THE horses continue to run well and we’ve enjoyed 40 winners so far this season although there is still plenty of time for many more! I thought Billesdon Brook ran an absolute stormer in the Falmouth Stakes last week and she proved once again that she’s still right up there with the best of them. There are plenty of options available to her and we may look at Goodwood again, but she had a hard race at Newmarket so we’ll wait until she tells us she’s ready to go again. Motakhayyel is now due a step up in grade after his easy win in the Bunbury Cup so we will probably have a look at the G2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury for him. Chindit Made a very eye-catching debut when winning at Doncaster and races like the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood or the Winkfield at Ascot will now come into the equation.

SATURDAY – NEWBURY

1:05 Novice

Headshot (Pat Dobbs)

He will be winning races but needs to step up considerably on what he showed on debut at Salisbury and I wouldn’t be confident here in what looks a good race.

Longlai (Silvestre De Sousa)

The form of his Doncaster debut run has worked out extremely well with the winner, Seventh Kingdom, going on to finish third in a G2 at Newmarket last week, so with that in mind I’d be pretty confident of the bold show.

Shanghai Rock (Sean Levey)

He’s a nice colt by Dark Angel who will probably prefer the ground to be a bit softer and he will definitely come on for the run anyway.

1:40 Fillies’ Maiden

Fly Miss Helen (Sean Levey)

She’s been doing everything right at home and I’ve been particularly pleased with her work. Newbury Maidens are always pretty hot but this filly wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think she could acquit herself extremely well.

2:15 Listed

Fountain Cross (Pat Dobbs)

He found the ground plenty quick enough at Salisbury last week so he’ll be much happier with some give here and while he’s got to step up, the return to six furlongs will help and hopefully he can run a decent race as he’s got a very good attitude.

4:00 G3 Hackwood Stakes

Mum’s Tipple (Ryan Moore)

We probably shouldn’t have run him at ascot last time on ground which was simply too soft for him so he’ll be much, much happier on the better surface here and we’ve got Ryan Moore, who was on board at York, back in the plate, and hopefully he can show what we know he’s capable of and get his career back on track.

YORK

1:20 Novice Stakes

Cityzen Serg (Ben Curtis)

He’s got plenty of pace and showed that at Chelmsford last time, but probably didn’t quite get home, so we’re going right back down in distance and going to make plenty of use of him, therefore I’d be hopeful of a very bold show.

HAYDOCK

6:25 Novice

Fancy Man (Thore Hammer Hansen) & Mesopotamia (Rossa Ryan)

They are both nice colts with very little between them so it’s quite difficult to really separate them and they will also improve for the experience. Mesopotamia is ever so slightly the more forward so he’d be the one I’d be more keener on of the two – but we’ll obviously have a much better idea after this.

7:55 Handicap

Qaysar (Thore Hammer Hansen)

He loves it around Haydock and should find the mile here much easier than at Sandown last time. The Handicapper has dropped him down a couple of pounds (he’s won off 104) and with Thore’s 5lbs claim he could be particularly well treated here.

War Glory (Mark Crehan)

I was a little bit disappointed with him at Newmarket last time where he didn’t really get into a rhythm but he’s been given a few pounds back by the handicapper and we’re returning to a mile. He’s a horse you should never rule out and with Marc Crehan taking 5lbs off he has no real excuses.

8:25 Handicap

What An Angel (Rossa Ryan)

He’s gone up another 3lbs for finishing third last time which is never ideal but this is a slight drop in grade and he is a very consistent gelding so has every chance in this.