I’d love some rain at Newmarket for Dolphin Vista ahead of the Spring Lodge Stakes. He’s definitely a better horse on slower ground but ran well in the Lincoln. He’s stepping up in trip here which will suit but we’ll monitor the weather with the owner as he’s definitely better with a bit of cut.
Kimberella is in great order going into the Longholes Palace House Stakes. This is the next step for him following his win in the All-Weather Sprint Championship on Good Friday. It’s very competitive as they’ve all turned up – which is understandable as there’s nowhere else to go with a good five-furlong sprinter right now – but the trip and fast ground will be fine for our fellow.
He’ll need a lifetime best to win this but goes there in great form, we’ve been very happy with him since Lingfield.
The Wagon Wheel is a filly we like and reappears in the Hot Streak Handicap. Her brother won a Listed race this week and we don’t feel she’s badly handicapped on her form at two. We’ll find out here though, as it’s a warm race.
Andok is a horse we really like. I was a bit disappointed when he was beaten on his final start at two – but it can happen to them all – and he is a progressive sort. We think he’s gone on again over the winter but he’ll need to have as the QIPCO Racing Welfare Handicap looks a tough heat.
We’re double handed in the opening totescoop6 Play For Just 2 Today Novice Auction Stakes at Thirsk. Danehill Desert and Guzman are both okay colts who will improve for the run and experience. I couldn’t split them going into it – we don’t have a first and second string here – but we have plenty of two-year-olds ready to run and this is a good place for this pair to start. If either won I’d be delighted.
Spring Offensive ran okay in the Irish Lincoln and has been kept back for the totepool Thirsk Hunt Cup Handicap since he’s best when fresh. On his best form he’d have a small chance.
Our final runners are all at Doncaster.
I’d imagine Tatlisu is as high as he’d want to be going into the Black And Veatch Handicap. He decides when he’s on a going day and I’d just worry if the ground was too fast that he might not let himself down on it. We’ll let him take his chance.
Bengali Boys and Sinaloa both run in the Mott MacDonald Bentley Novice Stakes. The former isn’t a star but did well to win from a bad draw at Beverley and there’s not a lot between him and his stablemate who was third on debut at Pontefract.
It will be interesting to see how warm this race is – my pair won’t be winning Group races – but are fit and well and ready to go again.
Gallipoli is progressive and a horse I’ve always liked. He got it all together to win at Leicester last time and while he had been a hard horse to train, having been weak, he’s a lot stronger now. I think he’ll run a big race in the Water Aid Handicap.
In First Place will probably be outsider of the lot in the Stonbury Handicap. He is what he is, but is a good, hardy horse who never lets you down. He’ll run his race.
