I'm looking forward to the racecourse debut at Haydock Park this afternoon of the Frankel colt Swiss Storm (2.30) who has long been the subject of glowing gallop reports from the Newmarket base of trainer David Elsworth.
The dam was a 5f winner at two who has produced seven previous winners all at sprint distances and this speedily-bred colt will stop some catching if he can reproduce his exciting homework on the track. Note he does hold an entry in the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes in a fortnight's time.
In the opener High Command (2.00) was well backed at Doncaster on debut but got bogged down on the soft ground although his subsequent four-month absence would suggest he has had his share of problems (been gelded in the interim period).
In the 7f Conditions Stakes Muwaary (4.00) ran a race full of promise returning from a lengthy absence at York back in June before failing to cope with heavy ground on the July course later in the month. Today's conditions should be a lot more suitable to this 5-y-old entire who did finish runner up in the Jersey Stakes at the Royal meeting a couple of years ago.
The classic generation have won the 12f handicap five times in the last six years but I'm not certain sole 3-y-old Beaverbrook gets a-mile-and-a-half and the eye is drawn to the Group 2 entry held by Important Message (4.30) for Saeed Bin Suroor.
The selection has only raced four times but is considered good enough to hold an entry in the Group 2 Long Distance Cup on Champions Day next month as well as the Cesarewitch for which he is a 33/1 shot with BetVictor.
The Group 2 Dick Poole Stakes is the Salisbury feature and it is interesting that David Simcock, who saddles two once-raced fillies, fits Pellucid with a hood for her second start having run away with a maiden auction event at Thirsk back in June. The form doesn't add up to much, however, and the vote goes to Andrew Balding's Perfect Angel (3.40).
Runner up at Newbury on debut the filly went one better at Goodwood last time in a maiden that often throws up a well above average winner. The runner up at Goodwood (Promising) has subsequently finished second in the Group 3 Prestige Stakes back at the Sussex track although one concern would be her ability to handle lightning quick ground.
Balding will be keen to win the Lochsong Fillies' Stakes with Secret Hint but the progressive Gravity Flow (4.10) is chasing a four-timer and was impressive when making all at Windsor last time from a 6lbs lower mark.
A big week for trainer James Fanshawe with The Tin Man a leading contender for the Sprint Cup at Haydock (6/1 with BetVictor) at the weekend and I am sweet on the chances of Sam Missile (4.40) who wears cheek-pieces for the first time in the 12f handicap. The form of his second to Ruwasi at Doncaster was given a boost when the winner followed up at Newmarket and, after only four career starts, he is open to further improvement.
In the finale, where apprentices can carry whips but not use them, the hope is that Art Echo (5.10) can go one better than his last couple of start when runner up over 7f; this stiff mile is a concern but the application of a tongue-tie has certainly helped in recent starts and he gets the vote for Jonny Portman.
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