13:50 – 1m2f – (1m1f197y) Coral Kincsem Heritage Handicap (Class 2) (3yo)
An open 3-year-old handicap with many interesting runners drawn wide. A single-figure draw has won 8 of the last 10 renewals but a strong pace could bring the wide closers into things.
#12 CIARRAI ABU sits towards the head of the market following a win at Ascot last time out. That doesn’t tell the full story, however, as he hung badly left-handed when hit with a right-handed crop and nearly threw the race away. I’m certain he’s better than a mark of 86, but he had also shown similar tendencies when a fast-finishing fourth here two back. Stall 2 might be an edge here if it means he has to challenge between horses, although that itself is fraught with risk at a track where hard-luck stories are commonplace. Perhaps he’s just green after only five starts and may be more tractable this time around, in which case he’ll go very close.
#3 HARMONICS is drawn just outside of him. He was a fairly short price at Royal Ascot last time out but was a bit keen and I don’t think he found that much off what looked a decent enough trip.
#6 DECADE OF TIME looks well handicapped based on his last run where he finished second to the improving Heraldry. He had some well-handicapped rivals in behind that day and should be suited by a better pace in this bigger field. Stall 14 looks a big worry, however.
Similar concerns abound for #10 DARK WHISPER. He looks a classic David Menuisier handicap improver and I love how he ran down #14 LEAN D’AISLINGEAN off a steady pace last time out. He’s certainly on an attractive opening mark and might prove even better over this distance, but stall 13 looks a negative. He’s got confirmed hold up rider Jamie Spencer booked, and was held up in last when breaking his maiden, so you know what you’re going to get here – he’ll be switched in behind from the gates and hope for a pace meltdown.
#14 LEAN D’AISLINGEAN couldn’t hold off #10 DARK WHISPER’s late surge last time out but might do better here. He’s improving and has the prime draw in stall 1, and he should be able to get a forward sit from there.
#4 GONNA FLY is better than he was able to show last time, looking as though the sharp track was against him.
#5 SAVVY DISKO has been hit with a 9lb rise for his win on handicap debut last time out, but he slaughtered his field and could have won by double the winning margin. He’s up in class and has been hit with a 9lb rise, but the time he clocked there was fast despite being eased down and I can see him taking up a good position despite stall 12.
14:25 – 6f – Markel Richmond Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings) (Class 1) (2yo)
A sprint for juveniles.
#4 FLANN SUNNA looks sure to head the betting following an impressive win last time out on the clock. He did plenty wrong that day, pulling his way to the front, but should have learned a lot from that and has a leading straight-track jockey on now in William Buick. I like his draw in stall 10 to sit behind the speed this time and I think it’ll take a very good one to beat him here.
#3 CUT A DASH should get a similar trip. He was impressive on debut and ran really well to finish fourth in the Coventry Stakes last time out, although he did receive a very efficient ride that day.
#9 NIGHT IN VEGAS was one I was interested in for the Coventry beforehand and he ran a fine race to finish fifth. He ran a very similar race to #3 CUT A DASH and there shouldn’t be much between them here either, although this course winner is maybe drawn a little lower than ideal.
#7 MAN’S BEST FRIEND looks a good horse last time out but I’m still worried about the form of the O’Brien stable.
#2 BIG CIGAR was an extremely impressive winner of a handicap last time out and should get an efficient ride here. The form of the Fahey yard would worry me, however, having gone 1/40 in the last two weeks at the time of writing.
15:00 – 1m4f – (1m3f218y) Maison Perrier Gordon Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (3yo)
Not much depth to this Group 3 for 3-year-olds.
#2 BAY OF BRILLIANCE is on a recovery mission having beaten just one rival in the German Derby last time out. His Epsom Derby fourth – and second to subsequent Grand Prix de Paris winner Maltese Cross in the Lingfield Derby Trial – is clearly the best form on offer if he is anywhere near that level.
Perhaps #3 ENCELADUS can improve past him. He was a very impressive winner of a handicap at Royal Ascot last time out despite being hung out wide with little cover and the form has been franked several times. He looks a lovely type physically and has plenty more to come still.
#1 GERYON produced a career best last time out having looked exposed previously, but I felt he received a very good ride there and won’t get such an easy time of it here.
#5 SAHARA KING’s run two back has worked out well and he didn’t run badly at Royal Ascot. Gelded since, I’m not a big fan of this trainer over longer trips and he’s not really bred to stay either.
15:35 – 1m2f – (1m1f197y) Qatar Nassau Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares) (Class 1) (3yo+)
A race that’ll largely revolve around #4 DIAMOND NECKLACE. This brilliant filly is unbeaten having won three Group 1s in a row, including the French Guineas and Oaks. Her latest win saw her just cling on by a short-neck, but the 2nd and 3rd have already advertised the form. Without wanting to keep repeating myself, the Aidan O’Brien yard is not firing on all cylinders and that would be enough to put me off at odds of 4/6.
I’d be more interested in #1 FRIENDLY SOUL at the odds. A Group 1 winner herself in 2024, she missed all of last year and pulled up on her return at Haydock, stumbling badly having put her foot in a hole. That meant her Royal Ascot run was effectively her seasonal debut, and she excelled herself in the circumstances to finish 3rd, coming from last and meeting trouble. The form has already worked out extremely well and she looks ready for a return to this distance now – huge chance of causing the upset.
#2 SEE THE FIRE is a fine mare but will need both of her main market rivals to underperform.
Don’t rule out #3 BOTAGOZ. She’s bred to be a late developer on the distaff side and did remarkably well to reel in Diamond Rain off a steady pace at Newcastle last time out. She could outrun huge odds.
16:10 – 5f- Buccellati Handicap (Class 3) (3yo 0-95)
A really difficult sprint in which they’re going to go hard into the wind. I’ll be looking towards the hold up horses.
#14 NOBLE VOW fits the bill. His saddle slipped last time out but he’d won his two before that and this keen sort will love a furious pace – he’s been gelded since last time.
#4 MANATEE MEHMAS ran very well despite market weakness last time and should get a lovely slipstream in from stall 11. He was trying to close off a tailwind last time but with the wind in his favour he can be much more competitive with #3 NAANA’S SHADOW and #1 SHRODINGER’S CAT.
#9 RIVER SPEY shaped as still in form last time out and should appreciate dropping in class with a nice jockey upgrade.
#10 OLD IS GOLD could have been drawn better than stall 1 but he was a promising juvenile last season and very much caught the eye on his seasonal debut at Sandown last time out. He looks to have returned in top form and has been primed for this, so a big run is anticipated.
16:45 – 7 Whispering Angel Nursery Handicap (Class 2) (2yo)
A tricky 2-year-old handicap.
The old adage of “topweights in a nursery” may apply here as #1 SHADOW KING looks to hold every chance. The yard had a winner here on Tuesday, and won this in 2017 and 2020, and this Dark Angel colt should be up to defying a 6lb rise for his Doncaster win last time out.
#16 WISE AND WONDERFUL represents last year’s winner yard and has Saffie Osbourne up, but she’s been handed a very difficult draw in 14.
So, too, has #9 MIA FANTASIE, who’s drawn out in 13. His form received a nice boost when Dr Rascal won here on Tuesday, however.
#6 THE BOOKKEEPER gets a nice jockey upgrade and is well-berthed in stall 2. He ran well in a good Conditions event last time out and should enjoy returning to this distance.
#5 THE GINGER KID looked unlucky not to win on his handicap debut last time out and stall 3 looks a draw that can be exploited. He’ll have learned plenty from his first experience of a bend there and has more to offer.
#2 CILICIAN finished second to #5 THE GINGER KID on debut before finishing ten places in front of that rival at Royal Ascot. He’s had two runs in Novices since and has looked unlucky not to get off the mark, shaping like a good horse on both occasions, including last time when into the wind. Could go well.
#10 LEAVE THE BAG IN has form that ties in with #2 CILICIAN but carries much less weight and gets a capable 7lb claimer on top. He’s got the perfect draw to get a nice sit behind the speed and keeps improving, so might go well at very big odds.
17:20 – 7f – Tatler British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (GBB/IRE Incentive Race) (Class 2) (2yo)
#14 SO LOVELY just about sets the standard here following an eye-catching debut at Leopardstown where she showed some good late speed. She’s bred to be exceptional, being out of a 1000 Guineas and Oaks winner, and shouldn’t mind dropping back to this distance from a good draw. Keep an eye on the stable form, but she’s the one to beat.
#6 ELEVATING’s yard won one of the juvenile races here on Tuesday and this filly shaped well on debut. Stall 15 won’t make things easy, however.
#2 BEGUILED represents a yard that can get one ready first time and are in fine form. I’d be a little worried about her over this distance at a sharp track, as she’s bred more for stamina.
#3 CLARITY looked very green on debut around Kempton but she started to figure things out late on and galloped out nicely after the line. She’ll improve a ton for that and should relish this extra distance.
#10 LA TORRE has a pedigree that suggests she can win first time up if good enough.
17:55 – 1m – HKJC World Pool Handicap (Class 3) (3yo 0-90)
Another very difficult puzzle to solve. There have only been three runnings of this race but wide draw hasn’t been an issue.
That’s a plus for #11 GO RIMBAUD who look likely to go off favourite here. His synthetic form is quite a bit better than his turf form and he made very hard work of it visually last time, but probably did very well to win off slow fraction at a track that was favouring speed. He’s clearly ahead of his mark provided he is streetwise enough for this kind of test.
#2 EXCLUSIVE CODE was a big price for the Britannia at Royal Ascot and ran well to finish 13th, 3rd of 15 in his group. He should come on for that and stall 1 should ensure he gets a good trip around.
#9 ELECTRIC DREAMS steps into handicap company having won his Maiden at Leicester last time out. He’s got a nice pedigree and should progress as many of this trainer’s runners do.
#16 GET OUTTA HERE didn’t really have the race run to suit but his previous effort over course and distance would give him a chance, particularly with lots of pace signed on.
#7 ZENNOR STOIRM bombed on his first two starts of the season but last time was better. He gets cheekpieces here which should help him and he has each-way claims.
#20 STORMING POINT is interesting. He’s been beaten by two good horses the last twice but hasn’t done badly on the metrics in either race. I don’t think he really got home stepping up in trip last time out and a drop back to a mile with Ryan Moore on might be just what he needs. The yard won this in 2023.
