Catching Pigeons: Gossip and tips from the gallops

Red Impression (1.50 Newbury)

Red Impression and Headman can bring Roger Charlton’s season to life with a big race double at Newbury on Saturday.

Red Impression is just preferred to Henry Candy’s unlucky Sandown second Kurious in the Listed Sanaa Carnarvon Stakes. Charlton has had a frustrating start to the turf season by enlarge and this daughter of Dark Angel's comeback effort at Chelmsford 16 days ago was some somewhat typical of how things had gone in the opening weeks. Made a hot favourite, she might well have had she not been forced wide to mount her challenge, and she did well to finish a half length third to Isaan Queen. An emphatic winner on her two outings as a juvenile, she looks capable of holding her own at this level, and this looks a good opportunity to vindicate that opinion.

Headman (3.00 Newbury)

Beckhampton has an impressive record in the Al Zubarah London Gold Cup and Headman should uphold the tradition with a big run in what looks a very hot renewal of the mile and a quarter handicap.The son of Kingman may never quite reach the heights of stablemates Time Test and Al Kareem, two past winners for the Wiltshire stable, but his promising two year old career has earned him topweight here, and we should see a different horse to the one who flopped behind King Ottokar here last month. Ground conditions were soft that day, but he was also too keen to get on with things and never got home. An improved performance is anticipated here.

Sea Of Faith (4.50 Newbury)

Sea Of Faith can step up on her debut effort at Sandown and win the Listed Haras De Bouquetot Fillies Trial. William Haggas has shown he holds a strong hand in this particular middle distance three year old division, and there was plenty to like about this daughter of Sea The Star’s fourth to Sparkle Roll in what looked a hot maiden. She had been working very well before that run and looks sure to make her presence felt at a decent price in another open looking race.

Thrave (5.25 Newbury)

Henry Candy's Thrave has had his problems since his juvenile days, but he showed signs of putting his past woes behind him when fourth to Beringer in a good class event at Newmarket on his reappearance and he looks worth a speculative each-way interest in the Toronado Handicap.

Luxor (3.15 Newmarket)

Luxor looks a sound each-way wager in the Betway Handicap at Newmarket. William Haggas will undoubtedly have next month’s valuable three year old handicap at York in mind for this son of Oasis Dream, who improved steadily during his first season and is reported to have continued his progress this Spring. Although sure to come on for this outing, he looks nicely weighted and is just preferred to Yousini, who has been working well, but will need the ground to ease to be at his most effective.

Raise You (2.05 Newmarket)

Raise You can take a successful step up in class in the Listed Betway Railway Stakes. Both his outings so far have been at Newbury, and their form make good reading. He chased home the highly rated King Ottokar on his debut September, and then saw off some promising three-year-olds when coming home six lengths clear in a division of what is always an informative mile maiden on his comeback last month. Both the third, fourth, fifth and sixth in that event have all won since, and the step up from a mile to ten furlongs should suit.

Althiqa (2.10 Thirsk)

Charlie Appleby can kick off card at Thirsk with a winner, courtesy of Althiqa in the Maiden Fillies Stakes. Godolphin have already run some speedy types this Spring and this son of Dark Angel and six furlong listed winner Mistrusting, should want plenty of beating after some solid work in his pre-season.

Romero (6.00 Doncaster)

Kevin Ryan unleashed a quality two year old first time up at York on Thursday and he should go close with another newcomer, Romero, in the Howcroft Group Novice Auction Maiden Stakes at Doncaster this evening. A son of Brazen Beau, A half brother to Love Lockdown, a winner of the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes for Ger Lyons as a two year old, he has looked sharp in his preliminary gallops, and is fancied to play a hand in the finish, even though he will be all the better for the experience.

Gallic (6.35 Doncaster)

Gallic is a consistent performer and is fancied to build on her solid reappearance behind Aweedram at the Newmarket Craven meeting last month in the Alan Wood 70th Birthday Celebration Handicap. Ed Walker has his Upper Lambourn stable in good nick at present and this daughter of Kodiac hails from a good family of the Rothchilds, and is open to improvement.

Related horse racing links

• Sky Bet's horse racing odds
• Free horse racing betting tips
• All today's racecards
• Today's fast results
• Today's full results
• Non-runners
• Today's Goings
• Today's Naps Table