ALL OF TODAY’S TOP RACING TIPS FILLY LOOKS THE CHEAL THING!
CHEALAMY is expected to open her account at the fourth attempt in the Sky Bet Sunday Series Fillies’ Handicap at Musselburgh.
Not beaten all that far when down the field on her debut at Yarmouth last summer, the James Ferguson- trained grey raised her game to finish fourth at Leicester next time and went up another notch when occupying the same finishing position at Newmarket.
The daughter of Siyouni made her handicap debut on the all- weather at Southwell a few weeks ago and was just unfortunate to bump into a Godolphin- owned favourite from Charlie Appleby’s yard in Mountain Song.
Chealamy was no match for the winner on the day, but knuckled down to finish best of the rest and also proved the mile is within his compass stamina- wise.
She is only a pound higher for a return to turf and that minor rise is negated and then some by the 5lb claim of the excellent Billy Loughnane, so Ferguson’s filly should prove hard to beat.
Arrange is of clear interest in the Sky Bet Sunday Series Middle Distance Handicap.
The Martin Todhuntertrained five- year- old bolted up over the course and distance in August, with a seven- and- a- half- length success earning her a 10lb hike in the ratings.
She proved she can still be competitive from her elevated mark in her next two races, though, finishing third behind progressive stayer Wise Eagle at Redcar before filling the runner- up spot at Pontefract on her final start of 2022.
Arrange should be competitive again if fit enough to do herself justice after seven months off.
Urban Sprawl can pick up where he left off to complete his hat- trick in the Sky Bet Sunday Series 3YO Mile Handicap.
The Iffraaj colt was kept busy as a juvenile, running eight times between May and September, but results at the end of the campaign prove it did him no harm.
In all he visited to the winner’s enclosure on three occasions and like so many horses from the Johnston yard, he displayed a willing attitude from the front to score by a head at Sandown and a nose at Ascot in his last couple of races.
With the marginal step up in trip from seven furlongs to a mile expected to suit, Urban Sprawl will take some pegging back once more.
Rainbow Sky can give Charlie Appleby and William
Buick their first ever winner at Wetherby in the opening Oncourse Bookmakers Welcome You To Wetherby Fillies’ Novice Stakes.
Appleby has saddled only a couple of runners since the West Yorkshire circuit started staging Flat racing, while champion jockey Buick will making his first visit to the track on Sunday.
Rainbow Sky justified odds- on favouritism when making a successful start to her career at Kempton in November and while her comeback fourth at the same track was underwhelming on first glance, a forceful ride after a tardy start did not see her to best effect.
Connections
Switching to the grass, she can reward those who keep the faith.
Twelfth Knight is backed to follow up a recent Redcar triumph in the Constant Security Services Handicap.
A dual winner for Archie Watson before changing hands for 17,000 guineas in October, the four- year- old looks a shrewd purchase judged on his winning debut for new connections in the north east.
He should improve fitnesswise for that first run since the autumn and a 4lb rise for the victory looks fair.
Meanwhile, Brian Hughes is preparing to thrust himself straight into another title bid ahead of being crowned champion jockey for the third time.
The Northern Irishman first claimed the title at the end of 2019- 20 season and while he was defeated by Harry Skelton the following year, he regained the trophy at the end of last term.
This campaign’s 164 winners falls some way short of last year’s total when Hughes reached and passed the significant milestone of 200 winners in a season – joining Peter Scudamore, AP McCoy and Richard Hughes in a small band of riders to have done so.
Lost fixtures due to weather and a slight dip in the form of his mounts are the possible causes for the lower number this term, but Hughes’ relationship with trainer Donald McCain continues to provide plenty of success for both parties.
Hughes said: “It’s good to be champion again. Plenty of hard work. We didn’t get to the number we did last year, but we’ll try harder next year!