Royal Ascot last time out but has been put up 13 pounds for that win. Unless he is suddenly a far better horse than last year. In my mind its incredibly difficult to see him coping with that weight increase. I think with plenty of runners there is more value to be had here.
Zoffee comes back on the flat scene with 2 wins on the bounce over the flat and has to be considered a good each way chance.
HMS President is another with a rise in the weights and a 3-pound rise here means he would need a career best to win this.
Andrew Balding horses seem in good form at the moment and another with an each way shot is his runner Spirit Mixer who is the only horse in this race with course form having won at this course and distance here at Newmarket. That definitely puts him into contention especially being only half a length to Trueshan in the Northumberland Plate. Jockey Callum Hutchinson takes a handy 5 pounds which will help.
Trawlerman has a inconsistent profile and it looks like one of those horses where your not sure what your going to get
A horse I do fancy and is my selection is Uber Cool currently at around 40/1 best odds if you look around (At time of writing) Uber Cool may have needed the run last time out. So, you can forgive him for that. Uber Cool has won 7 of his 18 runs and has placed numerous times so that isn't bad form. Uber Cool has run in Listed race and previously class 2 handicap and snippets of that form are decent. He comes here pretty much at a lowly weight and off a nice mark.
I'm not saying he will win. But 40/1 if you can get to me, he seems overpriced. He has won at this distance as well so he isn't a forgone hope. It's one of those races where you can run again and again and You'll get completely different set of results each time. If you can get extra places, I think Uber Cool holds really good each way value.
UBER COOL (E/W)
written by Luke Tucker 15:35 Newmarket
Only 5 go in this Group 1 and it doesn't look the strongest of group 1 races you'll ever see. If it wasn't for Inspiral being in here.
Hopefully 5 will still go to post from an each way perspective. Sandrine ran ok in the 1000 guineas finishing 5th but she also ran with prosperous voyage in there last outing in the coronation stakes at Ascot and were an absolute mile behind Inspiral. Very hard to see that amount of improvement to turn it around.
Primo Bacio ran this race last year and finished 5th and ran respectfully at Ascot last time out. Sibila Spain comes over from France again having been pulled out at the post last time out at Ascot. She is probably more than likely to finish 2nd given that she is slightly unexposed over this trip. Would have been interesting to see how she faired at Ascot last time out.
Trainer Christopher Head wouldn't be bringing her over again for a jolly and finishing 2nd in this race is a decent pot. So, I imagine that'll be the aim minimum.
Certainly, won't get you rich but it's hard to not go against Inspiral and she is my selection. Bolted up at Ascot last time out and bar her really not fancying it on the day. Its very hard to see her getting beat when she has already beaten a couple of these by a wide margin.
Frankie reunited with the Gosden again yesterday and will be relieved to have got the job done on Thursday as they hope for more of the same here.
INSPIRAL (WIN)
written by Luke Tucker