SUNDAY – NEWBURY

1:40 Novice Stakes

Babajan (Jason Watson)

He ran very green on debut at the July course and I don’t think he really appreciated the soft ground there as well. The drop down to 6f here will be in his favour, as will the ground, and hopefully he can step up on his first run.

Pure Dreamer (Pat Dobbs)

He is a very pacey colt by Oasis Dream whose work has been eye catching and this looks a very good starting point. Dobbsy rode him in a piece of work last week and was very pleased so hopefully he can put up a very bold show.         

2:15 Handicap

Watan (Pat Dobbs)

He’s been off for a long time but is a colt who I’ve always thought a great deal of and he showed an extremely good level of form last term. This will be his first run in a handicap and we’re going back down to 6 furlongs, therefore, I think he has outstanding claims, especially if there is any rain.

Well Done Fox (Silvestre De Sousa)

Whereas Watan wants plenty of give, this horse loves it like a road so we have at least got every angle covered where the weather is concerned! He’s in good form at home but on his last two runs I couldn’t be overly confident.

2:50 Weatherbys Super Sprint

Happy Romance (Sean Levey)

This is a race we have a great record in and between me and dad we’ve had nine winners with the brilliant Tiggy Wiggy scoring in 2014 not to mention Lyric Fantasy who was dad’s first winner, and she went on to win the Nunthorpe and be crowned Champion two-year-old filly in 1992. Happy Romance may not be on their league but she’s an extremely talented filly in her own right and I was delighted with her run in the Queen Mary – the form of which has worked out well with the fourth,  Sardinia Sunset, winning a Listed race at York last week, so there is every reason to be confident of her chance. Obviously this race is terribly competitive and you need plenty of luck but Happy Romance is a strong traveller, she’s tough and goes on any ground so I’d be very hopeful of a big run.

Cirrus (Pat Dobbs)

She got into a bit of trouble at Salisbury last time and I’m not really convinced she got the trip as well so the drop down to 5 furlongs will help as she has a high cruising speed and this track will suit her running style.

Kool Moe Dee (Rossa Ryan)

Ocasio Cortez finished fifth at a big price for the same owner in last year’s race so I’m hoping this colt can go a few places better and to be honest I quite fancy him to run a big race at huge odds. He’s by Mehmas who has made a great start to his stallion career and I was very pleased with his latest run at Windsor so I certainly wouldn’t be writing him off.

Risqué (Kieran O’Neill)

She’s a sweet little filly with ability but needs to step up considerably on her run in the Queen Mary and if she can run a nice race I’ll be happy.

3:25 Listed

Walkinthesand (Pat Dobbs)

It was a mistake to run him in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot on his first run back because the ground was much too soft and he hated it so the quicker surface here will definitely be in his favour and he’s always been a very classy horse. We’ve kept him nice and fresh at home and he arrives here in excellent shape so I certainly wouldn’t rule him out.

5:00 Handicap

Fromnowon (Sean Levey)

She got a little bit lonely out in front at Windsor last time but still won well and I think there could be improvement stepping up in trip. She’s against the older horses now so has to show she’s up to it but she’s extremely capable and goes there with a solid chance.

YORK

1:20

Saunton (Ryan Moore)

He’s run well on both starts and should be more than capable of making his presence felt here.

3:05 G3 Fillies’ Stakes

Dark Lady (William Buick)

She missed the break at Windsor on her first run back and was pretty much playing catch up the whole way, but still ended up running a very good race and she’ll improve a ton fitness wise. This is a wide open race but she’s a high class filly who is in great form at home and I think she goes there with a right chance. She looks over priced to me.

Canton Queen (Dane O’Neill)

She hasn’t run for a while so I expect her to improve but we’re not messing about and putting the blinkers straight on in the hope she can gain some valuable Black Type. She’s in good form at home and hopefully can run well.

4:10 Handicap

Buridan (Sam Hitchcott)

He’s a solid handicapper who is arguably better over 6 furlongs but he’s unexposed over this trip and put in a particularly good piece of work last week, so I’m pretty hopeful where he’s concerned as that first run back at Haydock would have put him spot-on

Magical Wish (Dane O’Neill)

He actually ran a better race than the placing suggests at Epsom and he’s ran well here on a couple of occasions. That said I’m not sure how much room for manoeuvre there is from a handicap point of you but he’s in great shape and goes there with decent claims.