PADDOCK PICKS
Andrew Ayres finds some more handsome horses to follow
KEMPTON May 19 (standard to slow) 1m handicap (Class 4) COMPETITIVE RACE FOR THE GRADE
BONNEVAL (James Fanshawe) is built like a bull and looked in great nick. He would have got the job done but for being mullered by a desperate draw and is open to plenty of improvement. His trainer has a blinding record at Kempton and this fella will be hard to beat if sent back there for a similar event.
7f novice (Class 6) RUN-OF-THE-MILL CONTEST
RHYTHM N ROCK (John Butler) had been an eleventh-hour withdrawal at Windsor in early May and was well supported on this belated debut (6s to 5-2). His backers were unlucky not to collect - he fell out of the stalls before flying home to finish third – and this good-looker clearly has an engine.
LINGFIELD May 25 (standard) 1m2f novice (Class 5) IMPRESSIVE WINNER
ALFAADHEL (Roger Varian) was a size bigger than his market rival Sir Rumi and won with a ton in hand despite being easy to back. He’s got any amount of scope and should develop into a high-class handicapper.
6f two-year-old novice (Class 5) AVERAGE FORM
CAVALLUCCIO (Richard Hughes) was greenest of these in the paddock and spent more time shouting than a back bencher in the House of Commons. He shaped well to finish a close sixth, improved to nab second spot at Chepstow a fortnight later and is nailed-on to win a race or two.
SANDOWN May 27 (soft) 1m three-year-old (Class 4) COMPETITIVE EVENT
FINAL WATCH (William Stone) is a big, raw looking gelding who is learning on the job. He ran a personal best to finish second under Hollie Doyle and went on to pinch a half decent handicap at Newmarket in mid-June. He’s got the right attitude and will keep improving.
KEMPTON June 2 (standardslow) 6f two-year-old maiden fillies (Class 5) ABOVE AVERAGE CONTEST
WILD PLACE (Saeed Bin Suroor) started at a big old price despite being the paddock pick. She was given an educational ride from her wide draw and was a massive eyecatcher flying home to finish third. She would win this in a rematch and is above average.
SAFRA (Simon & Ed Crisford) cost a chunky $330,000 and has plenty of size and scope. She ran out of gas after showing plenty of early toe and will strip much sharper next time.
7f handicap (Class 5) RUN-OF-THE-MILL EVENT
LE REVEUR (Mike Murphy) is a strapping individual and looked in great shape despite a 187-day lay-off. He was well backed near the off (12s to 152) and looked a shade unlucky not to collect after launching his challenge deep inside the final furlong. He’s with a shrewd yard and will pay his way.
7f three-year-old novice (Class 4) ORDINARY FORM
LUBNA (Saeed Bin Suroor) still looked backward but set a personal best to finish fourth after racing with the choke out. She’s been allotted a handy looking mark of 70 and will pinch a low-grade handicap or two.
7f three-year-old novice (Class 4) IMPRESSIVE WINNER
STORM DAMAGE (Saeed Bin Suroor) looked ready to rumble on his belated debut and had this sewn up the second Oisin Murphy engaged overdrive. He pulled too hard when thrown in the deep end on soft ground at Royal Ascot and must be given another chance.
LEICESTER June 7 (good-firm) 6f two-year-old maiden (Class 5) ORDINARY RACE
PRETTY GREEN (Stuart Williams) was a massive eye-catcher in sixth under an unusually quiet Callum Shepherd. She looks the part, is capable of
much better and is one to look out for in nurseries.
SANDOWN June 11 (good, good-firm places) 7f two-year-old maiden (Class 4) IMPRESSIVE WINNER
NATIVE TRAIL (Charlie Appleby) was bet to the exclusion of his rivals (13-8 to 8-11) and looked a cut above in the paddock. William Buick didn’t have to take his coat off to nudge the colt home in front and he’s reportedly headed for Newmarket’s Superlative Stakes next. This is a Group horse in the making and he must be followed.
SANDOWN June 12 (good, good-firm places) 7f three-year-old handicap (Class 3) FAIR FORM
RUN TO FREEDOM (Henry Candy) is a sizeable unit and needed the run after a six-month sabbatical. He’s got a big dollop of class though and went close despite racing freely through the first half of the race. This was a taking effort and he is one for your dreamteam.
5f handicap (Class 4) COMPETITIVE EVENT
VANDAD (Mick Attwater) looks in fine shape and ran a blinder to finish third after seeing plenty of daylight. He’s in tip-top form at present and will win a decent handicap when the cards fall right.
1m2f maiden (Class 4) MESSY RACE
POET OF LIFE (John & Thady Gosden) is a handsome individual and attracted a bundle of support near the off (8s to 4-1). He would have won a minute but for Martin Harley taking the wrong turn at every junction and looks a smart prospect.
ROYAL ASCOT June 15 (good-firm) 1m6f handicap (Class 2) RED-HOT STAYING EVENT
GLOBAL STORM (Charlie Appleby) could not have looked better and did well to finish third after taking an age to get rolling. He’s made to measure for the Ebor and would be a massive runner there granted a more enterprising ride.
ROYAL ASCOT June 16 (good-firm) 5f two-year-old stakes (Class 1) COMPETITIVE RENEWAL
KABOO (Karl Burke) was punted at all rates (66s to 15-2) despite being chucked in the deep end for this debut. He ran green through the first half of the race before staying on steadily into sixth and is clearly above average. He’s bred to be a speedball, looks the part and is capable of nicking a half decent pot.
ROYAL ASCOT June 17 (good-firm) 5f two-year-old Group 2 (Class 1) HIGH CLASS FORM
GO BEARS GO (David Loughnane) is a chunky colt and would have won this but for being drawn away from the action. He’s got bags of pace and will be hard to beat if sent to Glorious Goodwood for the Molecomb Stakes. 1m three-year-old handicap (Class 2) Race that will throw up plenty of winners
AIR TO AIR (George Boughey) looked as fit as a flea but was always going to find it difficult to weave his way through from the back of the pack. Bearing that in mind, he ran a solid race to finish ninth and can be marked up as the vet reported that he lost a shoe. There is more to come from this fella.
ROYAL ASCOT June 18 (heavy)
5f three-year-old handicap (Class 2) MESSY RACE
DREAM COMPOSER (James Evans) is holding his condition through a busy campaign and looked a shade unlucky in fourth. Young Laura Pearson took an age to find a seam before launching her challenge and the way this hardnut finished suggests he hasn’t stopped improving.