by Charlie McCann
The significant rain that hit the Knavesmire on Tuesday was, at the time of writing, threatening to lead to the defection of Gleneagles from the Juddmonte International and further rain is expected overnight ahead of today’s card where the feature is the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks.
Covert Love (3.40) has graduated from winning a modest Chelmsford maiden to landing the Irish Oaks in three months when she galloped her rivals into submission. The filly won a York handicap from a mark of 83 at the end of May for Hugo Palmer and she returns to the track 10 weeks later a Group 1 winner. The selection is 10/3 favourite at BetVictor and she may have most to fear from Lady Of Dubai (8/1) who didn’t get the best of runs last time but who has the worst of the draw in stall 11.
Pat Smullen keeps the ride on the filly who has a good draw in stall two for one who may be forced to set her own fractions given there doesn’t appear to be any confirmed front-runners in the race.
William Haggas has saddled the winner of the Sales’ race which opens the card for the last couple of years and he can land the hat-trick courtesy of the progressive Tasleet (1.55) who drops down in class having finished runner up in the Gp 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood last time.
The selection was no match for Shalaa on that occasion but that Gosden inmate could make up into a top class sprinter and Tasleet will not meet anything of that calibre this afternoon. At 7/4 with BetVictor he isn’t a big price in a 20-runner race but he should get a good tow into the race from Orvar and I will be disappointed if the selection can’t give the Hannon juvenile 5lbs.
The Gp 2 Lowther is, arguably, the best race on the card with form horse Besharah taken on by the Easton Angel and Lumiere (2.30) and the latter gets the vote in a terrific renewal. The selection turned a Newmarket maiden into a procession on debut and she is 5/4 favourite to follow up on the Knavesmire. Few fillies’ have ever created such a favourable impression and the 8/1 for her to win next year’s Guineas’ will be a thing of the past of she maintains her unbeaten record.
Mark Johnston saddles the filly and he trained both her parents Shamardal and Screen Star who only raced once when winning a modest Redcar contest by 11 lengths! I hate to desert Easton Angel who I think will reverse Newmarket running with Besharah who looks an out-and-out juvenile.
You’re Fired (3.05) is 5lbs better off with Birdman on recent C&D running and although he has a moderate draw in stall 12 the Karl Burke 4-year-old is taken to reverse the form in an ultra-competitive mile handicap. The selection is 12/1 at BetVictor and can reward each way support although Godolphin’s Musaddas who split Birdman and You’re Fired in fitted with a first time visor and James Doyle takes the ride.
The classic generation have won the Galtres Stakes for the last four years and Suffused (4.20) can improve again stepped up to 12f for the first time having looked in need of the trip when runner up at Salisbury only eight days ago.
Mistrusting (4.55) carries a 6lbs penalty for winning a four-runner race at Newmarket but she looked as if she could be a bout better than a handicapper and, again, her age group have won three of the four renewals of the fillies’ only event.
