Bengali Boys

Richard Fahey's Ebor Festival team plus other runners across the UK

07:57 · SAT August 26, 2017

Richard Fahey sends a team of regulars to Chester on Saturday while over at York, he's expecting Bengali Boys to go well on the final day of the Ebor Festival.

Saturday's best chances

Bengali Boys (4.10 York)
Ballesteros (2.30 Chester)
Penworthan (4.15 Chester)

Don’t Touch hasn’t had much racing this season and ran well on his reappearance in Ireland. He then disappointed in the Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle but heads into the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes in great form. He has a good draw too and should run well.

So should Toscanini who’s getting his day in the sun. He’s drawn wider than I’d like but he’s a horse who can gallop and this seven-furlong trip will suit him better than the mile he’s been competing over.

Areen Heart has the coffin box in Nationwide Accident Repair Services Handicap – he’s out in 15. The horse has been gelded since his last run which we hope will bring about a bit of improvement but it will be tough from out there.

We also run Starlight Romance – she has nothing hidden and is exactly what her form says she is. She does run well here which is always a good thing so it wouldn't be a surprise were she involved.

Moving onto Saturday and we’re double handed in the Betfred Mobile Strensall Stakes.

Forest Ranger is progressive and nine furlongs is probably his ideal trip on decent ground. He’s already run some good races in decent company and while he needs another career best here, he does seem to be improving still.

Gabrial is what he is, and while he wasn’t at his best the last day, he is more than capable of bouncing back. Never draw a line through him.

I’m afraid Northwest Frontier hasn’t fared well with the draw and is out in 18 for the Betfred Melrose Handicap. He has no weight on his back but needs luck from out there. I hope they go a good gallop as he’ll be coming back at them late.

Sands Of Mali is an interesting runner in the Al Basti Equiworld Gimcrack Stakes. He’s got to step up on what he’s done so far – a comment that applies to plenty in here – but is a horse we like.

The form of his maiden win at Nottingham was franked by the runner-up winning at Newbury and he’s definitely got place chances. It’s just at the back of my mind he flopped on his debut here – but I see no reason why he wouldn't be suited by the track.

Bengali Boys was very impressive in winning the Super Sprint on soft ground at Newbury last time He has form on a quicker surface though and I’d expect him to run well in the Julia Graves Roses Stakes.

Bengali Boys comes home clear

We’ve been trying to win a race with Spring Offensive all year, so far to no avail. He just doesn’t get any leeway from the handicapper and has nothing hidden. He’ll need plenty of luck in the Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Handicap.

We have a decent team heading to Chester starting with Normandy Blue in the chesterBET Novice Auction Stakes. This is a horse who I think will end up down the handicap route and I don’t think he’s up to winning a maiden – although I'd be delighted to be proven wrong.

Ballesteros has a great draw for the #MBNATeam Handicap and is back down to a winning mark. I’d love to see him win and he must have a big chance at a track he knows and likes from stall one.

Powerallied by contrast is drawn out in eight for the Liverpool Gin Handicap which is plenty wide enough – he’s not had much luck on that front there this year. However, he loves the place and on his best form he’d be right there.

Our final three runners on the Roodee are all in the Boodles Roodee Challenge Cup Polo September Handicap.

Dark Devil is quite wide in stall nine and has been a bit disappointing but on a going day would have a chance.

Gabrial’s Kaka ran well here two starts ago and then never had a chance of landing a blow on the all-weather at Wolverhampton next time. He wants them to go a good clip as he’ll be looking to pick them off late.

Penwortham loves the track and on one of his good days would be another with a squeak.

We run two in the Saeed Suhail Saeed Heath Court Hotel Nursery at Newmarket and similar comments apply to both.

Trip and ground will suit Dontgiveuponbob and he’ll run his race but it looks very competitive despite a relatively small field. El Chapo has no weight and is progressing along nicely so we’ll see how he goes.

Golconda Prince is a very genuine horse who has been placed seven times this year. He deserves his day in the sun and hopefully it may come in the Bet At racinguk.com Handicap at Redcar – although I’ve been saying that all season.

Arctic Treasure runs in the Bakers Tailoring And Formal Hire Novice Auction Stakes but looks more like a handicap prospect for later in the season, as does La Plusbelle. She hasn’t shown much in two starts to date but we’ll see how she goes in the Market Cross Jewellers Fillies' Novice Auction Stakes.