HAT-TRICK MOHA
MOHAATHER can rack up his third win on the bounce with a victory in the Group 3 Greenham Stakes (2.40) at Newbury today.
Having run a promising second over six furlongs here in September, Marcus Tregoning’s (above) son of Showcasing went one better at Nottingham the following month.
Punters didn’t fancy his chances in the Molson Coors Horris Hill Stakes back at Newbury 17 days later when Mohaather went off the 33-1 outsider but he proved them wrong by beating a field of eight by one and a half lengths.
The 2,000 Guineas entry needs to progress again in order to rack up the threesome, but Mohaather has plenty more to offer.
The 1,000 Guineas trial, the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes (2.10), looks a good opportunity for DANCING VEGA to stake a claim for Newmarket on May 5.
It’s hard to imagine a more taking debut than the one made by Ralph Beckett’s daughter of Lope De Vega at Doncaster last October – she strode clear for a four-length supremacy – and Harry Bentley’s mount has a bright future.
The Mansionbet Spring Cup Handicap (3.15) is as wide open as ever, but RED STARLIGHT should give another good account of herself.
It was no disgrace to finish a two-length second to Sharja Bridge in the Listed Doncaster Mile two weeks ago, as the winner looks destined to make his mark in a higher grade.
And a handicap rating of 100 looks fair as the Richard Hannon trainee returns to handicap company.
A seventh in the Derby was the sole defeat in five outings for YOUNG RASCAL (below) in 2019, and William Haggas’s son of Intello gets the nod over last year’s winner Defoe for the Group 2 Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (1.40).
At Ayr, MALAYA has plenty going for her in the Scottish Champion Hurdle (2.25).
A jaw-dropping mistake at the secondlast flight wasn’t enough to stop the Martaline mare from giving Paul Nicholls a first success in the Imperial Cup at Sandown last month – and she remains attractively weighted despite a 6lb rise.
Nicholls’ Secret Investor will be a popular choice for the Jordan Electrics Ltd Future Champion Novices’ Chase (3.00), but preference is for Alan King’s upwardly mobile BALLYWOOD.
Breathing surgery and a drop down the weights are pointers to AZZURI in the Scotty Brand Handicap Chase (1.25), while KILFILUM CROSS ran a fine second in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase at Cheltenham and is capable of going one better in the J & D Pierce Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase (1.55).