Day two of Ayr‘s Western meeting and in the listed fillies
contest over five-and-a-half furlongs. Last Empire finished fourth in the
corresponding race 12 months ago and heads the market at 9/4 for Kevin Ryan.
The four-year-old ran her best race of the campaign when runner up at Beverley
in listed company last time over the minimum trip although she would not want
the ground to dry out too much.
The vote, however, goes to Irish raider Back To Brussels
(3.10) who was only beaten a couple of lengths behind Sprint Cup runner up Glen
Shiel at the Curragh on her penultimate start before easily landing the odds on
heavy ground at Cork.
Gumdrop (2.10) will appreciate the return to 6f, having
looked a non-stayer when third at Doncaster last week. He had previously run
out an impressive winner at Chester and, although he is 10lbs higher today, his
talented apprentice takes off a valuable 5lbs.
Mick Easterby’s Elysian Flame did not look a natural over
timber and returns from a six month lay-off in the extended 2m 1f handicap. He
was in particularly good form when last seen on the level last autumn and must
go close despite the steadier of 10st. The vote, however, goes to veteran Fun
Mac (4.25) who has dropped to a mark 2lbs below when scoring at Pontefract over
this trip back in October. Jockey PJ McDonald will want to make sure the race
is not run at a crawl, but Beechwood Jude made all to score at Catterick –
albeit over 1m 4f – last time.
At Newbury Mirage Mac carries a penalty for scoring at
Wolverhampton on debut and she may struggle to give 2lbs to John Gosden’s colt
Haajoos (1.20) who lost all chance at the start when a never nearer fourth at Kempton on debut. He
is entitled to come on for the experience and Jim Crowley takes over in the
saddle.
Gosden’s Humanitarian was only beaten 7L in the 2019 Derby
but has been off the track since disappointing at last year’s Royal Ascot. He
has been gelded in the interim period and, after just five career starts, he
remains open to further improvement. A check of the market is advised.
The combination of soft ground and a step up to 1m 6f
scuppered the chances of Fox Vardy (2.30) at Newmarket last time and he is best
judged on his Ascot third on his penultimate start when he pulled hard and met
trouble in running under Cieren Fallon. At the time of writing Martyn Meade’s
last three runners have all won so it is fair to say the stable are in good
form.
The Haynes, Hanson & Clarke Conditions event is one of
the oldest sponsorships in racing and all five of the runners are previous
winners in this competitive heat. Roger Varian’s Baradar is unbeaten having
scored over 7f here last month on soft ground. There is no reason why he should
not be at least as effective on this better ground and he is an exciting
prospect.
The form of Yabir’s Sandown win was given a boost when the
runner up occupied the same position in a Group 3 and the Godolphin colt looks
ready for a step up to a mile. He is a big danger but Magallan (3.40) can
return to winning ways having finished second at Kempton last time when dropped
back to 7f. The colt had previously looked very smart when scoring at Newmarket
over a mile on debut and he holds an entry in next weekend’s Gp 2 Royal Lodge
Stakes and next month’s Gp 1 Dewhurst Stakes.
There is enough stamina on the distaff side of the family to
think Maurimo (5.20) will appreciate the step up to 10f for the first time in
the concluding 15-runner handicap. The classic generation have won the last
couple of renewals of this prize and the selection has only had four career
starts. The filly is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Cannock Chase and the hope
is that today’s additional couple of furlongs will suit.
