Catching Pigeons column with all the weekend gossip
Our gossip column is back ahead of Saturday's action and Andrew Balding is expected to make a flying start to proceedings at Newmarket.
2.10 Newmarket - Flashcard
Flashcard can step up on his comeback effort at Goodwood two weeks ago and win the Bentley Cambridge Handicap at Newmarket on Saturday. A winner twice at Salisbury before finishing a close second in a big sales race at the Curragh on his three starts as a two, he was strongly fancied to win at the Sussex track but was a little too keen for his own good and faded to finish sixth. He looks well worth another chance.
4.30 Newmarket - Red Romance
Friday’s rain is expected to ease the ground at Newmarket and Red Romance should cope with it well in the Keystone Law & Rae Guest Racing Fillies Novice Stakes. Beaten only half a length by Mana Chic on her comeback here 23 days ago, she gets a handy seven pounds from winners Daring Venture, Flarepath and Nonchalance and will be sharper for that first run.
5.35 Newmarket - Buzz
Buzz can notch his first success of the season in the Tusting Handicap. Hughie Morrison was in no great rush with this progressive sort last season and there was plenty to like about his narrow win over last weekend’s big Epsom handicap winner Mountain Angel at Newbury in the autumn. Buzz would now meet that rival on eight pound better terms and has the assistance of Ryan Moore to call on here. Ed Walker’s unexposed Carafoc could be the danger.
4.10 Haydock - Savalas
Savalas should go well at an each-way price in the Betway Dash Handicap At Haydock. He showed he was running into form with a solid effort behind Soldier’s Minute at York last month and the ground will suit him a bit better here.
5.20 Haydock - Indian Viceroy
Indian Viceroy, a stablemate of Buzz, is a good five pounds lower than when he won on easy ground at Newmarket last August and looks worth an interest in the Betway Handicap. He has come on for his comeback effort behind Beat Le Bon in a tough heat at Goodwood two weeks ago.
Chelmsford evening card
Oisin Murphy is setting the pace at the top of the flat jockeys’ table and heads to Chelmsford on Saturday evening for some interesting rides for Archie Watson and Sir Michael Stoute.
He kicks off with a pair of Watson newcomers in the two-year-old events. Mrs Dukesbury should give the promising and more experienced Romsey something to think about in the seven furlong maiden before Space Age tackles what looks a relatively weak novice auction over a furlong less.
Neon Sea looks the pick of his three fancied rides for Stoute in the Bill Bright Memorial Fillies Handicap. She hosed up when strongly fancied on her comeback at Goodwood and could well have Royal Ascot on her agenda if she continues her upward curve here.
3.15 Beverley - Summer Sands
Summer Sands ran a sound first race in what looks a more than decent maiden at the York May Meeting and is expected by the Richard Fahey team to step up on the performance in the Truckingby Brian Yeardley Two Year Old Conditions Stakes At Beverley.
2.45 Perth Sunday - Diablo De Rouet
Nicky Henderson launches a raid on Perth on Sunday, and,even though the so far disappointing Dragon D’Estruval has a chance in the feature Sam Morshead Gold Cup on his first run after a wind operation, the most intriguing of his runners may be Diablo De Rouhet.
The six-year-old is an old favourite of this column and was a useful bumper and novice hurdler with Jo Hughes. He looks very nicely handicapped on the best of his form and arrived at Seven Barrows after a short spell pointing. He could reward an each-way interest in the Heineken UK Handicap Chase.
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