CURRAGH

3:05 G2 Railway Stakes

Dukebox (Ben Coen)

This is a race we’ve won twice before (Lilbourne Lad, 2011 and Kool Kompany, 2014) so I’d like to think we know the sort of horse to run in it and this colt deserves to take his chance having won both his starts in gutsy style at Newbury – the form of which his latest success has worked out pretty well. This is obviously a big step up in grade but he’s always been a horse we’ve held in high regard and he got the right credentials to go very well in the race of this nature where they are likely to go off a decent gallop and he’ll be finishing strongly.

 

3:45 G1 Irish Derby

Mojo Star (Rossa Ryan)

He’s probably one of the nicest horses we’ve had in the yard for quite some time, certainly over this sort of distance, and a reproduction of his excellent effort in the Derby at Epsom would obviously see him bang there. I shouldn’t think there have been many Maidens win a Derby but let’s hope we can buck that trend because he’s got lots in his favour, won’t mind the ground and goes there with a very realistic chance.

NEWMARKET

1:00

Isemel

She’s a very nice filly who’s done everything we’ve asked at home and this looks a good point to get her career started. I do think she’ll want further in time but this stiff course will suit and I’m hopeful of a decent show.

Ardbraccan

She needs to step up a little bit on her first run at Kempton but is a well bred filly who will appreciate the step up and distance and I do expect a little more improvement from her, but this does look a very good Maiden.

 

1:35

Anghaam

She is a very versatile filly and can alternate between 1m-1m2f. Her mile form puts her in this race with a very good chance. I think this is a tough Fillies’ Handicap but she is extremely consistent.

 

2:05

System

She was unlucky not to win on debut at Salisbury but just got tired in the closing stages so she’ll definitely have improved for that experience and while this looks a decent Listed event we do like her and I’m hopeful she can run a very nice race.

 

3:15

Motakhayyel

We skipped Royal Ascot in favour of this race and he’s been in really good form at home, including in a piece of work at the weekend. Rather than lump big weights in Handicaps this Group 3 looks more suitable and he’s a course and distance winner having scored in the Bunbury Cup last July. The ground will suit him ideally as the faster the better. He has a good chance.

Mums Tipple

I think nowadays he’s more comfortable running over this sort of trip where he can find time to get into a rhythm rather than being chased along over six furlongs and this stiff track should play to his strengths as well. He’s got some pretty solid form in the book and if he can put everything together he’s not out of it.

 

4:25

Grand Scheme

He was a little bit disappointing at Sandown last time but that was his third run in a month so we’ve given him a nice break to freshen him up and he’s been in good shape at home. It’s a very tight Handicap but he’s very capable and if putting his best foot forward he won’t be far away.

 

NEWCASTLE

1:15

Secret Strength

He was never happy in the Coventry last week and didn’t let himself down at all because the ground was very quick, and to be honest on what we’ve seen so far he probably prefers a little bit of cut in the ground so the All Weather surface should be absolutely ideal and the return to five furlongs would seemingly be a big plus as well. We did think he might be better over six furlongs, and he still might be in time, but he’s got a lot of speed so perhaps the minimum trip is what he wants for the time being. We’ve always liked him and he should go very close.

 

1:45

Lexington Dash

We took him out of Ascot last week because of the ground but he shouldn’t have any issues on this surface and he’s been very consistent all season season so hopefully things will go his way and he’ll run well for his owners.

 

2:20

Oh This Is Us

There’s nothing I can say about him that you don’t already know and he could drive the box to the races, saddle himself up, win the race and then drive all the way back home! Everybody absolutely loves him around the place and I was delighted to see him get his head in front at Epsom last time when beating Century Dream by a nose. He loves the All Weather and if he wins, brilliant, if he finishes last, then so be it, he owes us nothing whatsoever.        

 

WINDSOR

3:00

Sows

She was much too keen in the Albany last week and there was no way she was going to stay the extra furlong on ground that heavy after doing so much early on, but she’s back on slightly better ground here and the return to five furlongs will see her in a much better light. She’s a filly we like, is fit and well and I think she could easily bounce back under Tom Queally.

 

3:35

Qaysar

You could set your clock by him because he never runs a bad race and what you see is what you get. Top Rank is probably the one to beat but Qaysar is in very good form. The ground will not be an issue as all his best form is with cut underneath.

 

CHESTER

3:55

Zoltan Star

I must admit I’m surprised he’s still a Maiden because as I’ve said in my Unibet blog before he’s always shown plenty at home, and we thought he was a certainty first time out at Windsor but got beaten by a big outsider and then was defeated in a blanket finish at Chester after that. I don’t think he ran too badly on ground that wouldn’t have been ideal in the Woodcote last time, but that race has worked out very well and is the strongest form on offer. He goes there with a great chance and should go very close, no excuses today.

 

DONCASTER

5:45

Millie Lou

She’s ran with promise on both starts and the experience of her two runs will be an advantage here but I do think she’ll be better once getting a mark.