ENJOY THE LIFE OF RILEY
Life Of Riley will not be winning out of turn if he claims top honours in the Shadwell Stud/EBF Stallions Harry Rosebery Stakes at Ayr tomorrow.
The Showcasing colt has been set some stiff tasks since opening his account at Ripon in the spring, but has largely performed well in defeat.
Karl Burke’s charge was only narrowly denied at Listed success at Sandown in July before finding only an on-song Rumble Inthejungle too strong in the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood.
The form of his latest effort when fourth in the Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy could hardly have worked out better, too.
The winner of that race, Sporting Chance, landed a French Group Three on Monday, while the fifth home, Barbill, triumphed in a valuable sales race at the Curragh the previous afternoon.
Life Of Riley is certainly capable of winning at Listed level and this looks a fine opportunity for him to do just that.
Listed honours are also up for grabs in the Al Maktoum Cup Arran Scottish Fillies’ Sprint Stakes and with conditions to suit, the vote goes to the Michael Dods-trained Intense Romance.
The four-year-old has really flourished since returning from a two-month break, finishing second on her Carlisle comeback before chasing home subsequent Doncaster winner Global Applause at Sandown.
She devoured the Haydock mud when scoring with a little up her sleeve a couple of weeks ago and it is no surprise connections are going in search of some valuable black type on her favoured soft ground.
Red Mist catches the eye in thee feature event at Newbury,the Dubai Duty Free Cup.
Trained by the bangin-form Simon Crisford, this son of Frankel was not beaten far in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster this time last year and is enjoying a fine three-year-old campaign.
A demolition job at Kempton in June was followed by two really creditable runs in good company in France.
He made the most of having his sights lowered when bolting up at Ripon a few weeks ago and with further progress likely, there is every chance he can make his presence felt in Berkshire.
Earlier in the afternoon Alfred Boucher is of significant interest in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes.
Trainer by Henry Candy, the grey finished fourth at Nottingham on his only previous start and the race has worked out tremendously well.