3 minute read
Sam King advised Rohaan to score at Ascot yesterday and he returns with four selections for this superb Saturday’s racing.
There's Group 1 action at Newmarket this afternoon. Inspiral should take plenty of stopping in the feature Sun Chariot Stakes, but with her understandably short in the market, I'm happy to look elsewhere on the card for a bet.
Charlie Appleby's strike rate in Newmarket needs no introduction and the Moulton Paddocks-based handler is operating at a healthy 30% for the last fortnight.
I'm not surprised to see plenty of overnight support for Lady Boba, who was surely put in a handful of points too big, for the opening British EBF Premier Fillies' Handicap at Newmarket. However, at the current prices, Whispering Words makes more appeal now stepping up in trip on her handicap debut.
Course experience can prove vital on the Rowley Mile and with a debut run at the track under her belt, Charlie Appleby's filly will have no issues handling the dip. I'd hazard a guess she bumped into a bit of an improver when trying to give weight away in novice company at Kempton last time and she may well have succeeded with a bit of clearer passage.
An opening mark of 88 looks workable enough given you can definitely expect improvement from this daughter of Dubawi stepping up to a mile and a quarter for the first time and with both Buick and Doyle engaged abroad, who better to step into the plate than Ryan Moore.
Selection: Whispering Words - General 10/3
Heads turn to the concluding Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Fillies' Handicap (5.00) for our next selection.
I was somewhat bemused as to why Zouzanna wasn't favourite last night and am by no means surprised to see she's now found her way to the head of the market.
The consistent Coco Jamboo needs plenty of respect but I'm hopeful the progressive Zouzanna can prove too strong. Roger and Harry Charlton's filly seemed to really appreciate her first outing over seven furlongs (having been racing over a mile) when scoring at Ascot last time. She travelled strongly towards the rear of the field before picking up smartly under the hands of today's rider Oisin Murphy, who never really needed to get serious on his mount as the daughter of Zoustar stretched clear for a cosy three-quarter of a length success.
A true run seven furlongs on the Rowley Mile should be right up her street and with a 2lb rise in the weights looking lenient, she should really follow up.
Selection: Zouzanna – General 9/4
Our next wager comes from Redcar and Zain Blue ought to take plenty of beating in the Racing TV EBF Stallions Novice Stakes event at 3.20.
John Butler's charge has filled the runner-up spot on both outings to date including when second in the valuable Convivial Maiden at York last time. The winner that day, Battle Cry, has put his experience to good use on the Knavesmire and has since given the form a nice boost by finishing fourth and second in Listed company (Doncaster and Dundalk).
The form of his debut effort at Newmarket (July) really catches the eye with his conqueror King's Gamble now rated 102 following a fine third-place finish in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at York on his second outing.
This looks by far his easiest task to date and a replication of either of those runs should see him off the mark at the third attempt.
Selection: Zain Blue – General 7/4
Wolverhampton hosts nine races on the all-weather this evening and I'm sure Minnetonka would have gone into plenty of trackers on the back of her really eye-catching effort last time.
The Richard Hannon-trained filly was repeatedly short of room in the closing stages at Newmarket recently and almost certainly would have won with a clear passage.
The daughter of Kingman scored snugly over course and distance back in September off a mark of 80 and although she's now 5llb higher, Richard Hannon's charge finished fourth in the Group 3 Firth Of Clyde Fillies' Stakes at Ayr as a juvenile and definitely has the back class to defy a rating of 85.
Sam Hitchcott remains the ride and will be keen for redemption following their Newmarket defeat. Stall four looks absolutely perfect for her back on the Tapeta and a general price of 5/2 is more than fair for her to get back to winning ways in the bet365 Handicap (7.30).
Selection: Minnetonka – General 5/2
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