NEWSBOY’S 11-1 GEOFFREY FREER STAKES TIP:
Balding’s improving star looks a gift Horse for punters in Geoffrey Freer
HORSEPLAY should be taken seriously – despite double-figure odds – in the Betfred Geoffrey Freer Stakes (2.25) at Newbury.
Andrew Balding’s filly, a Nottingham maiden winner at two, opened her campaign with a defeat of Isabel De Urbina in the Pretty Polly Stakes on Newmarket’s 1,000 Guineas undercard back in May.
She then finished a wellbeaten fourth behind Enable in the Oaks at Epsom the following month.
But Horseplay emerged with credit when again fourth – this time beaten only two and a quarter lengths – in a SaintCloud Group 2 for fillies last time out.
David Probert’s mount, whose stable continues to churn out the winners, should appreciate a first try beyond a mile and a half, and is in receipt of weight from all her rvials. She has more to offer today. LEARN BY HEART
The Queen’s can initiate a royal TV double in the Listed Denford Stakes (1.50).
A son of Frankel, the William Haggas juvenile took a big step forward from his Haydock debut to score with authority at Doncaster at the end of June and merits the move up in grade.
The Betfred TV Ladies Day Handicap (3.00) looks a good MOUNTAIN opportunity for RESCUE
to follow up his Newmarket victory 15 days ago.
The handicapper has reacted to the two-length margin with an 8lb rise, but that may not be enough to stop the Chris Wall five-year-old from going in again. DARK POWER
Favourite looks good under a 6lb penalty in Newmarket’s Randox Health Grey Horse Handicap (2.10).
The Dark Angel colt has won three of his five starts in the care of Clive Cox – including at Leicester last Monday – and Dark Power is a long way from the bottom of the barrel.
Later on the July Course, the MERLIN, upwardly mobile also carrying the Queen’s silks, gets the nod in the Randox Health Handicap (2.45).
At Ripon, the Great St Wilfrid Handicap (3.15) looks as competitive as ever, but SHANGHAI GLORYcan
give a good account. A fine fifth to Lancelot Du Lac in the Stewards’ Cup at Glorious Goodwood two weeks ago, he is a serious player off the same handicap mark.