The horse racing broadcaster picks out his selections for a big day of racing, along with a stable tracker update.
The forecast overnight rain should ensure the ground will be soft for the four races on ITV3 from Newmarket on Friday.
First up is the Listed Rosemay Stakes, where the trade off is between Sirona’s consistency and a query on the ground for ROLICA (13:50 Newmarket). Sirona has not had the breaks this season, but this has partly been self-inflicted and Rolica will likely get the strong run that suits with Spiritual and Fair Point both likely front runners and Noisy Jazz difficult to settle last time. Rolica’s last visit to the Rowley Mile yielded a fifth in the 1000 Guineas after winning a maiden here in April and did not get a strong pace to run at last time at Sandown.
SEA OF ROSES (14:25 Newmarket) will certainly handle the ground in another Group race for Fillies and that makes her appeal most at the prices. Time Lock has been a cliff horse for me and now a tongue tie is fitted after trying cheekpieces two starts ago whilst Mistral Star can be keen which may detract from her finishing effort. Sea Of Roses may have been aided by making the running at Windsor but she had been unlucky at Salisbury the time before and has plenty of form with cut underfoot.
The day Sir Michael Stoute announced his intention to retire at the end of the season his FORMAL (15:00 Newmarket) won at Leicester and can retain her unbeaten record up in grade in the 7f Group 2 Rockfel Stakes. There was some cut in the ground that day and whilst conditions will be more testing here her dam Veracious handled soft ground well and it is a similar unknown for the majority of the field.
The Group 2 Joel Stakes looks at the mercy of LEAD ARTIST (15:35 Newmarket) after being out speeded by Kinross over 7f last time. Unraced as a juvenile he has made great strides in a short space of time and back at the scene of his debut in the Wood Ditton can cap a fine campaign with his highest profile win to date. Kinross is a genuine Group 1 horse running over his ideal trip last time and this line up does not look to contain a rival of that ability. The return to a mile is also in his favour.
STABLE TRACKER UPDATE
Nothing since last weekend means six horses have run since the last update:
Against The Wind (0, 11/1). Well held in Listed company and a 5f nursery on decent ground looks the correct option next time. Two runs still to go unless successful.
Katey Kontent (0, 17/2) was another to be flying too high in Pattern company and for her it is 6f handicaps. She handles soft ground okay.
Consolidation (first ,4/5) took advantage of a straightforward opportunity and is now removed.
Enfjaar (second, 15/8) ran well but was held tight by the winner at a crucial stage. One run left and will remain competitive.
Chillingham (second, 7/1) chased home the admirable Not So Sleepy comprehensively beating the others under a good ride. Raised 1lb to 96 he will still be a force in 12-14f handicaps.
Vintage Clarets (first 7/2) got the cut in the ground he craves to win well and even though having won is removed a rise of 3lb will not rule him out of similar soft ground sprints between now and the end of the season.
With the fast conditions at Ayr looking unlikely to be repeated many times between now and the end of the season nothing is added.
Removed: Consolidation and Vintage Clarets
A full list of the current stable tracker horses could be found here.
