The feature race from Newbury this afternoon is the listed Rose Bowl Stakes for juveniles over six furlongs. I was very taken with the Chepstow success of Tasleet (3.40) last time having ran with considerable promise on debut in a hot York maiden and jockey Paul Hanagan suggested the colt was potentially well above average on dismounting.
This represents a step up in class but the son of Showcasing is recommended to take it in his stride although the filly Opal Tiara has, arguably, got better form in the book having finished seventh in the Windsor Castle Stakes over the minimum trip last time doing all her best work at the finish. Her length second to Easton Angel in the Hilary Needler at Beverly previously is nailing good form but I think Tasleet can improve past her.
If you go back far enough there are bits of form which suggest Elkaayed (4.45) could be very well handicapped in the 10f event having been dropped a stone in four modest runs to date. It wasn't too long ago that he finished fourth beaten less than 4l in the listed Aston Park Stakes here last year when trained by Roger Varian.
The opening 7f maiden is invariably won by a decent colt and those with experience look beatable including the twice-raced Zebadiah beaten half a length at Newmarket last time. The market will give us valuable clues as to the respective merits of the newcomers but the Queen's well-bred Recorder (2.00) holds an entry in the Gp1 National Stakes at the Curragh in September and must have been showing something at home.
At Haydock Cyril was given an excellent ride from the front at Chester last Friday and might not get things all his own way this afternoon under a 6lbs penalty especially with Newera in the field. The latter has won three of his last four including twice over C&D but is 22lbs higher than when his winning run began.
I think the step up in trip will suit Bermondsey who won his maiden here over a mile last time and really ought to appreciate the step up in trip on breeding. Trainer Luca Cumani has had a frustrating season to date with his big guns failing to fire but he has been quietly going about his business and this colt could be off to Goodwood if he gets the job done today.
Brian Meehan has booked George Baker for Senrima (4.25) who won only won a four-runner Newbury maiden last time but that followed a debut full of promise at Windsor and his style of racing suggests that this step up to a mile-and-three-quarters will suit. Munstead Pride got going far too late at Sandown last time when backed as if he was well up to his current mark. It will be fascinating to see if connections try and recoup losses.
Richard Kingscote is at Haydock Park and Pontefract which leaves Tom Dascombe looking for a jockey for Firesnake (2.20) in the 6f nursery at Nottingham. Silvestre de Sousa takes the mount on a colt that ran well when runner up at Wolverhampton last time over seven furlongs. The third horse home in that event won at Wetherby earlier in the week and he might have been let in lightly off a mark of 70. There are plenty of dangers but the Dascombe juvenile gets the vote.
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