Selection is a course-and-distance who acquitted himself well in stronger company in the Winter DerbyThe past three favourites for the Betway Easter Classic, the feature event of the All-Weather Finals card at Newcastle on Good Friday, have started at odds-on, but the latest renewal is more competitive despite attracting just half a dozen runners and there is at least a fair case to be made for all six.It is equally possible to pick holes in the form of most of the field, for the most part because either the trip or the Tapeta surface is not certain to see them at their best. The one horse with cast-iron credentials is the likely favourite, Forest Of Dean (3.00). Continue reading...
John Quinn’s five-year-old was an improved performer in the second half of 2022 and can triumph in the LincolnWilliam Haggas managed to get Adeyybb, the 2020 Champion Stakes winner, into the 2018 Lincoln off a mark of 99, so Al Mubhir, another lightly-raced four-year-old who progressed steadily at three, will be on most shortlists for Saturday’s renewal of the historic Doncaster handicap that launches the new Flat season on turf.He is just one among at least six or seven runners with a similar profile, however, including Awaal, Wanees and Croupier, any one of which could find the necessary improvement to win, while the likelihood of testing ground is another concern for lightly raced runners first time up this season. Continue...
If a bookie is the only option for the Epsom Classic sponsor, it might be better to go with no sponsor at allIn its usual, almost apologetic style, the new British Flat season on turf will flicker into life at Doncaster on Saturday with the Lincoln Handicap, and this year the lack of fanfare in the country that gave the sport of organised horse racing to the world does not feel entirely misplaced.The 2023 campaign will begin without an obvious star to pin early hopes and dreams upon, since Baaeed is already settling in to his new life as a stallion while Little Big Bear, last year’s champion juvenile colt and 2,000 Guineas favourite, did not race beyond six furlongs...
Japanese challenger ready to give Oisin Murphy a first big-race success since returning from his long banThe second significant stopping-off point on Frankie Dettori’s global farewell tour is the Dubai World Cup card at Meydan on Saturday evening, when he will attempt to follow up last year’s success in the feature event aboard Bob Baffert’s Country Grammer.Dettori and Country Grammer finished second behind Panthalassa in the $20m (£16.4m) Saudi Cup last month and he has already landed £8.25m in just three rides aboard the six-year-old, which means Country Grammer will overtake Enable as the highest earner of Dettori’s career if he lands the spoils on Saturday. Continue reading...
The Sam Thomas-trained runner travels and jumps like a horse who can continue to defy the handicapperNext month’s Grand National was a natural target for Iwilldoit after his impressive success in the Classic Chase at Warwick in January, but Sam Thomas could not get a sixth run over fences into his talented but injury-prone chaser to qualify him for Aintree and will hope to make do with Saturday’s Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter instead.Iwilldoit would have been one of Britain’s leading contenders for Aintree, having taken the Welsh equivalent on just his fourth start over fences in December 2021. That was his second run back from a 226-day break, and he spent another year on the sidelines before his latest...