Hi all,
The weekend starts here with some decent action at Ascot and Dundalk.
The Listed Troy Asset Management Noel Murless Stakes (3:57) is the highlight of a six card at Ascot this afternoon. There are also two Listed contests on Dundalk evening card: The Legacy Stakes (6:00) and Star Appeal Stakes (7:00). It’s the latter race that interests me most.
Dundalk
7:00 – Rising Sign looked a smart juvenile filly when beating nine rivals at Punchestown 23 days ago. The daughter of Frankel who holds an Irish 1,000 Guineas entry should be effective on the synthetic surface.
Kairyu must give her rivals 5lb after her success in the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh in July. Not sure what’s kept the filly off the track for 76 days, but she’s since switched owners and should be bang there even giving away a penalty.
Mysteries is more exposed than the other two fillies, but she brings solid form from better races into this contest. The yard’s runners are in excellent form, and she can’t be ruled out with the hood she wore last time removed.
Ascot
3:57 – Troy Asset Management Noel Murless Stakes (Listed Race) – 1m 6f
Naqeeb looked a big improver when winning on handicap debut at Haydock last month. Capable of better and wouldn’t need to improve much more to win a Listed race like this.
Middle Earth beat Naqeeba nose in a Newmarket novice in July before improving again to win the Melrose Handicap at York’s Ebor Festival. Never looked comfortable in the St Leger last time but that may have been down to the soft ground. His stablemate Lmay improved for the step up to 1m 6f when a 1¾ lengths 3rd of 10 in the Group 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster last month. Seems to be going the right way and is one to be interested in.
5:05 – Ascot Iron Stand Handicap (Class 2) – 6f
A maximum field of 18 are set to go to post and it’s a race that wouldn’t look out of place on a Saturday.
Rohaan not really at his best this season but there was more to like about his 1 ¾ length 7th of 24 in the Ayr Gold Cup last time. A four time C&D winner including a Group 3 12 months ago and the last season’s Wokingham Handicap. A reproduction of either those runs would make him hard to beat.
King’s Lynn hasn’t been in the winners enclosure since landing the Group 2 Temple Stakes last May. Plenty of good efforts in defeat since that give him a good chance and he seemed back to form when 6th of 22 in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster last month.
Lethal Nymph won two C&D handicaps last September and he was back to something like his best when a 1 ½ length 2nd of 12 to Baradar at Doncaster last month. Not proved the most consistent of horses but is on a handy mark if backing up his latest effort.
English Oak is the least exposed of the 18 runners and although he disappointed on handicap debut at York’s Ebor Festival (1m) he’s only had the four starts and remains capable of better. Interesting dropped back to sprinting for the first time.
Yaaser showed a liking for a strong gallop when coming from the rear to win at Southwell (7f) 23 days ago. Up 5lb for his Southwell success but remains on a competitive mark. A strongly run 6f should suit the 5-year-old and he can go well off a light weight.
Dusky Lord has been well below form on his four starts since joining his present connections. However, he’s back at 6f for the first time since winning last season’s Ayr Silver Cup and now 1lb lower than winning at Ayr.
Betting Advice:
Ascot
3:57 – Lmay – 1pt win – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
5:05 – Lethal Nymph – 1pt win – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and Yaaser – 1pt win – 16/1 @ Ladbrokes.
Cheers
John