MONSTER MESH
Scott’s ace to put frighteners on Spring Cup rivals
GILGAMESH gets the vote for a winning return to action in the Spring Cup (3.45) at Newbury.
The winner of a Nottingham maiden from two starts as a juvenile, the George Scott trainee went from strength to strength during his three-yearold campaign in 2017.
Having begun with a win in a seven-furlong handicap at Wolverhampton in February, my selection followed up over the same course and distance the following month.
Switched from Tapeta back to turf, the son of Foxwedge went in again with a neck margin at Redcar in May. A setback ruled Gilgamesh out of the Britannia at Royal Ascot in June – and the rest of the turf season.
But his staying-on fourth at over seven furlongs at Chelmsford in mid-November suggests Will Buick’s mount is well worth a try at a mile – and he has further progress to come.
Rising star trainer Scott can also capture the Group 3 Greenham Stakes JAMES (3.10) with GARFIELD.
The son of Exceed And Excel ran down the field in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar in November – but he’d landed Newbury’s Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes on his previous outing – and is preferred to former 2,000 Guineas favourite Expert Eye. The Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes (2.35) looks a good GAVOTA. opportunity for After successes at Newmarket and Lingfield last August, Roger Charlton’s daughter of Bated Breath got among the medals in Group company at Newmarket in the autumn, and boasts the best form on offer.
Roger Varian’s horses moved up a gear this week, which DEFOE points to the chances of in the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (2.00). CHESTERFIELD
At Ayr, is weighted to back up last year’s triumph in the QTS Scottish Champion Hurdle (2.55), while DUKE OF another past winner, NAVAN,
can repeat his score of 2015 in the Scotty Brand Handicap Chase (1.45). BARNEY Preference is for DWAN
in the Novices’ Championship Handicap Chase (2.20), MIA’S STORM and for in the Grade 2 Future Champion Novices’ Chase (3.30).