Secateur has won two of his last three starts and is clearly thriving but the handicapper has had his say and he must race from a mark 12lbs higher than when making all at Newmarket last time. He might not get a soft lead at Sandown today, however, and preference is for Michael Bell’s Barefoot Dancer (2.55).The selection has been dropped a couple of pounds since finishing third at Leicester last time over 12f and the step up in trip should suit. The booking of William Buick is a positive and, in receipt of11lbs from the top-weight, he can break his maiden tag.
Fireglow (3.30) finished with a rare rattle when 4th in the Albany over six furlongs at Royal Ascot and she is taken to appreciate the step up to 7f in the feature listed Star Stakes. The filly has the worst of the draw in stall eight which is a negative and we have four unbeaten fillies in the field the pick of whom could be Barry Hills’ beautifully-bred Doncaster winner Raaqy.
The classic generation have won the 10f handicap for the last six years and a chance is taken on Sir Michael Stoute‘s Indelible Ink (4.00) at the foot of the weights. The selection may not have got home over 12f last time and has been dropped a couple of pounds in the weights. This lightly-raced 3-y-old ran an excellent race over C&D on his reappearance previously when 33/1 although he is unlikely to go off double carpet this afternoon.
Welford (6.30) may have been flattered when winning a Conditions event at Chester last weekend but he is, undeniably, well treated under a 6lb penalty. Mark Johnston’s charge made all on the Roodee to follow-up his earlier Musselburgh success and can complete the hat-trick under William Buick.
There is a good card at Doncaster this evening and in the juvenile maiden I can pass on a good word for the Charlie Fellowes trained newcomer Kasseopia (6.15).This son of Showcasing is subject to some favourable reports from the Newmarket gallops although as with all young horses he has to transfer his homework to the racecourse.
You’ll seldom find a better evening meeting than the one across the Irish Sea at Leopardstown where Team Ballydoyle’s General Macarthur (5.50) appears a fascinating newcomer in the opening Maiden over a mile. The selection was a seven-figure purchase at the sales and is bred to be something very special. The War Front colt can continue trainer Aidan O’Brien’s excellent record in the contest, having won the race with dual Derby hero Camelot in 2012.
O’Brien saddles two bred in the purple fillies in the G3 Silver Flash Stakes however Dermot Weld’s Tanaza (6.50) gets the nod under stable jockey Pat Smullen. The selection scored impressively on debut last month over course and distance and with the form of that well working out well, including the second and third (the re-opposing Miss Gossip) winning since, she should maintain her unbeaten record en-route to a likely crack at the Matron Stakes in the autumn thereafter.
Ballydoyle’s dual-Guineas winner Gleneagles won the card’s feature G3 Tyros Stakes last term prior to G1 honours thereafter and Jim Bolger’s Sanus Per Aquam (7.25) can mark himself as an early contender for classics next term with success in the feature. The well-bred Teofilo colt is closely related to connections‘ Champion 2-y-o Dawn Approach and made a similarly impressive debut last month at the Curragh. The selection won impressively stepped up in grade last time out and continue his upward profile by scoring this evening, which will surely see the likes of Sheikh Mohamed and co getting their chequebooks out in the aftermath.
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