Baradar to score for Varian in famous Newbury race

Baradar can come out on top in the 40 Year Anniversary Haynes, Hanson & Clark Conditions Stakes at Newbury today.

This race has a rich history – going back to such luminaries as Shergar and Rainbow Quest in its early days – and the Roger Variantrained selection looked a highly promising type first time out at this track last month.

Tucked away at the rear of the field, eventual runner-up General Lee had first run, but Rossa Ryan’s mount had little difficulty in picking him up when asked to go about his business and was a cosy winner.

His rider did not have to get overly serious either and while underfoot conditions are going to be much quicker this time, he is by Muhaarar, who loved to hear his hooves rattle, so there is plenty of encouragement there.

The step up to 1600m should be no problem, either, as he was full of running at the end of 1400m on the soft ground.

Mirage Mac is an interesting runner in the Racing TV Novice Median Auction Stakes.

In the care of highly capable rookie trainer George Boughey, the son of top-class American performer Bobby’s Kitten was a narrow winner on her debut over 1400m at Wolverhampton at the beginning of the month – a performance that offered plenty of promise for the future.

The winning margin may only have been a head, but she was doing all her best work at the finish. With the experience under her belt and another 200m to travel, she will hopefully make her presence felt, in what is admittedly a better race.

It will be fascinating to see how Humanitarian fares on his first run back from well over a year off in the

Dubai Duty Free Handicap.

John Gosden’s Noble Mission gelding was thrown into the Derby after winning a Salisbury novice event last season, and was actually far from disgraced in finishing seventh. He went to Royal Ascot after that, ultimately finishing down the field to Japan having raced too keenly for his own good.

Not seen since then, fitness obviously has to be taken on trust but he is lightly raced and the fact his powerful connections have opted to keep going with him might prove significant.

D’bai is the pick in the Dubai Duty Free Cup Stakes.

A Group 2 winner in Dubai last year, D’bai has been running well enough this year, finding stablemate Space Blues too good on a couple of occasions and most recently finishing fourth in a Group 3 at Goodwood.

That was a pretty tactical affair and D’bai did not look happy from a fair way out, so perhaps better can be expected as he drops back to Listed class.

Marlay Park would not be winning out of turn if he can get his head in front in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes.

The Richard Hannon-trained colt has had the misfortune to find one too good in both his starts to date, in Minzaal and Mujbar. To put that into context, Minzaal has since looked a superstar in waiting in winning the Gimcrack at York, while even Mujbar was fourth in the Champagne Stakes.

It would be a little cruel if he bumps into anything of that stature in this.

Listed honours are on offer at Ayr and Magical Journey can claim victory in the Arran Scottish Sprint EBF Fillies’ Stakes. – Sporting Life