FRIDAY evening’s midsummer fixture at CoinShares Les Landes also marks the half-way point in the racing season with four meetings behind us and, after Friday, just four to come.

The season is taking a familiar shape, as trainer Alyson Malzard has taken the lead with 10 winners and Karl Kukk is next on five. Fred Tett and Victoria Malzard sit at the top of the jockeys’ table with four wins each, alongside Brodie Hampson, who has a 100% record.

The latter will need Archie Watson to send more runners from his Upper Lambourn yard if she is to maintain the challenge. Maquignon, who does not run on Friday, is comfortably ahead in the race to be champion horse.

Friday’s card is exceptional in that there are five flat races and no hurdle race, and the programme is better for it. Those horses usually seen jumping have an opportunity in a two-mile flat race.

Hore racing action returns to CoinShares Les Landes tomorrow with the Mid-Summer Evening Meeting. Picture: GEORGE MARRIOTT

The principal event is the Quilter Cheviot International Summer Trophy, a handicap over nine furlongs. Cueros heads the weights on a rating of 78, 6lb more than his opening mark, but he may still be ahead of the handicapper.

Caustic has been disappointing with a couple of fourth places to his credit since arriving, but his mark has dropped 10lb since leaving Owen Burrows and he will race with the aid of a tongue tie and blinkers; we have not seen the best of him yet.

Evening Song is another still to hit top form after a promising third at the opening meeting. Juniper’s Dream will represent young Newmarket trainer Martin Dunne, who makes a welcome first visit.

The horse, a three-year-old, is owned by The Poor Sexy Farmers Club and whether poor, sexy or both one hopes they will be here to cheer him. His best form is a three lengths third at Lingfield last year over six furlongs, so it is hard to assess his chance.

Birkie Boy has done well, winning as a three-year-old last season and again this year; he was a good third to Cueros last time and is now 5lb better off with that rival.

Agapanther has been tried at various distances without success and may need more help from the handicapper.

Last of the seven runners is the able but frustrating Resilient Power; two lengths second to Cueros and ahead of Birkie Boy last time, he is 4lb better off with the winner and, with Alice Bond’s claim, this might be his turn.

The La Verte Rue Sprint, sponsored by Mr and Mrs Anthony Taylor, opens the programme at 6.30 and, if starting on time, will be all over about a minute later.

Al Farabi had decent form with Stuart Williams and arrived on a mark of 81. After a promising second he flopped last time and runs here off 77, which makes him competitive, but he must still give 5lb to champion sprinter Profit and Loss.

Fred Tett gets on well with Gemcutter and Lady In Havanna, a grey filly by leading sire Havana Grey, adds interest as a Newmarket challenger with winning form over slightly longer trips for his previous trainer.

The Autism Jersey Stakes is sponsored by an anonymous supporter of the charity and is a seven furlongs handicap. Never Said Nothing is so consistent you can set your watch by him; he tops the weights and will not go down without a battle.

Cool Dandy will be unfancied after her last two runs; she is a quirky character and things must drop right for her. When they do, she has shown she can win races.

The Union Bancaire Privee Handicap over a mile and a half looks tailor-made for Roi Du Monde, who should be able to give weight to just four rivals.

Clear Man won a Clarendon for his previous trainer and started the year rated 53, but now runs off a lowly 40 and has his best chance for some time.

The Autism Jersey Marathon, sponsored by the same anonymous and generous supporter of Autism Jersey, is a handicap over two miles. It might be a tad unfair to describe it as a race for slow horses, but these are grinders as opposed to speedsters.

George Bancroft will be hoping to take first place in The Autism Jersey Marathon. Picture: GEORGE MARRIOTT

George Bancroft has won over both disciplines and is set to give weight all round. Allegro Jete went close last time over a much shorter trip, but he is versatile and has a good chance.

Nature is a winner and has been knocking on the door while All Cost, representing Martin Dunne, is a ten-race maiden, but showed good-placed form at Chepstow and Windsor when upped in distance.

Selections:

  • The La Verte Rue Associates Sprint – Profit And Loss (2)
  • The Autism Jersey Stakes – Never Said Nothing (1)
  • The Quilter Cheviot International 2025 Summer Trophy – Resilient Power (7)
  • The Union Bancaire Privee Handicap – Roi Du Monde (1)
  • The Autism Jersey Marathon – Allegro Jete (2)

Related

More from the JEP…

UK and World News

Entertainment News