Whilst Doncaster‘s Lincoln meeting traditionally opens the new flat season, it all really kicks-off with Newmarket’s Craven meeting, leading into Newbury‘s Greenham meeting and two excellent days of flat racing. William Haggas tends to run a smart one in the closing Fillies’ Maiden over a mile and a quarter and his Forever Popular (5.30) is a fascinating entry and the mount of Champion Jockey Richard Hughes. The daughter of Dynaformer is out of a multiple G1-winner and is related to plenty of winners. Haggas won the corresponding race with Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Vow and his filly, who boasts an Oaks entry, is 33/1 with BetVictor for classic success at Epsom in June.
The other Fillies’ Maiden opens the card with last year’s scorer Inchila using the race as a springboard to an excellent fourth behind Taghrooda at Epsom. Whilst perhaps not quite of that ilk, there’s a lot to like about Hughie Morrison’s Star Rider (1.50) on paper and the daughter of Cape Cross taken to make a winning debut under Jim Crowley. The stable won the race with subsequent Cheshire Oaks winner Bannoffee back in 2013 and this well-bred filly can continue the yard’s fine record at the track.
Godolphin’s well-bred filly Winters Moon put her best foot forward when stepped up in trip in last year’s Fillies’ Mile and is respected however John Gosden boasts a fine record in the feature 10f Conditions Stakes and Star of Seville (2.50) is another unexposed filly that can make giant strides upped in both trip and grade. The Duke of Marmalade filly couldn’t have been more impressive when shedding the maiden tag at the second attempt last term at Doncaster and is entitled to progress further, with Frankie Dettori replacing William Buick in the plate.
Green Door (3.55) can land the 5f sprint for Shakin’ Stevens fans (who isn’t?). This 4-year-old cannot have the ground too fast and ran a race full of promise at Lingfield (polytrack) returning from a break last month when pulling hard. With that experience behind him he is likely to be less keen this afternoon and Normal Equilibrium is likely to make it a decent gallop.
Bath‘s new season begins with an excellent 6f Listed race for fillies and Mick Appleby’s Demora sure to run her race. The 6-y-o boasts an excellent record fresh and is respected having won over course and distance last term however the classic generation are in receipt of 10lb from their elders and as such Zahoor Baynoona (6.10) is chanced to get the better of Ken Condon’s Irish raider Newsletter. Richard Fahey’s filly made an eye-catching debut when scoring last term at Yarmouth and was far from disgraced upped in class, before ending her season on a high when scoring readily at Musselburgh. She looks to have leading claims and is a confident selection providing jockey Paddy Mathers can negotiate a safe passage from stall ten.
A maximum field of 30 go to post for tomorrow’s Scottish National and Ayr‘s two-day meeting kicks-off with an excellent card this afternoon and the opening Novices’ Hurdle a corker. Fascino Rustico, A Vos Gardes and Gone Forever all boast tremendous form in novice company however Different Gravey (1.25) has shown he is just that and can give further success to the in-form pair of Nicky Henderson and Nico De Boinville. The selection isn’t without his quirks and needed reminders throughout his lto success at Huntingdon, however boasts bundles of class and gets the nod to win for the third time this season over timber.
The feature Listed Handicap Chase has attracted a stellar field of 13 going to post and Alan King‘s Hollow Penny sure to be popular in the market after an excellent run in the Festival Plate last month at Cheltenham. The form of that race has worked out poorly however and whilst Brave Spartacus is respected back over the larger obstacles, a chance is taken on Malcolm Jefferson’s Firth of the Clyde (3.05) bouncing back to form. The selection was caught for toe in the Grand Annual however has returned to his last winning mark and can win for the fourth time over fences under regular partner Brian Hughes.
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