We are blessed with an abundance of excellent flat racing this afternoon with cards at Sandown and Goodwood and York and Mark Johnston’s Secret Ambition (2.00) fancied to continue the trainer’s excellent form in the opening maiden over the minimum trip. The speedily-bred Exceed and Excel colt built on his debut at Redcar when chasing home Richard Fahey’s subsequent Newbury scorer Birchwood at Doncaster and should be able to make it third time lucky under in-form rider Silvestre De Sousa.
De Sousa can double-up aboard Brian Ellison’s Almuheet (3.40) bidding to bounce back after a disappointing run last week at Musselburgh. The gelding was well-backed before ultimately failing to land a blow and finished last of nine under 5lb Apprentice Mikey Ennis however prior to that had run well when finishing a close-up third on his seasonal debut at Kempton. He was third over course and distance in a competitive handicap here last term and despite being 5lb higher than that performance, remains of interest and could cause an upset at forecast double figure price.
Johnston sends five runners to Goodwood this evening and Lido Lady (6.30) his best chance of a winner in the 6f Maiden under Joe Fanning. Fanning opts to ride over stablemate Triassic and cost connections 30,000 guineas at the sales last October. The Danehill Dancer filly is well-related and looks the ideal type to carry on the stable’s excellent record this term with juveniles.
Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes won the opening three races on Sandown’s corresponding card last term however the Champion Jockey may struggle on such a competitive card, with Hughie Morrison’s Compton Mill (4.20) Hughes’s best chance of a winner in the ten furlong handicap. The selection made a winning handicap debut when scoring at Chelmsford in April, staying on strongly in the closing stages. The 2nd and 3rd have both on their next starts and the step up in trip to ten furlongs can help the gelding defy a 5lb rise at the weights.
Andrew Balding‘s Field of Fame (3.50) has twice run well in defeat behind Hardwicke Stakes bound Mahsoob (12/1 with BetVictor for Royal Ascot success next week) however he can get his head back in front this afternoon under regular pilot Davey Probert. The selection made a winning debut on soft ground at Salisbury and returned from a lengthy absence to finish an excellent third at Newbury. He was far from disgraced when following-up at York and can seal his comeback from a pound lower mark.
Aintree host’s it’s last fixture of the season and despite Nabucco (6.10) not being sighted since winning a Listed race at Newmarket last term, is a confident selection making his debut over timber for the Bloomfields operation in the 2m Maiden Hurdle. John Ferguson’s new recruit is bred in the purple, being out of Godolphin’s star filly Cape Verdi, and was rated 109 when trained by John Gosden and can make a winning debut hurdling under Aiden Coleman.
Coleman can double-up aboard Ballybough Pat (6.45) seeking the hat-trick in the feature handicap chase over an extended three miles. The selection has gone up 13lb at the weights for two impressive successes at Kempton and Market Rasen however is thriving at present and providing the ground stays fine, can give weight and a beating to his ten rivals accordingly.
The Tim Vaughan yard have burst into life over the spring, with the Aberthin-based handler operating at a 36% strike-rate this month and his runner Lamool (8.25) well-placed to score in the Novices’ Hurdle over two and a half miles. The selection returned from a six-month absence bolting-up at the track over course and distance in October, albeit over fences, and looked better than ever last time out when failing to three out three miles. His trainer looks to have found a perfect opportunity to return the 133 rated chaser to winning ways with Richard Johnson in the plate to guide the 8-y-o to a second course success
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