Richard Fahey column on Saturday team at York, Chester and Leicester
Our star columnist has runners at York, Chester and Leicester on Saturday - check out his unmissable horse-by-horse guide.
Best chances:
We run three in the JCB Handicap at York on Saturday and it's a very competitive affair.
Gallipoli has been kept for this race and is a horse who’s going to win a big handicap at some stage. Trip, track and draw all look spot on here and hopefully he’ll put it all together.
Rain is forecast which would really help Stamp Hill. We are very, very happy with him right now but to be at his best he’d need slower ground.
I thought The Feathered Nest ran better than the finishing position suggests at Chester last time and she’s progressing along the right lines. Paul Hanagan has chosen her from our trio and he’s probably right to do so.
Bengali Boys is one of four we run in the Pavers Foundation Catherine Memorial Sprint Handicap. We’re still in twilight land with him, he isn’t good enough for pattern races and will find it tough from a mark of 101 in races like this. We’ll give it a shot though.
Gabrial The Saint is progressing really well and you can’t knock his last two wins at Chester and Leicester. The handicapper has had his say and put him up 11lb for the second of those but he’d have won with that much more there and hopefully he can still be competitive.
We’re trying to find the key to Great Prospector who has been disappointing. We’re coming back to basics here, running over six, and that will tell us which way we need to go in the future.
Zap wears blinkers for the first time. He ran really well when touched off by Clubbable here two starts ago and it’s just a question of whether he’s quick enough for this. Hopefully the headgear will help.
Cadeau Magnifique needs to step up on what he’s been doing in the Ice Co Supporting Macmillan Handicap and slower ground would help him.
Paddy Power is a complete enigma and does his own thing. He’ll win again somewhere and if it’s a going day he wouldn’t be out of the Jill Willows Handicap despite top weight.
I was very pleased with Gabrial The Wire’s debut run at Chester. He was very green that day and has improved quite a bit for the experience. He returns there for the Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer Novice Median Auction Stakes on Saturday and we’re happy with him.
We also run Ventura Bay. He was very disappointing at York on his first run but shaped better at Wetherby next time. Whether a sharp six around here will suit we’ll see but he has a decent draw.
Lady In Question has two ways of running but has been in good form this season. She’s fared well with stall one for the Whitley Neill Handcraft Gin Fillies' Handicap and is very fit and very well heading there.
Fool For You is another with a great draw in the Liverpool Organic Gin Handicap and she’d have a chance if taking to the track.
Andok is an extremely disappointing horse. We’re very happy with him at home but are now hoping the Roodee will spark him into life in the Whitley Neill Rhubarb & Ginger Handicap. If he runs like he has been he’ll be tailed off but he continues to please us at Musley Bank. It’s very frustrating.
Six furlongs around here might be sharp enough for Gabrial The Tiger in the Aber Falls Welsh Gin Handicap. He’s in great order though and Marwan Koukash likes runners here so we’ll see what happens.
He also owns Rene Mathis who is starting to slip down the ratings. It’s about time they gave him a chance and he’s going well at home.
Gabrial’s King has been running well of late and doing nothing wrong. The Crabbie Whiskey Handicap is a competitive little race but we have a chance.
Parion is our first two-year-old runner of the season for Cheveley Park in the British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes at Leicester. She’s by Mayson and we’re pleased with the early signs at home but the run will do her the world of good.
International Man ran a cracker in a competitive heat at York on his reappearance and it would be no shock to see him go close in the Racing UK Handicap.
I think Lucky Lucky Man is badly handicapped. He won a poor race at Catterick as a two-year-old, went up 11lb for it, and has been paying the price ever since. He continues to struggle but hopefully I’m wrong about his rating and he’ll run a bit better in the H.A.C. Pipeline Supplies Handicap.
Danehill Desert is ready to win races again and everything looks right for him in the Asfordby Handicap. I’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t go very close.
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