Richard Fahey column on his Saturday team
Richard Fahey has high hopes for Ventura Ocean at Newcastle and has a horse-by-horse guide to another bumper Saturday team.
Richard Fahey: Best chances
1255 Newcastle
1430 Chester
1550 Newcastle
I felt Kimberella was a little bit unlucky in the Betfred TV Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle last year so we head back there with a little unfinished business on Saturday. He’s in great order at the moment, we’re very, very happy with him and he should run a big race.
Tony Hamilton felt Suegioo was going to win at Pontefract on Sunday and I’m pleased he was proved right! It was great to see him get his head in front again. He’s drawn one for the Betfred Northumberland Vase Handicap which isn’t ideal for a horse like him who drops himself out.
The hope is they go flat out up front and we’ll be coming home late to pick up the pieces. He’ll need luck but winning can do wonders for a horse and you never know.
It’s been a very frustrating time with Stamp Hill as he’s a horse who just wants some slow ground somewhere. He’s too good to run in most all-weather races so we’re going down the claiming route. I'm not sure what will happen but I hope he goes well.
We run three in the ADT Workplace EBF Novice Stakes and I’ll be surprised and disappointed if Ventura Ocean doesn’t win it. He ran an absolute blinder on debut at York and it will take a good one to beat him here.
Jazz Hands has been disappointing and needs to go down the handicap route. This is his third run so he should be able to do that after this. He hasn’t shown a great deal in his two outings to date but we’ll keep trying.
Zip ran ok at Pontefract on debut and will win races at some stage but I’d be surprised if he finished in front of Ventura Ocean.
Prying Pandora is in the sales at Newmarket but runs in the Britcon Handicap first. She’s been running okay and is very well handicapped. Everything needs to fall right for her but don’t be surprised to see her run a big race if it does.
We run three in the Sun Bets Download The App Novice Stakes at York.
The pick of them is probably Coolagh Magic, a horse we like. We fancied him first time up at Ripon but he had an issue with the stalls. That’s the main thing for him on Saturday – dealing with that – but he goes alright at home and will run well if everything goes smoothly.
Gabrial The One is quite nice and he’s a lot quicker than his pedigree would suggest. Coolagh Magic has more natural speed but this one will win a maiden at some stage – whether that’s at York on Saturday we'll have to see.
Angel Sarah is a very honest filly who will want further in time but this is a good starting point for her.
Lady In Question has been running consistently well all year. It’s hard to say she’s going to go out and win the Bet & Watch At sunbets.co.uk Fillies' Handicap as she hasn’t improved but she’ll run her race and if that’s good enough, well that’s great.
Starlight Romance has a big weight in the same race and we’re claiming five off her with Connor Murtagh to help out. She showed a great attitude to win here last time and can run a big race despite a five pounds higher mark.
International Man ran a good race at Leicester last time – I thought he’d got up that day. He steps up in trip for the Like Sun Bets On Facebook Handicap and will run well if he stays. It would be great to see him win for owner Phil Smith.
Our other runner Spray The Sea ran a lot better than the finishing position suggests at Wolverhampton. He finished fifth but everything that could go wrong did. He was stuck out wide and had to drop right in to get cover and then came home well. He’s very honest and handicapped to win races so don’t be drawing a line through him.
Crownthorpe is a horse I’ve always liked. He’s another going up in trip – in his case to ten furlongs for the sunbets.co.uk Handicap. If it brings about any improvement he definitely has a chance.
Paddy Power is our runner in the Follow Sun Bets On Twitter 'Jump Jockeys' Nunthorpe' Handicap. I do think they need to look into how much weight horses are being asked to carry in races like this. The top weight has 11st 10lb which is an awful lot for a Flat horse. I think it needs to come down.
Anyway, Paddy Power is his own man and will be fine with 11st 4lb on his back – and if he fancies it and is in the same form as when winning here last time he’d be there or thereabouts.
Andok ran back into a bit of form when second at Chester last time, which was encouraging. He’s a hard horse to sum up right now but if he stays the trip in the sunbets.co.uk World Cup Betting Apprentice Handicap he’ll go well.
Liquid Gold was fourth over course and distance and is capable of running a good race again but will need a bit of luck from her draw.
I thought Powerallied ran a blinder when fourth at Haydock last time and we know he loves Chester. He’s drawn wider than you’d like in the Schweppes 1783 Tonic Water Handicap but heads there in great form. He’ll go well.
We also run Wirral Girl. She was very keen as a two-year-old but had seemed to settle down at home. She pulled hard at Nottingham on her reappearance though and overraced but still ran well in third and I think the track here will suit her.
Gangland is running well. He’s in the sales in two weeks’ time and runs in the Matthew Clark Handicap. I think seven furlongs around there is going to really suit him. The worry is he just missed the kick at Ayr last week – he can’t afford to do that here.
I’m just a fraction worried five furlongs at Chester is going to be a tad sharp for Gabrial The Wire. He improved a lot from his first run to second and has improved again since. If he can lay up in the Pimms Novice Stakes he’ll run a big race.
Monaco Rose is disappointing and needs to bounce back in the Woodford Reserve Handicap. She’s well handicapped and capable of going well but isn’t running to her best right now.
Boundsy has got the coffin box draw for the Jim Beam Handicap which is a shame as he loves the track. He’ll need all the luck this time though.
We’ve been running Gabrial’s King over a mile-and-a-half of late as they were the only races at Chester he could get in. Two miles is his trip and he gets it in the Laurent Perrier Handicap and should bounce back to form.
Akela Moon has got to step up on what she’s done so far in the Betway Empress Fillies' Stakes at Newmarket. We’re chasing a bit of Black Type with her and I’d be over the moon if she finished in the first three. She’s very tough and genuine and tries hard.
Gabrial was left a bit at the start of the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot and after 100 yards was going to struggle to get into it. He can do that and Frankie Dettori looked after him. He heads to the sunbets.co.uk Midsummer Stakes at Windsor and small field races like this can suit him. We just need something to go a good gallop in it.
We only have one runner at Doncaster’s evening card – Danehill Desert in the Gilks Fencing 'Here To Have Fun' Handicap. He’s been a fraction disappointing this horse, he’s well handicapped but hasn’t won the last twice when I thought he might. He’s had excuses though and if he gets it together maybe this is the day he gets back on track.
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