SATURDAY – GOODWOOD

2:25 UNIBET SUMMER HANDICAP

Mordred (Kieran O’Neill)

He’s probably one of the most consistent horses in the yard so deserves to win a decent prize and I certainly rate his chances much more than his price suggests. He stays well so 1m6f around here will be ideal and he goes on any ground. If he’s still 10/1 or 12/1 when they’re at the start, he’s definitely worth backing each way for sure!

 

3:35 UNIBET STEWARDS CUP

Lexington Dash (Thore Hammer-Hansen)

I think he found the ground plenty soft enough at Newmarket last time but still ran really well so the quicker surface here will be more to his liking and he’s drawn well up against the stand side. He is still relatively unexposed so should hopefully put up a good performance.

Watan (Ryan Moore)

I was absolutely delighted with his first run back at Newbury where he was second to Nahaar, conceding 9lbs, and he’ll have definitely needed it that day. It wasn’t long ago he was competing in Group races against the likes of Too Darn Hot and Phoenix Of Spain, and while it’s never easy winning Unibet Stewards’ Cups, he hasn’t got too much ground to make up on the favourite (Nahaar) and is much more favourably treated at the weights than Newbury but is four times the price! I’ve always rated him and am really pleased we’ve managed to secure Ryan Moore.

Wedding Date (Theodore Ladd)

She is yet to put a foot wrong in her last three starts but sadly, as a model of her consistency, she’s very much in the Handicappers grip and will need to really pull out all the stops to win here. That said, she is an extremely tough, quick filly and this track will really play to her strengths.

 

4:10 Qatar Handicap

Manigordo (Pat Dobbs)

Everything that could go wrong did go wrong last time so I’m going to draw a line through it and hope he can produce a similar sort of effort that saw him win extremely impressively at Sandown on his penultimate run. He’s a colt who’s always shown us plenty at home and on ratings he is entitled to go close.

 

4:40 Maiden

Dingle (Pat Dobbs)

He’s come on massively for his first run at Newmarket where the ground was plenty soft enough. We’ve always thought a great deal of him and with anticipated improvement I very much expect him to make his presence felt.

Longlai (Silvestre de Sousa)

He bumped into a smart horse at Doncaster on debut but still ran very well and I think he’s come on a lot for it. On homework there’s not much between these two and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see them both figure prominently.

 

5:10 Apprentice Handicap

Cityzen Serg (Thore Hammer Hansen)

He is still a maiden but has put up some excellent efforts in defeat and the handicapper has dropped him a few pounds as well so he arrives here with a good chance of running well.

Always Fearless (Georgie Cox)

He was a smart two-year-old that we gelded over the winter and he ran well enough on his return at Doncaster where he would have desperately needed it. With expected improvement fitness wise I wouldn’t be surprised to see him put up a bold show stepping up to this trip for the first time.

 

NEWMARKET

12:20 Fillies’ Novice

Anghaam (Dane O’Neill)

She’s a real sweet filly who is probably one of the best bred horses in the yard and she ran with great encouragement her first run at Doncaster where I was pleased to see her finish off the race well. That will have brought her along plenty and I think she has to be one for any shortlist here with the step up to 7f very much in her favour.

Ma Cherie Amour (Andrea Atzeni)

She’s done everything asked of her at home and is a very nice filly with a bright future. Whether she’s ready to win first time out, I can’t say, but she won’t disgrace herself.

 

12:55 Handicap

Oh Purple Reign (Mark Crehan)

The handicapper is finally relenting and Mark’s 5lbs claim is an obvious plus, but on recent form I couldn’t be all that confident he’s ready to win again.

 

CHEPSTOW

5:55 Maiden

Tahitian Prince (Sean Levey)

He improved from his first run to his second last backend at Kempton so if he can continue on an upward curve he would have to seriously enter calculations here. We’ve done lots of work with him at home so he’s pretty straight and I’m hopeful.

Aljalela (Sam Hitchcott)

She’s a nice filly who ran two nice races last term but I expect her to improve plenty for this outing and probably when stepping up in trip.

 

6:30 Maiden

Epidemic (Rossa Ryan)

He’s a really nice well bred colt who cost a few quid as a yearling and I’ve been very happy with his work at home. I expect him to come on for it but he could easily be good enough to win first time out.

Tilaawah (Sean Levey)

Similar comments apply with him in the case that he’s done everything I’ve asked at home and this looks a good starting point. He did a nice piece of work last week and on that evidence could go well.

Pepinillo (Sam Hitchcott)

She’s pleased in her work and is fairly sharp but I’d expect her to improve for the experience.

 

7:00 Nursery

Host (Sean Levey)

We were looking at Royal Ascot with him before his first run but he needed to win or at least go extremely close at Kempton to even consider going there so instead we went to Windsor next where we thought he would probably win but he disappointed so we’re not messing around and putting on the blinkers in the hope it’ll sharpen him up because on homework he’s got plenty of ability and there aren’t really any excuses here.

Rainbow’s Pony (Rossa Ryan)

She actually ran a very good race at Newbury last time wasn’t beating very far at all. She is tough and has a good attitude so arrives here with a solid chance in my book.

 

7:30 Handicap

Intrepid Italian (Kieran Shoemark)

He’s a real genuine horse with a very likeable attitude who is yet to put a foot wrong in all five starts. This is a small step down in grade and I think he has a massive chance here

 

8:00 Handicap

Entertaining (John Fahy)

His form is there for all to see and there is no doubt he has to start showing a little bit more before you could seriously consider fancying him.