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13:50 Newcastle
Red Strike showed an impressive change of gear when winning here last September although not much has gone his way since and in all honesty, he had started to look fairly disappointing on the grass before threatening at Hamilton last time. From a yard in fair form and with two wins and a fourth from three course visits, one suspects this has been on his radar for some time and he will surely go close if getting the gaps.
Sir Titus hasn't done much wrong since last getting his head in front although his pair of second place finishes at Nottingham and Redcar resulted in him going up the weights and his fifth place finish at York last time, was very harshly punished with an extra pound to carry. Quietly progressive and still relatively lightly raced, he has previously shown a liking for this venue and he could go close from a handy looking draw.
Raatea is none too consistent though his last couple of starts has seen the handicapper loosening his apparent grip. Twice a winner off a mark of eighty-four and proven on the artificial surfaces, there is a chance he would sneak some place money here though he will need to put his best foot forwards and he is still four pounds above his winning marks.
Sound Reason got back to winning ways last time out and he, along with the likes of Tipperary Tiger, Rolfe Rembrandt and If You Dare warrant consideration, however, this looks a really good chance for Red Strike and he is taken to bounce back to form at his favourite venue.
RED STRIKE (WIN) written by Chris Connolly
14:05 Newmarket
Some very smart fillies lining up in this year’s Empress Stakes over the 6 furlongs on the undulating July course. A lot of noise this week around Frankie Dettori and he has picked up a ride in this for Ralph Beckett on Lezoo who won on debut at Bath but perhaps that wasn’t the strongest of novices. Malrescia has won two of her three starts and only come unstuck against the spectacular Dramatised on her debut and deserves utmost respect and should collect some black type today.
The one for me is Minnetonka who blitzed her field at Salisbury on debut and took the Westerberg/Hannon combination to 2/2 after they had another smart debutant earlier that week. She led from the start and under minimal riding she scooted clear and it will take something spectacular to beat her today if she shows that form again.
MINNETONKA (WIN)
written by Michael Taylor 14:25 Newcastle This years renewal of the Chipchase Stakes is set to be a really strong affair with many who will really fancy their chances today. Sense Of Duty has been well supported for this race all week and the improver of William Haggas looks set to go off favourite for this contest today with her age and fillies allowance. She will surely be popular with Tom Marquand doing the steering. Judicial won this race in 2020 and has been a flagship runner for the Elite Racing Club, however at ten years old it appears that his best form is behind him and he was over two lengths behind Spycatcher over course and distance back in April. Spycatcher then went on to finish second in a Group 2 race back on the turf before a somewhat disappointing run last time out at Haydock. Though he is a much better horse at this trip and will fare a lot better, I’m going to look elsewhere for win purposes. I’m siding with Edraak here who was in front of both Spycatcher and Judicial on that form line. He is drawn better today and a repeat of that run today should see him successful here today and he is my selection. EDRAAK (WIN) written by Tom Bates 1440 Newmarket
Another small field at Newmarket today in this listed race. Only the 5 go but it looks an interesting race to be fair.
The outsider Something Enticing ran with credit at Goodwood last time out. But Andrew Balding has been quoted that she needs cut in the ground so the horse could be pulled come tomorrow morning. Maybe up against it anyway.
Kemari is Charlie Appleby 2nd string so it appears in this race with Will Buick on his other horse in this race. ran in a listed race last time out at York and finished 4th but is another who looks up against it when you consider Hes been running at a similar level in previous races from Meydan to France difficult to make a case for.
Universal Order was a winner of this race in 2020 and his handicap run last time at Haydock where he finished 2nd looks good now when others in that race have reappeared and ran with credit next time out. Has won around Newmarket and has to be seen as a serious threat.
The other Charlie Appleby runner Rebel's Romance. You would assume is there preference over Kemari given the jockey appointments. However he hasn't raced in the UK since November 2020 and has run in Meydan mostly and in the middle east. He didn't exactly set the world alight up there. I do question the middle east form at times and I'm not sure this is the most ideal race to go back to the UK. Clearly keeping the faith with him and a Godolphin are double handed in this race.
I think Stowell is a solid selection he had a nightmare passage at Ascot last week and was unlucky. He did though seem to fade so I think the drop down to 1 mile 4 furlongs will suit him better. Stowell has been racing against decent opposition in recent times and this looks slightly calmer waters this race. Despite it being a listed race. Dettori was slightly criticised for his ride on Stowell last week so this is a good chance for Rob Havlin to make a good impression who I'm sure will be motivated to have a good Saturday
STOWELL (WIN)
written by Luke Tucker 14:55 Newcastle
A large field head to post for the Northumberland consolation, which looks as competitive as the main event.
Evaluation heads the weights after winning four on the bounce this season. The blue blooded cast off has been a revelation for connections so far, and is certainly a strong contender. He has climbed significantly in the handicap obviously, however this race looks tailor made for him. He will be thereabouts.
Ravens Ark is interesting under Tom Marquand. His pedigree doesn’t suggest he’s a strong stayer, but his form has improved for stepping up in distance, and if this further increase eeks out a little more improvement, he’ll run well.
Zoffee is a tempting price currently (14s at time of writing) after returning to the flat after a lengthy spell under the NH code. He was game in victory at Carlisle last time, and could make the places.
A chance is taken on Tiger Jet (about 33s at time of writing) each way. This horse has the pedigree of a three mile chaser, and that’s how his career started, running in three points. He showed a little ability over hurdles before making his flat debut on this course over an inadequate trip. Subsequent runs over distances way short of his optimum have produced some solid efforts. A strongly run race over this searching course could bring that abundance of stamina into play, and he should be finishing strongly to grab a place or even better
TIGER JET (E/W) written by Matt Polley
15:15 Newmarket
Pogo and Laneqash renew rivalries after only a nose could separate them at Haydock last time out. The Charlie Hills runner now has an additional 3lbs to carry and considering Laneqash was returning from a 246 day absence I fully expect the Roger Varian trained 4 year old to reverse that form here.
The ultra-consistent Ever Given has won two of his three starts this season and seems to have trained on from his promising 2 year old campaign. He can be forgiven his Haydock effort when 8th and I fully expect him to go closer here but now up against older and more seasoned opposition I suspect he’ll find a few too good despite the weight for age allowance he’s going to be receiving.
Fellow three year old Bass Player has done little wrong in two career starts to date but needs to make a huge step up to feature now competing at this level.
If an abundance of rain falls at Newmarket on Saturday then I’d be urging punters to take Bounce The Blues very seriously but as it stands the weather seems to be going against him.
The horse I fear most is Godolphin’s Art Du Val who should relish a return to this seven furlong trip. A trip he holds a 100% record over. Perhaps hasn’t achieved as much as some of his fellow competitors but I fully expect to finish closer to first than last.
The market leader Sunray Major represents the formidable yard of John Gosden but certainly looks worth taking on. He’s a horse that promised a lot at handicap level but has failed to perform in group company. A 4th behind both Laneqash and Pogo at Haydock last time out didn’t inspire much confidence and although I think the booking of jockey James Doyle may spark some improvement I’m not convinced he’s going to reverse the form shown in his last outing.
Laneqash may not have won since his racecourse debut at Ascot but it seems that his recent gelding operation has brought about further improvement and with a run now under his belt this term should be hard to pass.
LANEQASH (WIN)
written by Rory Paddock
15:30 Newcastle
The star attraction for this rather competitive renewal of the Northumberland Plate has to be Trueshan. Alan King’s stable star was the dominant force of the staying division last year and made a winning return at Nottingham in April. Although he has the class to win today, he would have to carry a record breaking ten stone and eight pounds to victory, which would be some feat.
Rajinsky is the current favourite and is coming off the back of an unlucky third place in the Chester Cup. Star apprentice Harry Davies has kept the ride for today and he has a lot of positives that fit the trend for today. The only slight downsides he has are that he has only won once on the All-Weather and he’s having to carry more weight today, than when he came third last year. Nevertheless, he has improved with every crack at this race.
Graphite is one of the veterans in the race today and in a previous life, has some very good form. His trainer, Tony Kent is in fantastic form lately and so is his jockey, Ray Dawson. He has a very light weight today and has a nice draw. He is stepping up a lot in trip but he has decent amount going for him. If he stays, he could sneak in at a larger price.
Valley Forge is one of the more unexposed ones in this race. His best performance as a three year old came when landing the Melrose Handicap at York, over a mile and six furlongs. You would imagine he will stay the extended distance today, given his effort at Haydock over two miles, last time out. He has form ahead of some today and seems the type to improve. He would be the selection from the younger horses.
VALLEY FORGE (WIN) GRAPHITE (E/W)
written by Kieran McHugh
15:45 Curragh
Aidan O’Brien bids for an incredible fifteen Irish Derby and his sole representative is a filly which is very unusual. That being said Tuesday is the current favourite and rightly so. The daughter of Galileo (2001 winner) was placed in both the English and Irish Guineas before holding on for a slender victory in the Epsom Oaks. That form has been boosted with the win of third-placed Nashwa in the French Oaks since. If triumphant she’ll be only the third filly to complete the Oaks and Derby double.
It doesn’t look like the strongest renewal of the race and the biggest opposition is likely to come from Ralph Becketts Westover with Irish champion jockey Colin Keane somewhat controversially getting the leg up. The Frankel colt had a horror draw and trip throughout the Derby and with any luck, he’d have at least finished second to the impressive Desert Crown. He should have no such traffic issues here and rates as a big danger to all. The lightly-raced Hannibal Barca was fourth in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes on his third and final run for Brian Meehan and went on to make a winning debut for new connections in a Group 3 over a mile and a quarter last month. He was strongest at the line and should improve for the extra two furlongs.
Of the others, it’s worth noting that up-and-coming trainer Paddy Twomey is operating at a 57% strike rate in the past three weeks and his French Claim might sneak a place at fancy odds, especially if rain arrives.
HANNIBAL BARCA (E/W) written by Peter Keogh