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13:20 Ayr
A decent mile handicap in which Koy Koy is likely to head the market.
It’s not hard to see why Koy Koy will be popular, he’s an improving three year old who has some solid form to his name, and he’s still feasibly handicapped. He does wear a hood this time which should help his propensity to be a tad keen, and this flat track should play to his strengths.
Dirtyoldtown ran a cracker last time. However consistency is not a strong point.
What’s The Story and Redarna are likeable types, but the handicapper knows where he stands with these two.
Revich should go well at a price. He is a consistent performer who should enjoy conditions. He certainly could run into a place despite top weight.
The selection is Seasett. He was a horse that showed a lot of potential with his former trainer and then won on debut for his new trainer Charlie Fellowes. Things haven’t quite gone his way since, but there’s no doubt he could still be ahead of his mark. He won after a break in April and he comes here fresh from another break. A decent gallop and some cut in the ground should see him place at least.
SEASETT (E/W)
written by Matt Polley
13:40 Newbury
The first race on ITV from Newbury this afternoon is an intriguing affair where Godolphin are very well represented and each of their runners being heavily fancied today.
Siskany has been off the track since running in the Middle East back in February. He is versatile with regards to trip and ground though maybe his better performances have come with ground on the soft side. This trip is perhaps also a minimum for him so I would suggest he is not a favourite to have maximum faith in.
Stablemate Kemari finished in front of Fancy Man and Max Vega last time out when arguably producing a career best and should confirm the form with those rivals again today. Only Rebel’s Romance has managed to beat him the last twice and he has since gone on to narrowly land a group one race over in Germany and so, he warrants serious consideration here.
Dubai Future also has solid form claims for this event, taking into account his explosive performance in a listed contest at Ascot where he was far too good for his rivals. The step up in trip will likely help him here, as would a race that is truly run. There should be plenty of pace to aim at today and he would be my pick of the Godolphin three.
Solid Stone would also have a chance on his run at Chester, however to give weight away to his higher rated rivals here would be a massive achievement and I’m passing him over for this contest.
I’m siding with Dubai Future to land the spoils here for Saeed Bin Suroor whose horses are quietly running very well at present.
DUBAI FUTURE (WIN)
written by Tom Bates
13:55 Ayr
Euchen Glen reappears here but he has shown glimpses of being competitive this season. But perhaps time is creeping up on the former listed winner. Euchen Glen is a course and distance winner around here dangerous to dismiss completely.
Phantom Flight is currently market favourite and it's easy to see why when he has won 3 of his last 5 races. Has been a very good season for Phantom Flight this is a step up in class for Phantom flight though and the price is a little short in a 12-runner race.
Chichester was well behind Phanton Flight at York so difficult to see how he turns that round. Marie Diamond this trip looks a bit to big & Royal Champion has been running in group 3 in recent times since winning at Epsom with no success.
With question marks over some of the contenders. At a bigger more each way price I fancy Dark Moon Rising to be competitive here. This is slightly less competitive than what Dark Moon Rising has been facing in recent races which will only benefit him. Kevin Ryan & Kevin Stott combined on Thursday for a double at Ayr so the combination are in good form.
The ever so slightly slower conditions may suit. given the ground has been on the quick side where he has raced recently. The ease in class and jockey & trainer in form. Makes me think possibly Dark Moon Rising could be competitive here and has strong each way chances.
DARK MOON RISING (E/W)
written by Luke Tucker
14:15 Newbury
Tis Marvellous is a prolific performer over five furlongs and was last seen winning the Beverley Bullet for a second time. He shouldn’t have a problem with the good ground and he’s been placed twice in this race. He has decent form but he carries a penalty today and isn’t as clear cut as he may seem. He might well be an opposable favourite.
Diligent Harry has only raced over five furlongs once and won with ease at Kempton. He won three times last season and was a good second to Happy Romance in the Hackwood, here at Newbury, last year. Although he’s the highest rated in this race, he has a bit to prove as he has been slightly disappointing in his last two starts. Moreover, he also carries a penalty and might well find this five furlongs a tad fast.
Chil Chil has some nice form over six furlongs, most recently finishing a creditable fifth in the Sprint Cup behind Minzaal. She’s ran well over five furlongs before, most recently in the Nunthorpe, last year, behind Winter Power. She finished a couple of lengths down on Winter Power that day and in front of some classy horses like Golden Pal. This is a lot easier than that type of calibre and she might well enjoy the drop in trip. She has a good chance today.
CHIL CHIL (WIN)
written by Kieran McHugh
14:30 Ayr
The appetiser for the big race later on the card, the Ayr Silver Cup is just as competitive as it’s Golden relative.
Another absolute cavalry charge sprint where a case can be made for a plethora of the runners however I’m taking a duo that I’m hoping shouldn’t be far away.
My first and perhaps more obvious selection is the Keith Dalglish trained Abarama Gold. He claimed 5th in this race last year off a much higher mark and returning to the race with less weight to carry should see him go much closer. I’d be very keen on his chances if it wasn’t for the high draw. Last season horses drawn high did not fair too well but if things are different this time around, as long as he gets a clear passage, he looks to be the best chance that a Scottish trainer keeps the prize on home soil.
Honourable mentions have to go to the current market favourite Snash who looks to have been laid out for the race. At a price Bernardo O’Reilly from the yard of Richard Spencer could out run his odds if he can cope with this higher weight.
The other runner that gets my seal of approval hasn’t won since changing to the yard of Michael Dods back in March of last year. Although Woven hasn’t won in his last 21 starts he’s placed in some big runner handicaps and even went well when 11th in this race last term. He’s dropped down the ratings since then and I’m hoping with less of a burden to carry this time around he can finish much closer.
ABERAMA GOLD (E/W)
WOVEN (E/W)
written by Rory Paddock
14:50 Newbury
Some classy individuals have taken the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes in the past, including Harry Angel (2016), Ribchester (2015) and Lord Shanakill (2008). This is one of the few juvenile Group races that’s eluded Richard Hannon but he may remedy that with the progressive Shouldvebeenaring. The Havana Grey colt was very green on debut but since then he’s won the valuable Harry Beeby Premier Yearling Stakes at York and the Ripon Two-Year-Old Trophy. He’s got the best form on offer and will take beating.
Roger Varian and David Egan (44% Strike rate) team up with the favourite Sakheer, who was narrowly beaten on debut and then justified short odds when impressively landing a novice event at Haydock. He’s a half-brother to a Group 2 winner and open to lots of improvement. The once-raced Heroism created a big impression when winning on debut at Salisbury last month. Clive Cox’s charge was friendless in the market that day so he might not have been showing much at home and will need to improve.
The twice-raced Charyn won on debut at Haydock but came up short when trying to follow up at Newmarket. The form of that race has taken a knock already and I’ll look elsewhere.
SHOULDVEBEENARING (WIN)
written by Peter Keogh
15:05 Ayr
The Group 3 Firth Of Clyde Stakes is one of the best races run at Ayr all year and will see a field full of fillies from south of the border. Sadly, we do not have a Scottish representative. Bonny Angel was my NAP of the St. Leger week and she duly bolted up in the nursery off a mark of 77. The handicapper now has her at 94 due to the authority of that performance, but I feel this 6F will be too sharp for her and perhaps she does not have the required ability to take this today. Maria Branwell won at Listed level on her second start but has come up short in four runs since. She will no doubt run her race, but more likely a place option.
Queen Me, however, will take an awful lot of stopping in this, which is a step back in class from Group 2 where she was so nearly successful last time. That last run was a great second in the Lowther at York where she had Maria Branwell over 3 lengths behind her, nothing of the Lowther quality in this race and with a clear run should win.
QUEEN ME (WIN)
written by Michael Taylor
15:25 Newbury
Historically the favourite doesn’t have a great record in this race however Charlie Appleby’s Warren Point is unbeaten over this trip and looks clear at the weights given he’s only rated 1lbs lower than Soto Sizzler yet actually races off 6lbs lower so looks to have a great chance of victory.
Godolphin also run Marching Army and Ottoman Fleet and both have proven stamina at this trip so will look to capitalise should the favourite fail to fire, while Sea The Casper and Hamaki both bring solid form to the table and could also figure with further progression expected.
WARREN POINT (WIN)
written by Dean Kilbryde
15:40 Ayr
The hotly contested Ayr Gold Cup takes centre stage on Saturday, with a strong field of 25 horses facing the starter. Bielsa is an obvious starting point having won the race twelve months ago off just a one-pound lower mark. He’s yet to add to that victory but showed his well-being when finishing a respectable third in the Group 3 Chipcase Stakes at Newcastle, so he couldn’t be ruled out.
Khanjar tops the market for William Haggas, who took this with Nahaarr in 2020. The gelded son of Kodiac has already been placed in Heritage handicap this season and it looked like there was more to come from him when snugly landing a decent handicap at Haydock. He’s difficult to oppose but may lack experience for a race of this nature.
Of the bigger priced runners, Admiral D is of interest, having run with credit in some competitive handicaps this season without winning. He’s yet to win since joining Richard Fahey from Ireland but should be suited by this drop in trip. Volatile Analyst was a listed winner earlier in the season and even though he’s disappointed of late, this race may well have been the plan and he could spring a surprise.
ADMIRAL D (E/W)
written by Peter Keogh