NEWMARKET
2:45 Listed Empress Fillies’ Stakes
Concessions (Ryan Moore)
We took her out of the Chesham because I thought the ground would’ve been plenty soft enough and I’m not convinced seven furlongs on tacky ground is right up her street as she’s quite a pacey filly who won’t have a problem dropping down to six (furlongs) and the form of her Chelmsford win has worked out very well with the third, Seattle Rock, coming very close to winning the Chesham had she not shifted markedly right handed in the final 100 yards and ended up finishing third. She’s been in great form at home, has improved a lot physically and I really rate her chances.
3:20 Handicap
Lexington Dash (Thore Hammer-Hansen)
He got the job done to win over course and distance last week on his first run since having a small wind operation but he’s improved a lot physically since and has come out of that race in fine form. The handicapper has put him up to a mark of 89 so Thore’s 5lbs claim will be invaluable but I’m happy with him and has done hardly anything all week except enjoy a couple of hours a day in our grass pens so arrives here nicely freshened up.
3:55 Handicap
Kuwait Currency (Ryan Moore)
All of his best form is arguably over a mile, and while he is yet to win over 10 furlongs, I think he stays the trip and any rain that falls will be in his favour. He needed his first run badly so will be much sharper here and Ryan Moore is obviously a positive jockey booking.
WINDSOR
12:15 Maiden
Kool Moe Dee (Rossa Ryan)
Mehmas is currently going great guns as a stallion so hopefully this colt can maintain his excellent record so far this season. This horse has run with credit on both starts on the All Weather but has been working very well on the grass and he’ll be a much better proposition once handicapped, although that’s not to say he doesn’t have a solid chance in this. Lockdown looks the obvious one to catch.
1:20 Maiden
Hot Summer (Sean Levey)
He ran well on all three starts last summer and will definitely get further in time, but this looks a great starting point and his experience will put him in good stead here. I was particularly impressed with a piece of work he did on Tuesday and on that evidence I expect him to go very close.
2:25 Listed Carnarvon Stakes
Dark Lady (Pat Dobbs)
She’s a very sweet filly with a great attitude and plenty of ability. We were considering going to Royal Ascot but decided to give her another week and she is now in fantastic form at home. Her work is very good, she looks marvellous in her coat and has filled out a lot over the winter so I have no reason to believe she hasn’t trained on and she’s also had a small wind operation to help her breathing. On her two-year-old form she is the one they all have to catch and the ratings say she’s the best horse in the race which is good enough for me. There are lots of options further down the line so she will improve for the run but this looks a very good starting point and I’m hopeful.
3:00 Listed Midsummer Stakes
Urban Icon (Pat Dobbs)
He got very tired on the soft ground at Haydock last time so will definitely strip fitter here and I think he’s worth another crack at a mile. I still believe there is a decent race in him as he’s always shown a lot of ability at home and this looks a very good opportunity In what is a wide open contest and 13/2 with Unibet is a fair price.
3:35 Handicap
Oh Purple Reign (Sean Levey)
He raced a little bit lazily at Sandown last time over 6 furlongs but kept on well up the hill so we are giving him a try over a mile and putting a set of blinkers on in the hope that he can get into a nice rhythm and enjoy himself. He might be paying the price for all of his exploits as a two-year-old but on his homework there is still plenty of petrol left in the tank and hopefully he can run a nice race.
Sun Power (Silvestre De Sousa)
He’s got to step up considerably on his latest run and I couldn’t be confident backing him on what he’s shown so far this season.
4:40 Handicap
Mordred (Sean Levey)
He’s a very consistent horse who has won and been placed on both starts so far this season on the All Weather so arrives here in the form of his life and I couldn’t be happier with him going into this race off a mark which is the lowest he’s ever raced off on turf.
We’ll be having plenty of runners throughout the week and I’m looking forward to running a filly owned by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum called Anghaam who is by Frankel out of Natagora and she’s got a few entries so could be one to keep an eye out for.
