3 minute read
The Irish Oaks at the Curragh takes centre stage alongside some high-class action in England and Sam King returns with three fancies for this stunning Saturday's racing.
Newbury hosts an excellent seven-race card and there look to be some decent punting opportunities throughout.
The Mettal UK Handicap at 2.25 looks competitive on paper but I certainly wouldn't be surprised if Sweet William made a mockery of his opening mark of 88.
He's displayed bundles of ability in four outings to date amongst his quirks and there should be plenty more to come from him now handicapping. Connections opted to geld him following two promising second-place finishes last season and he did little wrong when filling the same spot behind Saint George at Southwell on his reappearance. That form has been well advertised with the winner going close in the Group 2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot before just being edged out of things when third in the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy Stakes.
The Gosden-trained Sweet William duly got off the mark at the fourth time of asking when found a good opportunity at Doncaster last-time-out. The cheekpieces that were worn on his previous outing at Southwell were replaced with blinkers that day and he seemed to travel with much more zest and enthusiasm. Those blinkers are retained today and with further improvement to come from this half-brother to Hurricane Lane, I'm struggling to see how he doesn't go close off an opening mark of 88.
Selection: Sweet William – General 10/3
Newmarket continues racing on their July course this afternoon and I'd be disappointed if Carolina Reaper wasn't getting off the mark in the Juddmonte British EBF Restricted Maiden Fillies' Stakes at 2.30.
Charlie Johnston's filly certainly sets the standard on what she's shown in two runs to date and posts the highest RPR in the field with 98.
She could hardly have been any more eye-catching when running on from an impossible winning position to finish fourth at Beverley on debut. The daughter of Too Darn Hot is clearly held in decent regard given connections rolled the dice by running in the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot next-time-out and she was hardly disgraced when beaten just over two lengths back in sixth.
A stiff seven furlongs on this ground should be right up her street and the booking of James Doyle certainly doesn't harm either. The stable has been a bit in and out of form recently, but they have saddled five winners in the last fortnight, and I'm not overly concerned by it.
Roger Varian's Al Hujaija requires plenty of respect towards the fore of the market, but her form isn't on the same level as Carolina Reaper, and I'm surprised to see her chalked up as big as 5/2 in places.
Selection: Carolina Reaper – General 5/2
Elsewhere at Newmarket, Novakai should take plenty of beating in the feature Listed Aphrodite Fillies' Stakes at 4.15.
Time Lock's withdrawal takes some shine off the contest and in all truth, it's hardly the strongest Listed race that will be run this season.
Karl Burke's filly showed some top-class form at two including when second to Commissioning in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile on the Rowley Mile last October. She returned to action by chasing home subsequent Epsom Oaks winner Soul Sister in the Musidora Stakes at York in May and that's by far the best form on offer in this contest. The daughter of Lope De Vega hit the line strongly over ten furlongs that day and shaped as though this trip would be within range. It's easy to forgive her running down the field in the Group 1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly next time and she can get back to winning ways this afternoon for a stable in top form.
Selection: Novakai – General 3/1
