Newbury takes centre stage this afternoon, where all eyes are sure to be on Ryan Moore who has leading chances for the Hannon, Stoute, Balding, Haggas and Morrison yards respectively. He rides Abdingdon for boss Sir Michael Stoute in the feature Fillies’ Listed Ballymacoll Stud in a race that, given her connections, looks to have been a long-term target for the Street Cry filly.
She confirmed the promise shown in a Kempton maiden when scoring impressively last month at Ascot and is respected now upped in grade but preference lies instead with John Gosden’s Snow Moon (3.05) under Frankie Dettori. The beautifully-bred filly, out of connections’ dual Oaks winner Sariska, similarly shed the maiden tag at the second attempt in a warm maiden last month but strikes as the better long-term prospect and can score here en-route to a possible crack at next week’s Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Dettori and Gosden combine with Muaither in the handicap over an extended mile and a half, with the gelded son of Poet’s Voice likely to be in the last chance saloon to remain in the yard from an inviting mark of 65. He must go close if warming to blinkers, but Hughie Morrison’s filly Admiral’s Sunset (4.45) looks well-drawn to make a winning debut in handicap company from a lenient looking mark of 68. The stable won the corresponding race in both 2009 and 2010 and she must go close under the excellent George Baker.
The yard should be competitive earlier on the card with Baltic Brave (3.40) under Ryan Moore. The 5-y-o has proven expensive to follow this term and was well-backed last time out at Goodwood finishing fourth under this afternoon’s jockey three weeks ago. The gamble that day suggests the gelding remains ahead of his handicap mark and he can make amends stepping up in trip from an unrevised mark.
Sheikh Hamdan persists with Kitaaby (4.10) who looks a fascinating runner for the resurgent Brian Meehan yard and can hopefully reward each-way support at a double figure price under Jimmy Fortune. The selection made a promising debut at the track last term and went into plenty of notebooks after an excellent second to Mark Johnston’s subsequent Listed winner Whitman. He was second again in another warm maiden at Haydock and remains open to improvement now sent handicapping and presumably best caught fresh.
They go at Nottingham where Tafaakhor (1.50) should shed the maiden tag at the third time of asking under Paul Hanagan. Richard Hannon’s colt bumped into one last time out at Haydock, the pair pulling clear, and sets a fair standard that should prove difficult to beat.
You won’t find many horses rated 60 in the William Haggas yard and Fol O’Yasmine (6.00) should surely prove better than her mark down at Yarmouth. The daughter of Dubawi has offered little in a trio of maidens but put her best foot forward last time out at Brighton and should improve for the step up in trip. She is bred to prove effective over middle distances and must go close under Pat Cosgrave.
Big Sound won the feature 3m Handicap Chase at Uttoxeter 12 months ago and should go close in his bid to land back-to-back renewals this evening. He is 2lb lower than last year’s success and remains in good form but preference lies instead with Marin Keighley’s Creepy (7.35) fancied to give weight and a beating to his 11 rivals under Andrew Tinkler. The selection boasts a tremendous record fresh, and after being rated as high as 143 just 18 months ago, must be competitive on the best of his old form.
For all the latest odds head to BetVictor.com and follow @BetVictorRacing on Twitter
Be Lucky
