MAGIC CAN DO THE TRICK FOR APPLEBY
Burke’s not just ’Along for the ride
LOOKING at the Group Two Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (1.50) run over a mile at Newmarket, FLYING HONOURS can complete his hat-trick after victories at Salisbury and Sandown.
Charlie Appleby’s son of Sea The Stars bolted up by over five lengths from Stormbuster on his last trip to the belts and braces last month, and that horse rubber-stamped the form when obliging at Newbury last Friday.
Cards
Jockey Sean been dealt cards in the days, so it would great if he could home AUDITOR in the Old Boston Handicap (2.05) run over a mile at Haydock Park.
This progressive threeyear-old snared a brace of handicaps at Newmarket in July and June, before chasing home Atrium
— now 8lb higher
Levey has some bad past ten be boot
— off a perch of 92 at
Newbury in August.
The winner enhanced the form by scoring next time out at Doncaster, so Martyn Meade’s beast looks well-treated racing off a ledge of 93.
SWINGALONG was sent off a 25-1 poke when landing the Group Two Lowther Stakes over today’s trip at York last month, but she produced a very quick time which tells us there was no fluke about the victory.
The form was given a boost when the 11th filly home, Lady Hollywood, came out and captured a Group Three affair at Longchamp.
Before that, she had accounted for Barefoot Angel at Carlisle, and that lady captured a Group Three contest at Ayr last Saturday.
Around the 6-1 mark, Karl Burke’s juvenile is the eachway value in the Group
One Cheveley Park
Stakes (2.25) run over six furlongs at
Newmarket.
Looking at the Lester Piggott First To Last Handicap (2.40) over five furlongs at Haydock Park, there is sure to be a furious early gallop, which will set the race up for ALLIGATOR ALLEY to come late and fast and grab the spoils.
David O’Meara’s sprinter was given a peach of a ride by Danny Tudhope when he swooped inside the last 50 yards to hack up in a Thirsk handicap run over this afternoon’s journey in August.
Irons
Another jockey was in the irons when the five-year-old was given too much to do when fourth over course and distance three weeks ago, but with Tudhope back in the driving seat, I expect a big run from the son of Kingman who is ideally housed in stall seven of 16.
Aidan O’Brien last captured the Group One Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (3.00) run over six furlongs at Newmarket with a son of No Nay
Never called Ten Sovereigns in 2018, and I believe he can pirate this year’s renewal back to County Tipperary with another of the sire’s offspring named BLACKBEARD.
This youngster produced some very strange manoeuvres — none of them orchestral — at the gates before the Group One Prix Morny at Deauville last month, but he showed a very willing attitude inside the final furlong to gain the day by half a length.
In last year’s running of the Bet365 Cambridgeshire Handicap (3.40) run over nine furlongs at Newmarket, five out of the first six home were drawn 21, 22, 19, 14 and 30, so I’m backing BELL ROCK, who will burst out of trap 19.
Cavalry
This three-time winner on the unique Rowley Mile course was third in this cavalry charge in 2020 when rated 103, so I’m sure the shrewd Andrew Balding has plotted him up to go very adjacent off a perch of 97.
With a capable 5lb claimer in the saddle, the six-year-old is worth an each-way nibble with a firm paying at least seven places.
MISCHIEF MAGIC
(3.00, nb) can cast a spell over his rivals in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket today.
The Charlie Appleby trained son of Exceed And Excel has scored a hat-trick of victories since finishing third on his debut at Goodwood behind Royal Scotsman.
There are plenty of speedy contenders in this 6f Group One, notably Aidan O’Brien’s (pictured) Blackbeard, but Charlie Appleby’s youngster had pace to spare in the Group Three Sirenia Stakes at Kempton earlier this month.
Scorch
William Buick turned on the afterburners approaching the furlong pole to scorch clear to win by a couple of lengths.
Only four go to post in the Group Two Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes over a mile with another Appleby hotpot in Godolphin colours likely to have little trouble scoring a third success of the season. FLYING HONOURS (1.50) blitzed a decent listed field at Salisbury last month. The form was enhanced by the runnerup Stormbuster winning a conditions race at Newbury by five lengths.
MEDITATE (2.25) will take all the beating in the Group One Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes over six furlongs.
Aidan O’Brien’s filly is more exposed that most in this 10-runner field, but she only lost her unbeaten record in the Group One Moygare Stud Stakes at the Curragh 13 days ago to to the potentially exceptional Tahiyra.
Earlier in the afternoon at the Curragh, ROARING GALLAGHER (1.35) looks the value in the Group Two Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford Stakes.
Thrown in at the deep end by Joseph O’Brien, he fought back tenaciously when headed to win a Bellewstown maiden on his only start last month.
O’Brien can add to his day’s prize money in the Goffs Million with ZOINNOCENT (3.20).
Unlucky
Since winning a maiden in June, the daughter of Zoffany was an unlucky second in a Leopardstown Group Three in
July before finishing fifth of seven behind Meditate in the Group Two Debutante Stakes.
At Haydock, Ann Duffield’s course and distance winner BILLYB (2.05) appeals off a competitive mark in the Old Boston Handicap.
Another course and distance winner COUNT D’ORSAY (2.40) hasn’t won for two years, but Tim Easterby’s six-yearold returned to form leading up to the Lester Piggott First To Last Handicap over 5f when third in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster two weeks ago.