Friday’s UK meetings are at Sandown, York, Goodwood, Chepstow, Newton Abbot and Aintree. The 3.30 at Sandown is a 1m 2f handicap. Harold Lloyd has won at this course and over the same trip. The Cape Cross gelding’s first outing of the season was disappointing, but he can improve significantly on that performance.
Richard Fahey has 2 very-useful runners, in the 4.20 at York. Giddy still looks well-weighted and shouldn’t be too far away, but Mayfair Lady is preferred. She was 5th, although not too far away, in the Listed 2-Year-Old Trophy (Redcar). Adam McNamara is in good nick and claims 7lb.
Gerrard’s Return can get off the mark, at the 3rd time of asking, in the 5.50 at Chepstow. He was a little one-paced, when 3rd at Haydock, but is expected to progress. Alcazar looks the best of the debutants, having cost connections £68,000, but is still best just watched today.
Despite a decent purse being on offer, just 5 runners will contest the 3.55 at Newton Abbot. Monsieur Gibraltar will have frustrated Paul Nicholls a little, having finished 2nd at both Kempton and Bangor. The Spirit One gelding can go one better today, at the expense of War Singer and Pass The time.
James Fanshawe’s yard is finally coming into form and Sam Missile looks capable of winning this evening, in the 7.20 at Goodwood. The Smart Strike colt faced a more arduous task at Headquarters than this and further improvement is expected. Paling looks the biggest threat.
There’s also twilight cation at Aintree, where I’m In Charge takes on Monkey Kingdom, Mercers Court, Call Me Vic and Belmount, in the 7.05. Presenting looks a decent each-way bet, in a race unlikely to offer-up a clear favourite. Callum Bewley claims 5lb and 2 good runs at Perth preceded a disappointing outing at Carlisle.
The first of 7 encounters at Clonmel is a maiden hurdle (5.35) and Oh Me Oh My is an interesting debutant. Joseph O’Brien’s horse appears to be very-well bred and the trainer has hit the ground running. There are also meetings at Compiegne and Fairview.
Today’s Picks
SANDOWN
1.45 Somebody to Love
2.20 Out Of The Dark
2.55 Wefait
3.30 Master Of Irony
4.05 Shabbah
4.40 Black Bess
NEWTON ABBOT
2.10 Policy Breach
2.45 Mille Nautique
3.20 Avispa
3.55 Monsieur Gibraltar
4.30 Mrs Burbidge
5.00 Vexillum
5.30 Bumble Bay
YORK
2.00 Computable
2.35 Empress Ali
3.10 Baltic Beau
3.45 Big Time
4.20 Mayfair Lady
4.50 Shrewd
5.20 Kip
AINTREE
6.00 Call It On
6.30 Ballycamp
7.05 Mercers Court
7.40 Honey Pound
8.10 Sir Note
8.45 Perfect Summer
CHEPSTOW
5.50 Logi
6.20 Embroidery
6.55 Distant High
7.30 Colourfilly
8.00 Living Leader
8.35 Gilmer
9.10 Fuzzy Logic
GOODWOOD
6.10 Fastar
6.45 Easy Tiger
7.20 Sam Missile
7.50 Second Serve
8.25 Daafik
9.00 Nisser
CLONMEL
5.35 Killarney Lakes
6.05 Lady Of Portlairge
6.35 Cullentry Royal
7.10 On Fiddlers Green
7.45 Beau Et Sublime
8.15 King Norman
8.50 Aunt Berry
COMPIEGNE
R1 Girl Friday
R2 Sayed
R3 Clear Mind
R4 No Taboo
R5 Elide
R6 Indiva
R7 Lovemedo
R8 Bonsai
FAIRVIEW
R1 Turbo
R2 Russian Archer
R3 La Myst
R4 Orchestrated
R5 Silver Image
R6 Seattle Sunrise
R7 Sunset Tripp
R8 Simply Black
