TOUCH OF CLASS
Johnston ace can rise to occasion with the Frankie factor
LOYAL TOUCH and Frankie Dettori can prove a potent combination in the BetVictor London Gold Cup (3.00) at Newbury.
Having made it third time lucky with a wide-margin score in a novice stakes at Carlisle last August, the Charlie Johnstontrained son of No Nay Never made his handicap debut at Ayr’s Western meeting the following month, returning fifth of 11 behind Metal Merchant.
But Loyal Touch took a step forward to beat Nap Hand by half a length in a similar event over a mile at Kempton in November.
This race, with an illustrious roll of honour, represents a much tougher assignment.
But Loyal Touch, whose halfsiblings include the 2019 Irish Derby winner Sovereign, should thrive for going up to 10 furlongs. Dettori, whose valedictory year is going with a bang, also has a good chance of landing the Group 3 Al Rayyan Stakes (2.25), aboard HASKOY.
The daughter of Golden Horn didn’t make her racecourse debut until last July, when she ran away with a novice event at Wolverhampton.
Trainer Ralph Beckett (top right) then took aim at the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting 20 days later, and Haskoy coped with the step up in class to beat Time Lock by a neck.
Her challenge for the St Leger at Doncaster in September proved controversial – Haskoy passed the post in second behind Eldar Eldarov but was moved down to fourth place for causing interference.
The step back to a mile and a half is not expected to pose a problem and, with just three lifetime starts under her belt, Haskoy still has a significant ‘up’ side.
It’s hard to get away from NOBLE STYLE in the Listed BetVictor Carnarvon Stakes (1.50).
The son of Kingman – dam Eartha Kitt was a three-time winner at six furlongs – was three from three as a juvenile, including a Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes success at the 2022 Ebor fixture.
Noble Style’s stamina gave out when he attempted a mile for the first time in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket a fortnight ago as he finished sixth behind Chaldean.
Coming back two furlongs is the right move, and William Buick’s (bottom left) partner should show his true colours.
At Newmarket, REVENITE makes plenty of appeal in the Aspall Suffolk Draught Cyder Handicap (2.40).
Gelded after a disappointing debut fifth at Goodwood in April last year, Harry Angel’s son captured a brace of novice stakes in September and a BHA rating of 90 looks within range for his first foray into the handicap sphere.
The Aspall Cyder 1728 Handicap (2.05) brings together a clutch of progressive three-yearolds, with preference for CEANNA, while CHARTWELL HOUSE should not be underestimated in the Aspall Premier Cru Handicap (3.15).