Hi all,
Plenty of good racing to look forward too over the weekend, starting on Friday with the start of the two-day Charlie Hall Meeting at Wetherby and the Ladbrokes Festival of Racing at Down Royal. The latter meeting often sees the seasonal reappearance of horses that go onto run well at the Cheltenham Festival. So, the notebooks will be out for Down Royal that’s for sure.
Before all that. Lingfield has a good card for a midweek today with two Listed race and a Class 2 handicap the highlights of an eight-race card at the Surrey track. I have selections from there and one from Newton Abbot, if the latter tracks passes a morning inspection.
Lingfield
2:15 – Hamdan Al Maktoum has two runners here in favourite Ghalyoon and Huraiz and the former is the choice of retained jockey Jim Crowley. However, i like the claims of Huraiz who hasn’t been seen since proving his stamina for 7f when runner-up at Chelmsford 134-days ago. The 3-year-old did win on his racecourse debut, so can go well fresh.
1pt win – Huraiz – 13/2 @ Bet365
2:45 – Cloak Of Sprits makes her all-weather debut and will take some beating if reproducing the form of her 1000 Guineas second and Sun Chariot third.
Soffika hasn’t been seen finishing 7th of 15 in the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot. Just the three career starts and we probably haven’t seen the best of the Sir Michael Stoute trained filly.
Lavender’s Blue is another making her all weather debut. She won a Sandown Group 3 last season on good to firm and went close in Listed race back at the same venue in August. It was mostly disappointing summer for the 4-year-old who never got to race on fast ground. If she takes to the surface will go close.
1pt win – Lavender’s Blue – 6/1 @ Bet365
Newton Abbot
3:28 – Previous course (hurdles) winner Momella has just had the two starts over fences but shaped with encouragement when 2nd of 6 at Huntingdon last November. Nicely handicapped on her smart novice hurdle form in 2017-18 season and will enjoy underfoot conditions.
At the prices I just prefer the Venetia Williams trained Eceparti. The 6-year-old won his first two starts over fences last season on soft ground. Showed he could be competitive of his present mark when beaten just a head at Fakenham in January. Yard has had two winners in the last few days and I strongly fancy Eceparti to be another on ground that will suit.
1pt win – Eceparti – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John