THIKRIYAAT TO PUT OUT THE SPARK
Stoute charge on the up
SPARK PLUG is our 4-1 jolly in today’s Ganton Stakes at York (2.55) and with the fast conditions in his favour, James Doyle’s mount is a strong market leader.
However, Thikriyaat looks much better value at 9-2.
Sir Michael Stoute’s inmate has had plenty of problems but is entitled to improve for his seasonal debut.
Also at York, Ekhtiyaar could be a group horse masquerading in a handicap. As a consequence he’s a very warm order at 4-1 to claim the Macmillan Handicap at 3.30.
But with the ground much quicker today and racing for the first time at five furlongs, Jim Crowley’s mount could be opposed in favour of 6-1 shot Carlton Frankie, who is all about speed and boasts valuable course experience.
Down at Sandown, the Scurry Stakes takes centre stage at 2.40. David O’Meara has secured the services of Ryan Moore to ride Fashion Queen, who blazed a trail to win on the Knavesmire last time, and 3-1 with Stan James looks a fair price.
Copper Knight (9-2) will probably find conditions too fast but is in the form of his life, so shouldn’t be discounted.
But in a tricky event, we’ve laid a few decent bets on Koropick, who drops down to 5f. This will suit this ball of speed and he’s been clipped into 12-1 from 16s.
Duke Of Firenze is 11-2 to win the Brett Williams looks at all the weekend racing action Scottish Sprint Cup at Musselburgh (3.10) after some game efforts in defeat this season, but Orion’s Bow has almost halved in price and is now as popular as 7-1 having been 12s earlier in the week.
At Chantilly tomorrow, the fillies strut their stuff in the Prix de Diane (3.05) where local interest will be on Shutter Speed, who is our 7-4 favourite to beat 9-4 shot Rhododendron.
But Godolphin will be aiming to fly high with Kitesurf (14-1) and the impeccably-bred Terrakova could be overpriced at 5-1 in a thrilling contest.
I’ll be dusting off my top hat for Royal Ascot on Tuesday when the first of five days of brilliant racing gets under way.
Lockinge winner Ribchester (8-11) is a warm order to get the punters off to a good start in the Queen Anne (2.30) but Mutakayyef has been strong at 6-1 (from 10s).
Meanwhile, our ambassador Richard Hannon is confident that Barney Roy (2-1) can reverse his 2,000 Guineas form with Churchill (8-13) in the St James’s Palace Stakes later on Tuesday (4.20).
Mori (7-2) has been the best backed of the week in the Ribblesdale on Thursday (3.40).