Newbury, Saturday 22nd April
1:30 – Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (John Porter) Group 3
It is hard to ignore a horse like Max Vega, although this is a much better contest than the renewal that he won last season, his course form is 3 wins and 2 places from 6 starts. He should run his race on his seasonal comeback, but whether that will be sufficient to beat a pair of rivals with genuine group 1 form in the book.
Mojo Star was 2nd to Kyprios in the Ascot Gold Cup last season, which is the best piece of
recent form on offer, albeit over a longer trip than this. If he runs to that level, he should go close, but he has only ever won a maiden and that run at Ascot was his only start in the last 18-months. He would be entitled to need that run and over what looks to be an inadequate trip he is reluctantly overlooked this time. HURRICANE LANE is a multiple Group 1 winner and although he has had his issues, he did a very promising piece of work with a stablemate before racing at Newmarket on Tuesday and is allowed to take his chance here on the strength of that.
If he arrives here close to his peak, he should have too much class for this field.
2:05 – Dubai Duty Free Stakes (Fred Darling) Group 3
This is an extremely difficult race to work out with so many once raced maiden winners.
The Gosden trained Bridestones is of obvious interest with William Buick booked. She was given a timeform rating of 100P after winning at Yarmouth in October and is open to any amount of improvement. In truth any of these could improve to win this, but Amo Racing have made a superb start to the new Flat season and their filly, OLIVIA MARALDA has some solid form in the book from her 2-year-old campaign and probably sets the standard here. She has course form after winning her maiden here in July and was less than a length behind Meditate in the Debutante Stakes at the Curragh a month later. After a busy juvenile campaign, it was perhaps not surprising that she looked in need of a break when she ran poorly at Newmarket in October.
With a 6-month gap to freshen her up and the switch to Roger Varian for her 3-year-old campaign, she could prove up to winning this on her return.
2:40 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes Group 3
Knight won well here in October, but that was on much heavier ground than he is likely to encounter here.
Streets of Gold is not easily discounted, after all he did win all 5 starts last season and won in a confident manner at York to suggest that he hadn’t finished his improvement. However, this isn’t the deepest race
and the horse with genuine top-class form in the book is the Dewhurst winner CHALDEAN. Juddmonte won this race in 2014 with Kingman and provided Chaldean has trained on, he should have too much class for this field on route to the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in a fortnights time.
3:15 BetGoodwin Spring Cup Handicap
Toimy Son and Brunch should both improve for the benefit of their seasonal returns at Doncaster, but they may both struggle to overhaul the impressive Irish Lincolnshire winner LATTAM. William Haggas’ 4-year-old met all kinds of trouble in running at the Curragh but still had the class to get himself out of
trouble and put his head in front where it mattered. He is only 5lbs higher here which really shouldn’t stop him, and it will be surprise if he doesn’t take the step up into pattern company this season, in which case he should be capable of winning a handicap like this with fitness on his side.
