Horseracing Selections - Newmarket, 21 July 2006
Newmarket, 21 July 2006
5:45 Home Of Horse Racing Handicap
Paradise Expected can beat her mainly older rivals including Celtique, Top Spec, Dinner Date and Glendale to name but a few. There are plenty in with chances in the first race on the evening card, but a chance is taken that Paradise Expected will be good enough to make a successful handicap bow. Peter Chapple-Hyam's filly has been off the track since coming good at just the second time of asking when scoring at odds of 14-1 on the Lingfield Polytrack in January. She gave the distinct impression then that there was plenty more to come, and so a mark of 70 does not look at all harsh as she steps up to a trip more in keeping with her breeding, the dam being related to the owner's former star User Friendly. Celtique appeared very unlucky when pipped over 12 furlongs at Windsor last time and should go close along with Top Spec, although he could do with slipping down the handicap. Dinner Date caught the eye again at Kempton and will be suited by the drop back in trip on his return to Turf, while Glendale, although slightly upped in grade, is a pretty consistent sort as well and could sneak into the frame. Paradise Expected has more in the locker though and can pay to follow.
6:15 See More On Racing Uk Maiden Fillies' Stakes
Light Shift can beat Cast In Gold, with On The Go, Nicomedia and Princess Taise all worth a mention at least. Henry Cecil won the corresponding event 12 months ago with Star Cluster, and on the strength of a promising debut here last month, Light Shift is taken to follow suit. The daughter of Kingmambo finished second in what was a decent event as it turned out, with the fourth going on to run well in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, so her entry in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes could well be justified in time. Cast In Gold stayed on stoutly when second to Sudoor on her Newbury introduction last month and holds the same big-race entry as the selection. Related to St Leger winner Rule Of Law, she will be seen to best effect over further next year. She should hold Nicomedia on latest form though, while any support for On The Go, a half-sister to Qasirah, would be interesting. Mark Johnston is assembling a powerful team of juveniles, and so Princess Taise is also worth a mention. She too is well related and will thrive when upped in trip as a three-year-old. On this occasion though it is Light Shift that catches the eye.
6:45 Halverton Reim Handicap
Bustin Justin can quickly add to his haul, with Louie Louie and Lyrical Sound the ones to give him most to do. Jeremy Noseda has a knack of producing them fit and ready, and he did just that with Bustin Justin at Newbury last month. The son of Forestry, who fetched nearly half a million dollars as a two-year-old, went some way to justifying the faith held in him as he got the better of Disco Ball at the Berkshire track. By all accounts there was a big whisper for him then, and he was entered in the July Cup at one stage. He could turn out to be a lot better than a handicapper in time, and is taken to prove the point here. Louie Louie drops back to a more suitable trip after failing to last home up the hill when put over a mile at Sandown and is still on a fair mark, so warrants respect despite topweight. Lyrical Sound was a beaten favourite at Chester and it may well be that he has little improvement, while the rest have yet to show any worthwhile form this term. Bustin Justin has the most potential of them all and is the one to be on.
7:20 Davis Group Conditions Stakes
Donna Blini gets the call in a close looking event, with The Trader, Celtic Mill and Boogie Street all in with a shout. Donna Blini beat a useful field including Flashy Wings in last year's Cheveley Park, but it appeared as though she had failed to train on with sound defeats in both the 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes. However, there were excuses both times, and the decision to return to sprinting saw a massive improvement at York last week when she made a bold bid to make all before being brushed aside by La Chunga. Hopes are high that she can make her mark over this sort of trip now, and although tackling speedy older opponents here, she is taken to crack out and lead from start to finish. The Trader won this three years ago and gained his last victory in a Group 2 sprint in France last year. He does tend to get a bit outpaced but will be suited by a strongly-run affair. Celtic Mill made a lot of the running in a decent event at Newcastle last week and is no slouch, having won the Temple Stakes last year. He too can make his presence felt along with Boogie Street who has been highly tried on all three outings this term. He should at least be fit and has less to do, so along with Majestic Missile who is a better horse than he has shown of late, is another that can provide a test for Donna Blini, who hopefully will prove up to the task.
7:50 Racing Uk On Sky 432 Handicap
Porters, High Command and Noble Gent form the short list for this 10-furlong event, with the vote going to Porters. If able to build on his excellent second to the progressive Formal Decree over course and distance last time, Porters, who was originally set to go straight to Goodwood, ought to go well here. Noble Gent also rates highly, being a lightly-raced performer that is sure to build on his good second to Road To Love at Sandown last time. We mention it in passing that the winner was unplaced behind Formal Decree in the Newmarket race just referred to, although a literal reading of that form would be misleading, we feel. Much as High Command remains seven pounds above a winning mark, he was not beaten far at Goodwood last time on going that was too soft for him and conditions should suit a lot better today. Finally, as a lightly-raced three year old who has not been disgraced in any of his starts, In Full Cry is another to consider, but the selection is Porters.
8:20 Ngk Spark Plugs Maiden Stakes
Making it onto our short list are Alhaitham, Star Crowned and Somersault, with the selection being Star Crowned. Alhaitham was disappointing at Goodwood last time, where he may not have stayed but, with his form rating in the 80s, he has to be given some thought today. However, Star Crowned's rating equates to about the same and, given that he might be a little more consistent than Alhaitham, we will side with him tonight. He deserves to win a race of this nature. Wince's brother, Border News, showed improvement last time, although that came in a modest Wolverhampton maiden, and Mocairde was very disappointing at Folkestone last time having shown some promise on his sole Irish run before that. Finally, Somersault showed some promise on his Salisbury debut and, with a more-experienced rider booked, cannot be ruled out; however, the vote stays with Star Crowned.
8:50 Newmarket Nights Handicap
The finale is quite competitive with the short list narrowed down to Missed A Beat, The Gaikwar and My Princess, with the vote going to The Gaikwar. The selection is a course and distance winner that bounced back to winning form at Chepstow last time. Even with a six-pounds penalty he looks competitive again. Missed A Beat also comes here on the back of a penalised win, and can also go well. However, My Princess now races from a mark that is seven pounds lower than her c/d success of last year and, having looked to be on the way back last time, is another that can go well. Of the others, Tiber Tiger threw away a winning chance over course and distance two runs ago and, from just a two-pounds higher mark and with the rider that night back on board, he could yet go well again, Bold Diktator disappointed last time but, having looked progressive in winning twice before that, he can't be ruled out, while Sonny Parkin's sole win came over course and distance from today's mark under today's rider last season, so can be given claims based on that information. Overall, though, we will stick with The Gaikwar.
