Before the buildup to the weekend’s Group One action at Newmarket, there are intriguing runners across the programmeThis is one of those days when you could start to wonder whether the perennial complaint that there is “too much racing” just might have something going for it. But these are also the days that keep things ticking over until the Group One action begins at Newmarket this weekend, no one is obliged to bet on it and there are, in all fairness, a few interesting runners and races dotted around the programme. Prabeni (Chelmsford 6.50), for instance, is the first runner from the Wood Ditton at Newmarket’s Craven meeting to return to the track and offer a clue to the value...
‘Our’ runner in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby will break from the tricky outside stall in the main gateThose of you rooting for Mendelssohn and Ryan Moore in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby might like to know that their draw in stall 14 represents both an opportunity and a potential disaster in the eyes of local punters. It is the outermost stall in the main stalls unit, meaning there is quite a big gap between it and stall 15, with two sets of tyres in between. Related: Frankie Dettori talks up James Garfield for 2,000 Guineas after Parole blow Wolverhampton 1.50 Malaysian Boleh 2.25 Sea Youmzain 3.00 Costa Percy 3.35 Geetanjali 4.10 Valcartier 4.45 Desert Diamond 5.20 Homeopathic 5.55 Shamonix Continue reading...
Sussex Girl can shine at Brighton, while Frankie Dettori is on board a long odds-on Derby contender at YarmouthThe word “soft” appeared in the overnight going description for all three of Tuesday’s turf meetings, but at Brighton at least, that might well change in the hours leading up to the first race. The track is perched on top of a chalk hill, the sun is beating down and there is a fair westerly breeze to speed up the drying process, so it could easily be good, at least, by the time the card gets underway at the very civilised time of 2.20. That is a slight concern when it comes to the chances of Sussex Girl (5.25) in the final race...
Racing UK track Salisbury survived an inspection but the channel have lost an important course after Chester signed up for Sky Sports RacingThe good news for Racing UK this morning is that the meeting at Salisbury has passed an 8am inspection and should proceed as planned, as it has escaped the rain affecting many parts of the country and none is expected before the meeting opens as 2pm. The bad news, however, is that two of its tracks – Chester and Bangor – will jump ship in March next year to join their big rivals At The Races, which will by then have been rebranded as Sky Sports Racing. If Chester cannot quite be called a jewel in the Racing...
An athletic type and a nice jumper, the Mark Bradstock-trained chaser has the scope to be well ahead of his rating and has been attracting supportWhile two big-name trainers have been mopping up the prizes in Ireland, smaller yards still have half a chance in the major handicaps in Britain. Rebecca Curtis caused a shock in last weekend’s Scottish National and Mark Bradstock could get his fifth winner of the season in Sandown’s Bet365 Gold Cup, which brings down the curtain on the season on Saturday.Step Back (3.35) is the beast in question and, if you’ve never heard of him, this is entirely forgiveable, as he has been sailing some way below most radars. An experienced pointer, he was having...