Doubts over Opera Singer for Newmarket

RAFFLE TICKET can defy a 4lb rise and double up in the Unibet Middle Distance Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase at Exeter.

Mel Rowley’s charge now sits on a career-high perch of 137 at the age of 10 due to a consistent series of runs over the last couple of years, turning in just one disappointing effort in all of his completed starts.

That lacklustre effort came at the start of the current campaign, but Raffle Ticket has not looked back since, being beaten just a head the next time at Taunton before triumphing by a similarly narrow distance at Doncaster in January.

His Town Moor success has prompted another uplift but moved to veterans’ level from open company, he could still have the required extra to prevail here.

Stratton Oakmont has been a model of consistency since joining Kayley Woollacott, posting a win at Southwell, three seconds and a third.

Ben Godfrey has been in the saddle for all bar one of those runs and the duo can again be there or thereabouts in the ‘Three Miles’ Handicap Hurdle.

Desert Fortune kept on well when runner-up to hot favourite Bobbi’s Beauty at Leicester on her debut for Venetia Williams after a lengthy break and should now be spot on for the Join Racingtv Today Handicap Chase.

Carrigeen Castle can hit the Wetherby target in the Colin Hawkins (Jockey) Memorial Handicap Chase.

Winner of two of his five starts this season, he has placed on a further two occasions, including when chasing home Prairie Wolf at Catterick last time out.

He was running off a 10lb higher mark that day, having been hiked up for a previous 22-length victory, but he performed with real credit, having made a couple of jumping errors that would hardly have helped his cause.

Donny Boy has yet to get his head in front in five starts over fences, but his time could come in the Bella Coulson’s 50th Birthday Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.

He had made steady progress last time out at Doncaster before a mistake checked his momentum and saw him have to settle for fourth.

Previously beaten just a head at Newcastle before Christmas, he clearly has ability and hopefully things will finally fall his way here.

Operate made a pleasing debut in what looked a smart maiden last month and is worth following on the all-weather at Wolverhampton.

The winner and second, Native Approach and Calumet, are well-bred individuals, while third-placed Jolly Jack Tar has come out and won subsequently.

Operate was nearly six lengths adrift of the winner in fourth and a repeat of that could be good enough in the Best Racing Odds Guaranteed At BETMGM Novice Stakes.

Pittsburg travelled sweetly throughout when scoring at Kempton earlier this month and could be worth keeping on side in the concluding BETUK. It’s Where The UK Bets Handicap.

Although a 14-1 chance on that occasion, the eight-year-old had previously shown promise when fourth at Chelmsford after switching back to the Flat following a successful stint over hurdles, so there seems nothing flukey about the winning performance.

AIDAN O’brien has cast serious doubt on leading Classic contender Opera Singer’s participation in the Qipco 1000 Guineas.

The daughter of Justify announced herself as a major player for the first fillies’ Classic of the campaign when following up a wide-margin victory in a Curragh Group Three with a devastating display at Parislongchamp in the Prix Marcel Boussac, storming to a five-length success.

However, speaking at the Curragh on Monday, the master of Ballydoyle explained she may debut for the season on home soil rather than Newmarket having met with a setback.

“Opera Singer is a little bit behind them (the colts) and might not make the English Guineas,” he told Racing TV.

“She had a little setback and had to have two weeks easy. When you have two weeks easy, it is just difficult enough to get to the English Guineas.

“It’s possible but more unlikely than likely and she could end up starting here in the Curragh rather than starting in England. We won’t force her, she’s a beautiful big filly and everyone’s very happy with her.

“She had a couple of easy weeks and when that happens you have to be wary of it.”

In contrast, it appears all systems go for the odds-on Qipco 2000 Guineas favourite City Of Troy who has been pleasing his handler in the early days of his three-year-old season.

O’brien continued: “Everything

Golden Ace ridden by jockey Lorcan Williams prevailed over the latter horse by a length and three quarters to give Scott his first ever winner at the meeting.

“It was just the best. I never thought it would work out like that but it was just fantastic,” Scott said of the performance.

Golden Ace, who is by Golden Horn and out of a Dubawi mare, could now head to Kelso for the has gone very well with him. He’s matured lovely, he’s moving well, he’s going through all his work very well - he’s floating through the work, that’s what he’s doing.

“Even though our ground is bad, he’s finding it very easy, so he’s very exciting. It’s day by day at the moment but we couldn’t be happier with him at the moment.”

Although City Of Troy often left people astonished with the manner of his victories during his flawless two-year-old campaign, it was dual-derby hero Auguste Rodin who was undoubtedly Ballydoyle’s top performer in 2023.

He signed off his Classic season with a scintillating success at the Breeders’ Cup in Santa Anita and is close to his eagerly-awaited return, where the son of Deep Impact will seek further international riches in the Dubai Sheema Classic.

“He’ll work this week and then he’ll go off to Dubai,” said O’brien.

“He’s in a lovely place. He was in Dundalk a few weeks ago and everything went lovely, so we couldn’t be happier with him and we’re looking forward to it.

“It’s a big week for him before he travels so hopefully everything goes well.”

O’brien has also left the door open for Seamie Heffernan after the Ballydoyle stalwart left his full-time role with the powerhouse operation. The 51-year-old has been part of the Ballydoyle furniture for nearly 30 years and a vital member of O’brien’s team, winning the Derby aboard Anthony Van Dyk in 2019 and partnering the winner of the Irish equivalent on four occasions for his long-time boss.

But Heffernan has revealed he has chosen to ride freelance this season, with O’brien fully understanding of the decision.

He said: “I was reading in the papers that Seamus has been riding for us for 25 to 30 years and at the start of every year I never know when Seamus is coming back.

“Obviously himself and Rochelle had a chat and he was always with us six mornings a week and they obviously felt he would like to give the outside world a bit of a chance.

“There are a lot of other people he has ridden for and lots of other people he will now be able to ride for and we totally appreciate it and understand that and respect it in every way. I think Seamus is 51 or 52 now and if he is going to do it now is the time to do it and there will be plenty of times he can fall in for us - he’s got plenty of experience and is a great fella.”