The second leg of Newmarket‘s Craven meeting sees 2000 Guineas hope Toormore (4.05) reappearing for Richard Hannon and Middleham Park Racing – 7/1 with BetVictor to win the first classic of the season next month at HQ.
Ryan Moore rides with regular partner Richard Hughes still on the sidelines and the colt looks impossible to oppose, bidding to maintain his unbeaten record as the stable’s Toronado did when winning last year’s renewal in impressive fashion.
Aidan O’Brien’s Johann Strauss (2.55) looks the likely favourite in the Tattersalls Millions 3-y-o Trophy despite still being a maiden from his four visits to the track for a maiden at the Dewhurst meeting last season.
His second to Kingston Hill in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster sees him with the best form and the race and with a run already under his belt will be very difficult to beat.
Aljamaaheer is a horse that has promised plenty but is a quirky character and after unsuccessfully seeing out his races over seven furlongs and a mile goes sprinting for the first time in the G3 Abernant Stakes over six furlongs.
Roger Varian’s colt is the best horse in the race but is hard to get right and it could be worth taking a chance on Kevin Ryan‘s Hamza (3.30), Jamie Spencer likely to try and make all from the front. The course and distance winner was far from disgraced on his return in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan and providing it doesn’t become a battle up front with Clive Cox’s Es Que Love, Hamza can hopefully make every yard a winning one.
A horse with similar quirky qualities is Luca Cumani’s Danadana (4.40) making his seasonal reappearance after signing off last year’s fruitful campaign by landing a nice pot in Turkey. When the 6-y-o is on a going day he is very good, as seen last year winning the Huxley Stakes at Chester on his season beau and running Godolphin’s City Style to a neck in the Strensall Stakes at York.
John Gosden’s horses are flying at present and Fencing is respected after his excellent second to Graphic last month at Doncaster, whilst last year’s Irish Guineas winner Just the Judge has similar credentials with plenty to prove after losing her way towards the back end of last season.
Sir Michael Stoute‘s Top Tug (5.40) can take the closing ten furlong handicap, stepped up in trip after staying on well last time out over a mile. The chestnut colt beat subsequent UAE Derby winner Toast of New York (25/1 with BetVictor for the Epsom equivalent) when shedding the maiden tag the start before and looks a fascinating runner from a handicap mark of 85.
The second day of Cheltenham’s April meeting sees some of the best mares in training arrive at the Cotswolds with Baby Shine (2.40) fancied for the mares novices’ chase finale, seeking to make amends for her blip at Limerick last month.
She looked to have the race sewn up before falling at the last and she is taken to get the better of Donald McCain’s She Ranks Me, as she did in a match at Plumpton in February.
Polly Peachum (3.15) was given a peach of a ride by Nico De Bonville last time out at Warwick, favourite backers not having to worry one iota and the mare running away to win by fourteen lengths.
Despite a 19lb hike at the weights looks to be improving at a rate of knots and is taken to continue her upward curve with the Nicky Henderson stable in excellent form and Barry Geraghty now in the plate.
For all the latest odds head to BetVictor.com
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