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13:50 Newbury
A closely matched field of five to go post for this Listed race over a mile and two furlongs. Andrea Atzeni is in red hot form lately, operating at a near 40% strike rate, he teams up with Simon and Ed Crisford to ride Finest Sound today. The Gelding has won over this distance and started this season off with a fine second placed finish in the Group One Jebel Hatta in Meydan. However, he disappointed when last seen in the Diomed Stakes at Epsom last month. He might be best watched given he needs to bounce back and has his options open.
Cadillac was a smart two-year-old, winning a Group Two and finishing at the top end of two Group Ones. He won on his three-year-old debut over this distance but struggled to fire until at Leopardstown this June. He then was bought and switched stables to Kevin Philippart De Foy. He made his debut, when going off as favourite, at Royal Ascot and finished second to Dubai Future. He probably warrants favouritism, especially with Jack Mitchell in flying form but having only won over this distance once and having to concede three pounds to the rest of the field, it seems a tough ask.
Grocer Jack has the best current form in this race and makes his debut on British turf today. He was third in the German Derby, before being disqualified, to Arc second, In Swoop and last years Arc winner, Torquator Tasso. He has possibly matured since turning four, winning a Group Three over a mile and two furlongs on good ground then chasing home classy horses like Wally and Skalleti. He switched to William Haggas’ stable for this season and started off with a nice fifth place finish in Jeddah, from which the form has worked out well. He was last seen placing fourth in a high class Grade Two at Chantilly. He drops back down in trip today and Tom Marquand has already acquainted himself with him. He’s taking a massive class drop and gains three pounds off his closest rival. It would be disappointing if he failed to fire today.
GROCER JACK (WIN) written by Kieran McHugh 14:06 Market Rasen
Ask Paddington arrives here looking for his fourth win on the bounce. He has always shown plenty of potential, even in his early racing days and though he arrives here on a career high mark, he has been going really well for Rebecca Menzies on this better ground of late and he can play a huge part here, stepping up in trip.
Another contender on a career high mark is Galileo Silver. He too comes into this contest in good form having scored over three miles at Ffos Las last time out. He tries a new headgear combination for the first time hoping to extract some more improvement today. He was however, seemingly looking for the line in that race and the four pound rise may just halt his progress here today.
Giovanni Change was a course and distance winner by a wide margin 15 months ago and will effectively be 4lb better off than he was that day when taking into account Tom Midgley’s claim so he could obviously have a say if rediscovering that sort of form today, though the signs of a revival haven’t really been coming of late.
The safest selection here does appear to be Ask Paddington, and I’m picking him to head back up north with a four-timer and continue his improvement this summer.
ASK PADDINGTON (WIN) written by Tom Bates
14:21 Newbury
Just the eight runners are scheduled to go to post yet despite the field being smaller than prior renewals we have two previous winners of the race returning to the fold and a case could be made for most so it still promises to be a quality renewal.
It has been a while since Withhold last visited the winners’ enclosure but both victories since winning this race in 2019 have come at Listed level so despite now being nine years old he remains more than capable on his day. He has made the frame in all three prior runs at the course and although has to give weight to all rivals he is fitted with a first-time visor which could help to ensure another solid run.
Reshoun took the 2020 renewal of this race and has struck up a good partnership with jockey Jim Crowley over the years, winning four from thirteen when teamed up. An excellent second when last seen at Royal Ascot, he arrives here in good form and although a revised mark of 101 will make things tougher he’s a battler with stamina in abundance so cannot be ruled out.
At the time of writing the clear favourite is Going Gone who has won three times over shorter trips before running a cracker to finish fourth at odds of 50/1 in the Ascot Stakes last month, staying on all the way to the line and finishing ahead of the re-opposing Reshoun and Rock Eagle. He’s completely unexposed over these staying trips and has plenty of scope for progression so looks to me to be a worthy favourite.
GOING GONE (WIN) written by Dean Kilbryde 14:41 Market Rasen
The second live jumps race on ITV this Saturday sees a very competitive looking hurdle contest where a case could easily be made for a plethora of these runners. On the hunt for a hat-trick of back to back victories Cirque Royal has been in blistering form and deserves his shot in this company. That being said this seems a marked step up in the level of opposition and although I'd be shocked if he wasn't on the scene in the closing stages I'd rather look elsewhere.
Galata Bridge is another runner who won last time out and of the two looks the one I fear most. He shouldn't be far away but looks a tad too short in the betting to be a viable punting proposition.
It'd be foolish to totally rule out any runner from the Alan King yard but with such a lengthy lay off from the jumping sphere it poses a few questions. A winner on the flat when last seen so couldn't be discounted.
The one I'm plumping for returns to hurdles after a string of 6 chase starts (5 of which ended in top 3 finishes) and with recent wind surgery also potentially squeezing out further improvement a serious case can be made for Pisgah Pike. The last time he was seen tackling the smaller obstacles was in a listed race so should be more than competitive at this level and with two previous course starts resulting in claiming the runners up spots on both occassions he looks a very viable each way selection.
Of the remainder the two Fergal O'Brien trained runners (Castel Gandolfo and Wolf Price) could do a lot better than their current odds suggest.
PISGAH PIKE (E/W)
written by Rory Paddock
14:56 Newbury
Happy Romance won the Super Sprint here at two and went on to land this contest last term. Well beaten the last twice, she would have very strong claims if judged on her earlier form and she ought to go very close to landing a rather unique hat-trick at this meeting for the Hannon team.
Rohaan had shown very little in his first three starts of this campaign though he bounced right back to his very best, under a sensational stalking ride from Ryan Moore to land the Wokingham at Royal Ascot. Partnered by Hollie Doyle today, there is every chance the David Evans trained four-year-old will follow up although he is very tricky and he wouldn't be certain to put it all in if there is no genuine pace.
Minzaal could never land a blow in the Platinum Jubilee and is best forgiven, prior to that he had shown himself to be a high-class sort and his placed efforts at York and Ascot read very well in the context of this race. Still very lightly raced and entitled to have plenty of improvement left in him, he is afforded a good deal of respect despite being winless for almost two years.
Method got involved in a barging match in a messy race at Sandown, the strength of that race does look rather suspect although he battled on gamely to finish third and this step back up to six furlongs looks sensible.
Chill Chill has gone well after breaks before and her third in last season's Haydock Sprint Cup was a cracking effort. Presumably absent due a physical issue, the market may well provide clues although she is respected whatever and her yard have enjoyed another fantastic season so far.
Man Of Promise has plenty of high-class form from Meydan, however, he does tend to show his best at that venue and he has a fair amount to find with Happy Romance at these weights. Diligent Harry would have claims if handling this ground but a chance will be taken on Happy Romance following up last season's victory with Chil Chil afforded an alternative vote for those more interested in one at bigger odds.
HAPPY ROMANCE (WIN)
CHIL CHIL (E/W)
written by Chris Connolly 15:14 Market Rasen
The Summer Plate Chase, just over two and a half miles, is one of the highlights of the summer jumping season.
Veteran Peregrine Run would lap these in his younger days, but he’s still running consistently well and certainly has enough class to be competitive here despite top weight.
Texard seems to have taken a big leap forward in his last two runs, which included fairly bolting up at Uttoxeter last time. He looks a huge player under a five pound penalty.
Mortlach has won his last four races. He’s also still likely to be improving at the age of seven. However his first chase win came off a mark of 109, he’s now pitched into a much more competitive event than he’s been contesting, off a 21 pound higher mark.
Light N Strike is the most interesting runner here. Only six, he’s already shown a decent level of ability and there seems no doubt there’s more to come, particularly stepping up in trip. He was a comfortable winner at Stratford last time, beating a horse who was in top form at the time. He’s seven pound higher here, but the capable claimer Jack Wildman negates that rise. He looks on the upgrade.
LIGHT N STRIKE (WIN)
written by Matt Polley
15:30 Newbury
The Weatherbys Super Sprint is highlight of today’s slightly reduced card at Newbury, it will see a field of 21 flying over the 5f and 34yds trip on watered good ground. Tom Clover has had a good year so far and his gelding Rogue Spirit comes here with two wins from three starts. This race will be his sternest test to date, it will be interesting if he can cut it against some stakes performers, but he will be towards the top the market. Miami Girl won well on debut but then came up short a couple times before resuming winning ways in a small field race at Windsor she will have to improve on what she has shown to trouble the principles today.
For me it is hard to see past the filly Maria Branwell even in such a large and competitive field as this, she is clear on all figures for this race, she also gets a few pounds from some of her rivals at the top of the market. A reproduction of the third placed finish in the Queen Mary off level weights behind Dramatised will make her the one they all have to beat in this £200,000 contest.
MARIA BRANWELL (WIN)
written by Michael Taylor
15:45 Curragh
John Gosden has plundered the Irish Oaks twice in the last five years. He could easily add another Irish Classic to his CV with Emily Upjohn who was very unlucky not to maintain her unbeaten record in the Epsom Oaks where she was just denied by Tuesday. Frankie wasn't at his best on that occasion and will be keen to make amends after seemingly making amends with John and Thady Gosden.
Magical Lagoon provided Shane “Dusty” Foley with his first Royal winner when landing the Group 2 Ribblesdale. The lightly-raced daughter of Galileo seemed to really appreciate the step up to a mile and a quarter that day and there could be more improvement to come from her. Jessica Harrington’s also responsible for Fennela who’s only got a maiden victory to her name but that came over course and distance so she shouldn’t be totally overlooked.
Ger Lyons and Colin Keane teamed up to win this in 2020 with Even So and the pair now run Cairde Go Deo who comfortably defeated the opposing History as a juvenile before running respectably in the Moyglare. She’s won a brace of listed contests this season. The form of those races is nothing special and she needs to find improvement.
Aidan O’Brien runs three horses and it’s interesting that Ryan Moore has chosen to ride Toy, the supposed outsider of the field. She’s only a maiden winner and has been disappointing on both starts in France this season in Group 1 company. She must be showing plenty of ability at home for Ryan to choose her. Emily Dickinson makes a quick reappearance having gone down by a shorthead behind Rosscarberry at Leopardstown nine days ago. The drop back in trip and quick turnaround will make life difficult for her. The trio is completed by History who finished midfield in the Irish 1000 Guineas and looks held by Magical Lagoon on their running in the Ribblesdale.
FENNELA (E/W) written by Peter Keogh