The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Relish chances of Royal Connoisseur
Musselburgh outing serves notice of better things to come
ROYAL CONNOISSEUR has a fine chance at Ayr when he rocks up for a seven furlong handicap.
Richard Fahey’s representative has not won since October 2016, but he served notice at Musselburgh on May 4 that his time is near.
Royal Connoisseur finished fourth to Sureyoutoldme in a fair seven furlong handicap, but it was the manner in which he came home that will have pleased his trainer more than anything.
The gelded son of Art Connoisseur ran on promisingly and yet he has been relieved 1lb by the assessor.
That means he is now 12lb lower than when he last visited the winner’s enclosure.
And though a bit of cut in the ground would not have gone amiss, there are definitely races like this to be won with him off his current mark.
VERANDAH bombed at Wolverhampton a fortnight ago but compensation can be sweet and satisfying when she runs at Nottingham.
John Gosden’s filly was sent off an odds-on chance on her seasonal debut at Dunstall Park, but she only ended up beating one horse home.
Verandah did not look entirely straightforward at Wolverhampton – she made a slow start and hung right inside the final furlong – but she at least was hardly defeated out of sight.
Perhaps in need of the run on her first spin for 256 days, the daughter of Medicean was a length and threequarters behind Adjutant at the line.
Verandah is clearly not without talent, too, as memories of her run in the Prestige Stakes at Goodwood last summer, when fifth behind Guineas heroine Billesdon Brook, should not be easily forgotten. SELECTIONS AYR: 2.00 Sugar Coating, 2.35 Gone
With The Wind, 3.05 Rebel State, 3.35 Royal Connoisseur, 4.10 Masham Star, 4.45 Red Pike, 5.15 Zihaam, 5.45 Luv U Whatever.
CHEPSTOW: 2.10 Summer Blossom, 2.45 Bombshell Bay, 3.15 Give Em A Clump, 3.45 Satchville Flyer, 4.20 Iconic Belle, 4.55 Kings Inn, 5.25 Bid Adieu.
NOTTINGHAM: 1.50 Daarik, 2.20 Infrastructure, 2.55 Austin Powers, 3.25 VERANDAH (NAP), 4.00 Double Reflection, 4.35 Navajo Star, 5.05 Bustam.
DOUBLE: Verandah and Royal
Connoisseur