There’s a decent afternoon card at Musselburgh to help give us that weekend feeling on Friday and it should be run on fast ground for once. Newmarket and Haydock host cards likely to be run on soft ground in the evening to give us a slightly different flavour too. Here are the highlights:
2.30 Musselburgh – 5f 2yo Conditions Stakes
Global Academy
Mixed bag in three runs so far, may like the faster forecast conditions here and could take a step forward from his last run.
Mr Greenlight
Took a big step forward between runs one and two and appreciated the drop down to the minimum trip, though that was on softer ground.
Rumshak
Went off favourite for the race contested by Mr Greenlight last time, finishing two lengths ahead of Tim Easterby’s horse. He carried 4lbs more than that one last time though and should definitely confirm placings now.
Falabelle
A decent debut effort wasn’t backed up on soft ground last time, so you’d expect quicker ground to help her here.
88 Rumshak
83 Falabelle
76 Global Academy
74 Mr Greenlight
Summary
The filly Falabelle should improve a bit for better going, but she’d have to be going well to catch Michael Dods’ RUMSHAK who looks too good for these at the weights.
3.30 Musselburgh – 7f Fillies’ Handicap
Alexandrakollontai
A versatile type who won over 1m last time but one who also doesn’t run two races the same very often and so must be approached with caution now.
Alpine Dream
Hard to get a handle on how she may run in all truth, though conditions will be no excuse for her.
The Stalking Moon
Course and distance winner last time but that was on much softer ground and this presents a totally different speed challenge.
Whatsthemessage
Won this season over both 7f and 1m and can go well again. She hasn’t put in a bad race this summer and must go well in a race where many are badly handicapped.
Maureb
She’s been running over all sorts of distances and thus has appeared inconsistent. Her recent win however was over a stiff 6f on fast ground so you could argue this will be ideal.
81 Maureb
80 Whatsthemessage
79 Alexandrakollontai
74 The Stalking Moon
74 Alpine Dream
Summary
Not a great race in truth and one in which a chance can be taken on MAUREB near the bottom of the weights. The stiff six at Carlisle two runs ago appeared ideal and I feel she may get this OK, Whatsthemessage being next on the list.
4.00 Musselburgh – Archerfield Cup, 1m6f Handicap
Tawdeea
It has to be said that all of his best runs have been at 1m4f or thereabouts, though he was never nearer over that trip two runs ago and could go well.
Yorkidding
Stays 2m+ but will be just as comfortable over this slightly shorter trip. Loves the faster going and can get right back to her best here.
Kensington Star
Relished the soft ground when winning at Carlisle in June but did win a maiden on good-to-firm in the spring. Improvement ever so slightly stalled when tackling two miles, including here, so the drop in trip looks a positive step.
Great Fighter
Easy course and distance winner in May and is performing even better now. Ran very close to his best when winning here over 2m in June and can do so again.
Sebastian’s Wish
Won four of five races since joining Keith Dalgleish (three of them here) and must be considered a likely winner. Only a 4yo with more improvement to come for certain.
107 Sebastian’s Wish
103 Kensington Star
103 Tawdeea
102 Yorkidding
99 Great Fighter
Summary
The amount of likely improvement I’ve thrown at SEBASTIAN’S WISH in the ratings actually may be fairly conservative and so I would expect him to score. Kensington Star and Tawdeea could fight it out for places.
6.15 Haydock – 1m6f Handicap
Murgan
Made a decent debut for this yard at Kempton but will have to improve again to take this. Was given an easy ride last time, watch out in case major money arrives for this one on the day.
Kashmiri Sunset
Won last time out on the flat and may come on slightly from that.
Takbeer
Should handle soft no problem and is of definite interest after his nice Newbury win last time out.
High On Light
Out of the places only once in six races for this yard, runs consistently but doesn’t really seem to be improving any.
Aramist
Two similar spins since changing yards in spring but may find some improvement for stepping down to this trip.
85 Murgan
84 Kashmiri Sunset
81 Takbeer
80 Aramist
80 High On Light
Summary
The money may or may not materialise for MURGAN, but I won’t be surprised to see this one backed and I think there could be plenty of improvement to come back on turf for Stuart Kittow. Oisin Murphy comes here only to take the ride on this horse which has a forecast of 7/1 at the time of writing.
7.05 Newmarket – 1m2f Handicap
Swilly Sunset
Soft ground doesn’t seem to be an issue and so his great run could be about to continue. He’s looking for a four-timer here and the handicapper perhaps hasn’t been too cruel.
Outback Blue
Arguably isn’t too fond of softer going these days so is perhaps better watched.
Ghinia
A consistent type but one who has been enjoying skipping over the fast ground of late and won’t get that here this week.
The Gay Cavalier
A really hard one to judge. On the balance of his form though he should be behind several of these.
Broughton’s Story
A lightly raced sort, which is normally encouraging, but not one who has managed to win as yet. If transferring recent AW form to turf then he could go well off a featherweight.
79 Swilly Sunset
71 Outback Blue
71 Ghinia
70 Broughton’s Story
68 The Gay Cavalier
Summary
This looks like a great opportunity for SWILLY SUNSET to carry on winning. He won cleverly last time and is still ahead of the handicapper for me. Outback Blue and Ghinia look booked for place money.
7.35 Newmarket – 1m Fillies’ Handicap
Red Tea
Her ground dependency means I’ll be pleasantly surprised if she even runs here in wet conditions.
Titi Makfi
Shown such rapid improvement since making her debut last autumn and ran another cracker in soft ground conditions at Glorious Goodwood. Another small step forward here is possible and would put her right in the mix.
Seduce Me
Another contender given that her best races have been her most recent races, she won easily at Newbury soft ground and clearly relishes the test.
Flying North
Would have been well in contention had it not been for the conditions, may struggle on soft.
Prying Pandora
This Dark Angel filly may go very well here for Richard Fahey. She’s slipping nicely down the weights but retains ability – a good combo.
95 Prying Pandora
94 Titi Makfi
92 Seduce Me
78 Flying North
75 Red Tea
Summary
Northern raiders PRYING PANDORA and Titi Makfi could fight out this finish with the former getting the nod. Johnston horses can be tough to pass but when they are busy they can throw in a below par effort and this is taken into consideration.