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It was hoped that Constitution Hill would continue his flat exploits in the 14:35 at Newbury this Saturday but unfortunately fast ground has ruled him out of an intended race at Newbury. The 2023 Champion Hurdle’s second career remains the most intriguing subplot of the flat season so far and his next engagement remains highly anticipated.
There will be one Champion Hurdler on display this Saturday, with that title going to the winner of the Scottish Champion Hurdle (14:20, Ayr), although the winner of this handicap will carry far less prestige than that of the Cheltenham equivalent. That was the race we last saw Tutti Quanti in and it’s fair to say things didn’t go to plan there, with the son of Chanducoq proving reluctant to line up and never competitive following a slow start. This front-running sort probably got a bit overawed by the occasions that day and should find things more to his liking here in a weaker race on a flat track. The ground has come right and this talented performer should be hard to stop if getting into a rhythm on the lead. Tellherthename looks the most dangerous rival, with this gelding having shaped nicely at Cheltenham on his first start for the Skelton yard – he should improve for that.
The Constitution Hill-free Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (14:35, Newbury) looks a fair contest still and sees the return of Convergent. He bombed out at odds-on when last seen in a German Group 1 but had looked well up to that level when just denied in the German Derby and should improve again as a 4-year-old. Pride Of Arras needs to show he is as effective away from York – where he’s run by far his best races – and Al Aasy may well need this aged 9. Phantom Flight has a penalty but he’s good on his day and comes here fit following a win in Bahrain just over two weeks ago, while current outsider Tenability surely has more to come this season and may outrun those big odds.
Classic clues abound in the earlier races with the Dubai Duty Free Stakes (13:25) for fillies and Greenham Stakes (14:00) for the colts earlier on the card, both of which are run over seven furlongs.
Touleen leads the market for the former having proved disappointing in the Rockfel at the end of last season. She may not have handled the dip at Newmarket that day and should do better here at a track she has won at. Catching The Moon should improve for this extra distance following a Group 3 win over six at the end of last season and impressive all-weather Novice winners Domina Ignis (stepping up in trip) and K Sarra (going down in trip) add a bit of intrigue. At bigger prices, Stimulative Trip – who won first time out at this track last year for a yard not really know for 2-year-olds on debut – and Zaravina – whose stable has a great record here and was sent off as favourite for an expensive debutants race last August, running a good one close – could both go well.
The Greenham sees the return of leading 2-year-old Zavateri, who won the Group 1 National Stakes last September before running well in the Dewhurst when things probably didn’t pan out ideally. He sets a solid standard here and is likely to face his biggest threat from Albert Einstein. This Ballydoyle talking horse was highly touted by Aidan O’Brien before bombing on his seasonal debut, but it’d be no surprise to see an improved display here with the hood equipped.
Race Of The Weekend
A week on from the English Grand National, the Scottish equivalent takes centre stage at Ayr (15:35). Joseph O’Brien probably should have had the winner at Aintree, with his Jordans given a much criticised ride to finish third, but he could gain some compensation here with Kim Roque, who currently heads the market. Willie Mullins, whose I Am Maximus won the Aintree equivalent, has Road To Home, who should be competitive off the back of a fine second at Cheltenham. King Of Answers also finished second at the Festival when last seen and looks the best of the British runners.
Horse To Watch
Twain returns to action in the Alleged Stakes (15:35) this Sunday having been off the track for 539 days. This son of Wootton Bassett is unbeaten in two starts as a juvenile for Aidan O’Brien, scoring in a Group 1 when last seen in October of 2024. A leading Derby candidate at that point, it’ll be intriguing to see whether he can hit those sort of heights as a 4-year-old.
