NEWMARKET
1:10
Alaadee (Thore Hammer Hansen)
He’s from a very good family and this looks a good starting point. I suspect he’ll be better over middle distance trips but a stiff mile here should suit and he’s ready to go.
Duelist (Sean Levey)
He really got the hang of things late on at Goodwood on his debut so he’ll be much sharper this time around and he’s from a family we know extremely well being a half brother to our Guineas winner Billesdon Brook (and Billesdon Bess) but he needs to fully concentrate on the job in hand to figure seriously.
2:20
Zoom (Sean Levey)
He ran a great race on debut at Newbury a couple of weeks ago when up against a few runners with experience and I expect this colt to be much sharper here. It’s a very competitive affair but that was an extremely pleasing first run and I do think there is a lot of improvement in him. He’s got plenty of ability and won’t mind the step down to six.
Foden (Thore Hammer Hansen)
This has been the plan ever since he bolted up at Lingfield in June and I’ve got no worries about the drop back in trip because he is extremely pacey and has a very good attitude. The ground won’t be a concern either and he’d be my main hope of our quartet.
Goldenhurst (Wayne Lordan)
He’s got plenty of experience and has a very good attitude along with some pretty smart form so deserves to take his chance and he would have a reasonable each way shout.
Holiday (Luke Catton)
He was put in at the deep end in a Listed race at Newbury and while he finished last he still ran very well for a long way so it wasn’t a complete disgrace and then we took him to Sandown where he was slow leaving the stalls and took a while to warm to his task but stayed on really well and looked a little bit threatening until stumbling badly a furlong out which ended any potential chance he had of winning. He will be better over further and while there is no doubt he has to step up considerably to win hopefully he can run a nice race.
2:55
Snow Lantern (Sean Levey)
She was ultimately very disappointing in France and didn’t come out of the race very well so we scoped her and discovered that she was pretty sick so she was put on antibiotics and a nebuliser to help and she’s back fine now. I’m not saying it is an excuse but she clearly wasn’t as healthy as we thought and at least we have a reason as to why she underperformed. She’s back in against her own sex here so should have an excellent chance. They’re all very closely matched but I’m glad that we now know she’s over the issues she had in France and she’s in full health, moving great and Sean is very happy with her. She’s definitely got stronger as the season has gone on and as long as the ground doesn’t go to the extreme she should run a massive race.
3:30
Thunder Queen (Sean Levey)
She’s a beautifully filly who has a lovely stamp of class and everything she’s done at home has been very good. I expect her to come on for the run but her work has been good and she should run a nice race
ASCOT
3:50
Qaysar (Rossa Ryan)
He hasn’t really set the world alight in his last few runs but he’s versatile ground wise and a stiff seven around here should suit. If he can recapture his very best form he’s entitled to be thereabouts.
Mums Tipple (Pat Dobbs)
He’s always been a horse with plenty of ability but sometimes things haven’t really fallen his way. This will be his first start in a Handicap so he is, in theory, stepping down in grade and he made a winning debut at the track so there shouldn’t be any issues on that front.
REDCAR
Tajdid (Dane O’Neill)
We’ve done plenty of work with him to get him right which has included a wind op and having him gelded and I was delighted with his first run back at Bath earlier this month after a break so he’ll strip much fitter here.
3:35
Symphony Perfect (Jason Watson)
She’s done absolutely nothing wrong all the way through and I thought she put up an excellent performance in a very good race behind Harrow at Doncaster last time. Her best form is on top of the ground so hopefully there’s not much rain because she’s a sharp filly who goes there with a great chance.
4:10
Oh This Is Us (Joe Fanning)
His form is there for all to see and if he never win another race again, who cares, because he owes us all absolutely nothing and has been a superstar from day one. He’s been in great form at home and continues to thrive on his work and racing so hopefully he can run another solid race.
Motakhayyel (Dane O’Neill)
He wasn’t disgraced in a Group 2 last time at Newbury but should be more at home at this level and at the weights he has a very good chance. This looks an ideal opportunity as long as the ground stays good because he doesn’t want it soft.
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
We're paying Money Back if Second in this race
We’re looking forward to running Mojo Star in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and while he always seems to come into these races as the underdog, I can’t understand why Hurricane Lane, the horse he’s finished second to twice, is 4/1 and we’re a 66/1 chance or something like that! He’s done absolutely nothing wrong and we were looking at going to Ascot for the Long Distance Cup but decided why not have a crack at this race? He belongs to a man who is very ambitious and extremely sporting who wants to have runners in races like this and enjoy himself; this is what horses are for, effectively, and he certainly deserves to take his chance. Yes it’s a competitive race, it always is, but he’s improving all the time and has come out of the St Leger absolutely bouncing and I’m delighted to have a runner of his calibre represent the whole team.
