Today’s Horse Racing Preview & Tips, Friday 22nd July 2016

A Return To Winning Ways, For Irish Rookie?

Friday will be very busy and there’s Listed action at Ascot (3.30). Irish Rookie hasn’t won a race since November of 2014, but might just notch this time under a Ryan Moore ride. The 4-year-old filly was 4th in the G1 Falmouth Stakes and 2 lengths ahead of Usherette. Mix And Mingle and Black Cherry should also go well.

Richard Fahey’s Springforth has a great chance in the 3.05 at Thirsk. The Mayson juvenile broke his duck at Catterick, last time out, beating the Nazca Lines by half a length. He’s making steady progress and should be chased home by Lady Crystal and Alicante Dawn.

Super Sam To Star

The last race at Uttoxeter (5.25) is a National Hunt flat race and Sam Noir’s very comfortable debut win at Stratford should give connections confidence that the Black Sam Bellamy gelding can follow-up here. Cosmic King, Odds On Oscar and Welsh Vic should also be in the shake-up.

Chepstow’s opener (5.50) is a 6f contest for 2-year-olds and Ariena looks primed for a first victory. The Arcano filly found only Madam Dancelot too good for her at Newbury and has looked comfortable on track in both outings. Quick Artist and Billesdon Bess are unraced, but both have promising pedigrees.

The 8.10 at Newmarket only features 3 runners, but it should be a decent encounter as all are in with a shout. Ruwasi is the blog’s tentative pick, following a cosy victory at the expense of Sam Missile at Doncaster.

Beauly An Attractive Prospect

The Listed Lyric Fillies’ Stakes (7.30) is the feature at York and Charlie Hills can score here with Beauly. She didn’t get the trip, in the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes, but finished just half a length behind Abingdon in the Listed Ballymacoll Stud Stakes at Newbury. Fireglow, Diploma and Pandora are the most obvious threats.

Sky’s The Limit, For Stellar Mass

Down Royal doesn’t hold too many black-type races, so the crowds should be out in force for the Listed Her Majesty’s Plate at 6.35. Order Of St George won this race, last season, but Aidan O’Brien will not be represented on Friday night. A comfortable win for Jim Bolger’s Stellar Mass is predicted. 3rd place in the G1 Irish Derby puts the Sea The Stars colt firmly in the box-seat and it will be a big shock if anything else finishes ahead of him.

The 7.55 at Wexford is a tricky looking handicap, which not all punters will want to dip a toe into. Veteran campaigner Curragh Golan looks reasonably treated though and won here at the last time of asking. King’s Wharf, Hurry Kitty and Galboystown Lady shouldn’t be too far behind.

Big Races, In Both France & South Africa

The Listed Roland De Chambure is the big race at Chantilly, with Red Onion likely to bring tears to the eyes of his rivals. Fairview also has a Listed contest and Bella Spumante can put a smile on the face of Alan Greeff, down in South Africa, by winning the East Cape Paddock Stakes.

Friday’s Picks

ASCOT

1.50 Sitaarah

2.20 Star Of The East

2.55 Sea Of Heaven

3.30 Irish Rookie

4.05 Yorkidding

4.35 Final Venture

5.05 Olympic Runner

THIRSK

2.00 Lozah

2.30 Cheerful Character

3.05 Springforth

3.40 Dancing Elegance

4.15 Courier

4.45 Regal Response

5.15 Frangarry

UTTOXETER

1.40 Angel Face

2.10 Mrs Burbidge

2.40 Knight Bachelor

3.15 That Man Of Mine

3.50 Junior Package

4.25 Ulis De Vassy

4.55 Billy Two Tongues

5.25 Sam Noir

CHEPSTOW

5.50 Ariena

6.20 Fantasy Queen

6.50 Wild Dancer

7.20 Miss Lillie

7.50 Quantum Do

8.20 Miss Marina Bay

8.55 Grams And Ounces

NEWMARKET

5.40 Red Tea

6.10 Whip Nae Nae

6.40 Zamjar

7.10 Fol O’yasmine

7.40 Crimean Tatar

8.10 Ruwasi

8.45 Kestrel Dot Com

YORK

6.00 Haraz

6.30 Slingsby

7.00 Mutahaady

7.30 Beauly

8.00 Alejandro

8.30 Just Glamorous

DOWN ROYAL

5.35 Grecian Divine

6.05 Catwilldo

6.35 Stellar Mass

7.05 Brontide

7.35 Sheisdiesel

8.05 Sufoof

8.40 Takeachanceonme

WEXFORD

5.20 Whitber’s Choice

5.55 Shan Dun Na Ngall

6.25 Cadawill

6.55 Naughty Molly

7.25 Simiel

7.55 Curragh Golan

8.25 Altiepix

9.00 Inchiquin High

CHANTILLY

R1 Notte A Roma

R2 Cleonte

R3 Red Onion

R4 L’avenue

R5 Gottingen

R6 Kenshaba

R7 Passeport

R8 Fee Vallio

FAIRVIEW

R1 Singita Sweni

R2 Nakuru

R3 Calico

R4 Lavita Noir

R5 Skrik Vir Niks

R6 Villa Del Largo

R7 Rahvar

R8 Bella Spumante

R9 Galao

R10 Rumbling Lion