3 minute read
Noon Star can begin her campaign in the right fashion by winning the British EBF Supporting Racing To School Nottinghamshire Oaks Stakes at Nottingham.
Viewed as a real Oaks contender by connections 12 months ago, she failed to quite reach that standard.
There is no doubt she has one of the best pedigrees in training, being by the late Galileo and out of the multiple Group One-winning mare Midday, and when she slammed subsequent Ribblesdale winner Loving Dream on her return at three conceding a penalty, the sky looked the limit.
It was on to the Musidora next at York and Noon Star was sent off the 11-10 favourite for the Oaks trial but she had no answer to Snowfall, however, future events proved there was no disgrace at all in that.
While Sir Michael Stoute then decided a Classic bid would come to soon, he aimed her at Royal Ascot where was again she was sent off favourite but she could only manage sixth behind Loving Dream.
Noon Star gave herself no chance of staying the trip that day when running keen but the fact she did not run again suggests she either had a problem or, in true Stoute style, he just wanted to give her time and let her mature.
Entered in all the right races going forward, she could have a big season.
Whenever one of Stoute's win on debut it usually means they are above average and that looks to be the case with New Dimension, who reappears in the Racing TV Profits Returned To Racing Novice Stakes.
He won by a head first time out at Leicester in September, both the second and third won their next races and New Dimension looks up to defying a penalty.
It has been a long while since Ed Dunlop has been in the sort of form he is enjoying at present and My Silent Song can provide him with another winner in the Follow @RacingTV On Twitter Fillies' Handicap.
The Postponed filly offered only a modicum of promise on her first three outings but opened her account at Pontefract on her handicap debut on her final outing last term.
She was not cheap, but is from a good family and while she may need further in time, this looks a good starting point.
Martyn Meade's Bake disappointed when last seen on soft ground but prior to that had won his previous two races.
The four-year-old is likely to be much more at home back on a sound surface in Yarmouth's Quinnbet Daily Free Bet Handicap.
He won a Yarmouth maiden by almost 10 lengths and then followed up in a handicap at Doncaster off an opening mark of 82.
Never in the race at Haydock, he may still have more to offer this season.
Passionova can return to winning ways for George Baker, down in class for the British EBF Premier Fillies' Handicap at Brighton while up at Ayr Rose Bandit seems to have returned on good terms with herself and can go in again in the Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap.
The Punchestown Festival gets under way and it looks a case of how many winners Willie Mullins will have.
Ballymore Novices' Hurdle winner Sir Gerhard looks the one for the Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle while Energumene looks unopposable in the William Hill Champion Chase, despite the presence of Chacun Pour Soi. Quicker ground looks his biggest danger.
Bob Olinger is the star attraction in the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase but it remains to be seen what mark having to chase Galopin Des Champs will leave on him.
Instead take a chance on Alex Hales' Millers Bank scoring a rare winner for the UK, given how impressive he was at Aintree.
SELECTIONS:
AYR: 5.10 Retirement Beckons, 5.40 Cosmos Raj, 6.15 Kraken Power, 6.50 Clansman, 7.25 Breaking Light, 8.00 Rose Bandit, 8.30 Chookie Dunedin.
BRIGHTON: 1.50 Mustango, 2.20 Kondratiev Wave, 2.50 Rushford, 3.23 Celestial Point, 3.58 Passionova, 4.33 Beryl Burton, 5.03 Mr Pc.
NOTTINGHAM: 2.00 Girl Magic, 2.30 New Dimension, 3.00 My Silent Song, 3.30 Sunrise Valley, 4.05 NOON STAR (NAP), 4.40 Dancing Harry, 5.15 Iur Cinn Tra.
PUNCHESTOWN: 3.40 Party Central, 4.15 Sir Gerhard, 4.50 Gua Du Large, 5.25 Energumene, 6.00 Caldwell Potter, 6.35 Millers Bank, 7.10 De Nordener, 7.45 Lisnagar Fortune.
YARMOUTH: 1.05 Mitigated Risk, 1.35 Autumn, 2.10 Trueman, 2.40 Palifico, 3.13 Hotspur Harry, 3.48 Bake, 4.23 Spanish Main.
Double: Noon Star and Bake.
