The Shergar Cup has been cancelled for 2020 but there is a
competitive card from Ascot this afternoon with four races live on ITV4.
Chil Chil (1.50) was no match for Motagally at Bath on her reappearance but the winner is
a most progressive sprinter on fast ground and I feel Andrew Balding’s filly
can improve for her seasonal debut and go one better in the 6f handicap. The
selection won three of her last four starts last season and her Bath run
suggested that the handicapper might not yet have caught up with her. Oisin
Murphy was in the plate for two of those three successes and the champion
jockey takes over in the saddle this afternoon.
Both Jallad and Wild Hope (2.25) returned to winning ways in
first-time cheek-pieces last time and I hope to see the latter maintain his
improvement in the mile handicap. Kevin Ryan also changed tactics with his
four-year-old holding him up at Doncaster last time before producing him fast
and late. Josephine Gordon takes over in the saddle this afternoon with the
gelding carrying just 8st 3lbs. The ew selection is 10/1 at bet365.
Australis (3.00) must transfer his recent tapeta improvement
onto turf, and he is 6lbs higher today than when second in the Northumberland
Plate last time, but he gets a confident vote in the 2m handicap. Roger
Varian’s progressive stayer was beaten from marks in the 70s the last time he
raced on turf and must run from 92 today, but he meets largely exposed rivals
and should have little problem adjusting to life back on grass. Kaloor looks
the main danger having stayed on strongly over 1m 6f at Sandown last time, but
I really feel this is Australis’s race to lose.
I am not convinced a draw in stall 1 is ideal for Fly Miss
Helen (3.20) in the Group 3 Sweet Solara Stakes at Newmarket. Richard Hannon
spoke very highly of his daughter of Le Havre after she made a winning debut
over 6f at Newbury on debut suggesting she was already crying out for an
additional furlong.
Harrovian is better than he showed at York last time in the
John Smith’s Cup and it would be no surprise if he bounced back in the 10f
handicap but Emissary (5.20) is taken to put behind a moderate showing in the
Derby when he only beat one home having been slowly away and then too keen in
his first time cheek-pieces. Trainer Hugo Palmer dispenses with the headgear
today and his neck second to Khalifa Sat in the listed Cocked Hat Stakes at
Goodwood suggests he could be well treated from his current mark.
Coltrane (5.40) is bred to appreciate today’s step up in
trip and hit the line well when winning his maiden at Chepstow over 1m 4f last
time. He is the only 3-y-old in the field and is open to significant
improvement after just three career starts.
In the BetVictor Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock I hope
to see Global Giant make it three out of four since moving to John Gosden. The
selection was a comfortable winner of a listed contest at Newbury last time and
this would not be the strongest race for the grade. Zaaki looked a non-stayer
in the corresponding race two years ago but he is the highest rated horse in
the race and rates the chief threat in what could easily turn into a tactical
affair with no guaranteed front-runners in the field.
At Uttoxeter I am looking forward to seeing Enemy Coast
Ahead (4.30) step up in trip as he bids to give a stone and more to his eight
rivals in the opening novice hurdle. Olly Murphy has not saddled a winner for
over a fortnight after a blistering start to the new jumps campaign but Enemy
Coast Ahead is a smart performer who should be equally as effective over the
additional half a mile.
On Sunday Duke Of Hazzard (3.25) is taken to land the Group
3 Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury for Paul & Oli Cole. The 4-year-old stays
further than this 7f, but Marie’s Diamond looks sure to make it a true test and
the selection finished runner up to Space Blues in the Lennox Stakes last time
at Glorious Goodwood.
