paddock picks

Andrew Ayres spots a nice prospect at Kempton

KEMPTON June 3 (standard-slow) 5f handicap (Class 5)

COMPETITIVE EVENT NEWYORKSTATEOFMIND (William Muir) is a proper ball of muscle and goes better on the sand than

Lawrence Of Arabia. He was nibbled at in the betting and ran a cracker to finish second after fluffing the start. He’s lightly raced, highly rated by his in-form trainer and will win a decent all-weather handicap this summer.

ROMAN MELODY (David Elsworth) attracted support at fancy prices (20-1 to 12s) but was always on the backfoot on his first start over the minimum trip. Still, he saved the each-way money by flying home for third and will be much happier back at 6f. He’s still a maiden but will be winning soon.

1m1f three-year-old Group 3 (Class 1)

ORDINARY RACE FOR THE LEVEL PYLEDRIVER (William Muir) has always been rated a star by connections and set a big personal best to finish second. He would have got closer but for running into traffic halfway up the straight and could find another length or two over 1m4f. There’s a Group race in this scopey colt.

NEWMARKET June 4 (good-firm)

5f two-year-old maiden (Class 5) IMPRESSIVE WINNER

SACRED (William Haggas) is a goodlooking filly who travelled best and had this won as soon as she hit the front at the furlong pole. She’s bred to stay further but looks all speed and will nick a big pot this summer.

5f two-year-old novice (Class 5)

RED-HOT RACE

TACTICAL (Andrew Balding) was reported to be working well and shaped with plenty of promise to finish third in a race run in a track record time. Oisin Murphy gave the colt a big thumbs up and he’s one to follow closely.

1m2f handicap 3 (Class 4)

FAIR RACE FOR THE GRADE INVOLVED (George Boughey) was strongly supported on his debut for an upwardly mobile trainer and might have won but for pulling like a train. He’ll be happier on a turning track – the gelding won at Chester last autumn – and could develop into a useful handicapper in 2020.

LINGFIELD June 5

(turf: good-firm/all-weather: standard to slow)

1m3f133y three-year-old Listed (Class 1) DECENT DERBY TRIAL

ENGLISH KING (Ed Walker) looked as fit as a flea but showed definite signs of inexperience on his way to post. He handled the turning, downhill track with aplomb though and won without turning a hair. Jockey Tom Marquand was impressed, and he’ll be a live runner in the Derby.

1m4f handicap (Class 4)

FAIR ALL-WEATHER CONTEST IMPERIUM (Roger Charlton) has improved with every start and won this a shade more cosily than the winning margin – a head – suggests. He could stay a step ahead of the handicapper and has the physical scope to win in better company.

NEWMARKET June 6 (good-firm)

7f handicap (Class 2) STRONGLY RUN EVENT

QAYSAR (Richard Hannon) thrived last summer and was ready to roll for his reappearance. Unfortunately, he got detached through the first half of the race before making up a tremendous amount of ground to finish third. Softer ground would help and he’s weighted to win a similar contest.

NEWMARKET June 7 (good)

6f two-year-old maiden (Class 5) ABOVE AVERAGE EVENT

NOBLE DYNASTY (Charlie Appleby) cost 3.6million as a yearling and is a half-brother to the top-class miler Barney Roy. He was caught flat-footed when the stalls opened but came home best of all to finish second behind his stablemate Modern News. He’s almost certainly the best of these and is smart.