CELTIC TIGERS
David Yates on the Irish dominance at our big NH meetings.
ALKUMAIT is fancied to show his QIPCO 2,000 Guineas credentials with victory in the Group 3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes (2.45) at Newbury tomorrow.
Newbury’s Spring Trials card – and the Coral Scottish Grand National fixture at Ayr – have been put back to Sunday as a mark of respect to the Duke of Edinburgh, whose funeral takes place today.
And the Berkshire track’s meeting is a good chance for Marcus Tregoning’s (right) colt, who needs to be supplemented for the May 1 Classic, to get back on track after finishing last of 14 in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last October.
The going was soft that day, and Alkumait, who had captured Newbury’s Group 2 Mill Reef
Stakes the previous month, will be more at home on tomorrow’s quicker playing surface.
The 1,000 Guineas trial, the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Fred Darling Stakes (2.10), can go to ALCOHOL FREE.
Andrew Balding’s daughter of No Nay Never marked her third and final start at two with a halflength margin in the top-level Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket – a standard that will be hard to match. The MansionBet Spring Cup (3.20) is fiercely competitive, but NUGGET still has potential on his eighth start. OUTBOX is on a roll in the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise John Porter Stakes (1.35), while DERAB should
justify short odds in the opening Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Maiden Stakes (Div I) (1.00).
At Ayr, Harry Skelton can notch a double as he pursues a first jockeys’ title, initiated by KING D’ARGENT in the Listed Scotty Brand Handicap Chase (1.15).
ALLMANKIND, the Arkle Trophy fourth, should complete the brace in the Jordan Electrics Ltd Future Champion Novices’ Chase (3.00).
Skelton partners the fancied Calico for his brother Dan in the Grade 2 Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle (2.25) but preference is for THYME WHITE, trained by the latter’s former boss, Paul Nicholls.
Christian Williams has a goingplaces performer on his hands in FIVE STAR GETAWAY, for whom a four-timer beckons in the CPMS Novices’ Champion
Handicap Chase (1.50).