A scintillating performance from Air Force Blue saw Aidan O’Brien’s colt cut to odds-on for next year’s 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, and BetVictor make the well-bred son of War Front the 4/5 favourite for the first classic of next season. The Master of Ballydoyle’s stranglehold on next year’s classics began with his namesake winning at Longchamp last Sunday on Arc Day and Minding running out a resounding winner of the Gp 1 Fillies’ Mile in Newmarket’s feature on Friday. The pair head the market for both fillies’ classics and are 3/1 and 7/2 favourites for the 1000 Guineas and 5/1 and 7/1 favourites for Oaks success at Epsom in June.
After a brace of Gp 1 successes over the weekend Ryan Moore is Salisbury bound and can help Sir Michael Stoute‘s Rostova (2.50) shed the maiden tag at the second attempt. The selection made a promising debut last month at Newmarket, with the re-opposing Gale Song a beaten favourite in second. Stoute’s string tend to come on bundle for their first run however and the well-bred daughter of Arch gets the nod to land a competitive renewal of the Fillies’ Maiden.
Seven head to post for the feature Conditions Stakes over seven furlongs with Andre Balding’s Highland Colori (4.20) taken to end a long losing run under David Probert. The selection hasn’t visited the winners’ enclosure since famously landing the Ayr Gold Cup in September 2013 but has tumbled down the weights since and back on his preferred soft ground can score at the expense of Mick Channon’s unexposed Mobsta.
David Elsworth’s Mark Hopkins (5.20) can win the season finale under Tom Queally. The selection shaped with promise on debut at Newbury and was well-placed to shed the maiden tag at the second time of asking when bolting-up over a mile and a half at Newmarket. The well-bred gelding should relish this afternoon’s conditions and get the better of Scrutinise under Andrea Atzeni.
Mia’s Anthem heads to Sedgefield in excellent heart after wins in competitive handicap chases at Cartmel and Hexham but if Highland Lodge (3.40) gets the nod dropping down to 0-125 company for the very first time. Emma Lavelle’s charge has competed at the highest level and was well-supported in the market prior to disappointing in his seasonal reappearance last month at Warwick. The handicapper has dropped him a further 2lb for that performance and should he not be able to score from a career-low mark of 125 then there should be real concern for the 9-y-o’s long-term future under rules. Daryl Jacob remains in the plate and with first-time blinkers is a confident selection to get his head in front for the first time in almost three years.
John Ferguson’s Vancouverite (2.10) couldn’t reel-in Where’s Tiger last month at Perth however reappears on 12lb better terms and can reverse the form around under regular partner Aidan Coleman. The selection tanked through the race at Perth before being ultimately unable to get past Lucinda Russell’s charge, but on a stone better terms is a confident selection to score for the second time over timber.
Maurice Barnes’ Apache Pilot (4.10) hasn’t returned to Sedgefield since unseating his rider when a well-backed favourite last December and, despite returning on a 7lb higher mark, looks potentially well-treated for the handicap chase over a gruelling three and a half miles. Despite the Sedgefield hiccup he did make amends when scoring impressively two starts later at Newcastle. The 7-y-o was far from disgraced in a pair of efforts at Hexham and the spring and can go even closer with the assistance of apprentice jockey Daragh Bourke’s 5lb claim.
David Lanigan’s string tend to take time to find their stride and Sneaking Budge (5.30) can use the application of first-time headgear to make a winning debut now sent handicapping at Windsor. The selection was well-backed for maidens at Wolverhampton and Lingfield either side of the year and after earning a mark last time out at Chelmsford should be competitive from an opening mark of 69.
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