NEWBURY
1:50 G3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes
Nightime Dancer (Sean Levey)
I think the track will suit him, and I think the trip will suit him, and his run behind Scandinavia at Newmarket looks pretty strong, and he comes here with rock-solid form.
We are looking at the St Leger (where I see he is currently 33/1 with Unibet) and there is also a race for three-year-olds only at Longchamp’s Arc meeting, which is something we’re also considering.
I’m very hopeful he’ll run a big race.
3:00 Handicap
Classic (Sean Levey)
He has been extremely consistent this season, and I was delighted with his run in the International Stakes at Ascot last time behind Two Tribes, who subsequently came out and won the Stewards’ Cup.
The Handicapper has taken no chances and put him back up to 94, which is a mark he’s yet to win off, but he likes the track and Sean will make plenty of use of him over this trip.
4:10 Novice Stakes
Law Court (Sean Levey)
He’s a very nice colt by Blue Point who has done everything right at home, and I’m hopeful he can go close.
4:45 Handicap
Houstonn (Alec Voikhansky)
He wasn’t given a hard race at Ascot last week, so I’m happy to turn him out again, but he does need to step up considerably on recent efforts, and I couldn’t be backing him with any confidence until he turns the corner.
NEWMARKET
2:05 Grey Horse Hcap
Cayman Tai (Joe Leavy)
He ran a much better race last time, which was his first since being gelded, and he’s been in good shape at home since, so he has a decent each way shout.
3:15 Handicap
Assaranca (Joe Leavy)
She shaped well at Epsom last time and makes her handicap debut off a mark of 68, which is probably a fair assessment of what she’s achieved so far, but I’d like to think there’s a bit of improvement to come.
RIPON
2:10 Novice
Gharma Sutra (Sam Hitchcott)
We probably overfaced him in the Vintage last time, but he still showed up for quite a long way after sitting handy, so he’s going back to six furlongs and this race should be a little easier. That said, it might only be a small field, but it does look fiercely competitive.
4:24 Fillies’ Handicap
Phaedra (Sam Hitchcott)
She got struck into at Lingfield last time, so draw a line through that and focus on her run prior. This is her trip, she’ll go on the ground, and I expect her to go well.
SUNDAY – DEAUVILLE
2:50 G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois
Rosallion (Sean Levey)
Everybody saw what happened in The Sussex, and in another stride he probably would’ve got there, so we know we have the best older miler around.
He handles his racing very well, so I’ve got no concern running him after just 18 days, and if any horse deserves to get his head back in front, it’s him.
He’s won Group Ones at two and three and I can’t see any reason why he can’t win one as a four-year-old.
The ground is described as Good to Soft, but there’s no rain forecast, so it should ride quick enough.
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