Speed Company saw John Quinn and Philip Makin win back-to-back renewals of yesterday’s opener at Ayr and Fatherly Friend (1.30) can do likewise for Danny Tudhope and Karl Burke in today’s opening maiden over an extended seven furlongs. The selection has attracted market support on both visits to a racetrack, finishing fourth at Haydock on debut and finishing fifth last time out at Newmarket. The son of Scat Daddy was badly hampered when making his challenge in the closing stages and with a clear run this afternoon should be able to make it third time lucky for connections.
The Ayr Bronze Cup sees 25 runners head to post in another minefield of a sprint handicap with Michael Dods’ Mass Rally (3.05) a tentative each-way selection under PJ McDonald. The selection has tumbled down the weights since scoring from a 13lb higher mark at York almost two years ago but has performed with credit in competitive handicaps over both five and six furlongs respectively. The evergreen 8-y-o should relish conditions and with plenty of pace in the race can hopefully give weight and a beating to his rivals to record a second Ayr success.
The stable can double-up with Easton Angel (4.15) in the feature 5f Listed Stakes. The selection was purchased by new connections’ Al Shaqab Racing after winning impressively at Beverley in the spring and was far from disgraced when chasing home Acapulco at Royal Ascot. The filly has ran well in higher grade at Newmarket and York over six furlongs but looks all speed and is a confident selection to return to winning ways under regular partner Paul Mulrennan.
There’s action at Newbury where William Haggas‘ Satellite (2.45) is a confident selection in the mile and a half handicap under Pat Cosgrave. The selection belatedly came good last time out when landing a competitive handicap at the track but prior to that had been well-supported on his previous starts at Haydock, Chester and Sandown receptively. The handicapper has raised him 7lb for that success but the key finally unlocked to him he can follow-up accordingly on his preferred soft ground.
Richard Hannon has won two of the last five renewals of the Haynes, Hanson and Clarke and is represented by Nottingham maiden winner Blackout. Whilst he is respected under Sean Levey, preference lies with Special Season (3.55) to land doubles for the Haggas and Cosgrave combination. The selection defied greenness to win a warm maiden last month at Sandown over seven furlongs and is open to any mount of improvement now upped in trip over a mile.
At Newton Abbot just four go to post for the 2m Novices’ Chase and Nicky Henderson’s Nicolas Chauvin (2.20) preferred to the pair of Domello Mo and Dubai Prince. The latter is undoubtedly the most talented in the line-up and was 116 on the flat prior to switching codes and joining John Ferguson’s Bloomfields Operation. The 7-y-o has won twice over fences, beating the re-opposing Dormello Mo over course and distance in July and Spring Steel last time out at Southwell, however the Henderson-inmate looks the horse open to the most improvement and can make a winning debut over fences under Nico De Boinville.
Should Paul Nicholls come unstuck with Dormello Mo, he should be able to make amends with Sergeant Thunder (3.30) in the handicap chase over an extended two miles. The 6-y-o made a winning debut over the larger obstacles when landing a gamble under Sam Twiston-Davies last time out at Worcester and is a confident selection to defy a 5lb rise at the weights.
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