Our experts Ben Linfoot, Andrew Asquith and Matt Brocklebank take a look at some of the key action to come this weekend.<\/p>\n
A decent turnout for the John Of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock this weekend \u2013 who catches your eye?<\/p>\n
Andrew Asquith: <\/strong>If the true Audience turns up he will likely take all the beating on what he achieved in the Lockinge and Lennox last season, but he isn\u2019t the most consistent, and that is the question mark. I put up Room Service<\/strong> in my Weekend View column earlier in the week and I\u2019m looking forward to seeing him back over seven furlongs. It didn\u2019t quite happen for him in the Greenham on his sole start at seven, but he developed into a smart colt afterwards, while continuing to leave the impression he\u2019d be well suited by this trip. A well-made colt, he could well thrive as a four-year-old, and hopefully there will be enough juice in the ground for him.<\/p>\n Matt Brocklebank:<\/strong> This is a superb line-up for a Group 3 over seven furlongs and it looks like the new Group 1 at York towards the end of the summer could really light up this whole division. Kinross and Audience are the old gun-slingers here and should go close if near their best but I’ve always liked Spycatcher <\/strong>and he might just have ideal conditions this weekend. He’s evidently returned in good heart this year and has won over seven in the past so, with a decent record fresh to boot, it looks a decent spot for him to try and following up the Cammidge win from the end of March.<\/p>\n Ben Linfoot<\/strong>: Kikkuli. <\/strong>It\u2019s about time Frankel\u2019s half-brother won another race but I thought there were plenty of positives on his return over this course and distance in the Listed Spring Trophy on May 10. Most importantly he settled well, as he was too keen on many occasions last season, and then he stayed on well off a moderate gallop to be beaten only two lengths in a race that wasn\u2019t run to suit. Over seven furlongs he needs them to go quicker and they should here, so I wouldn\u2019t be shocked to see him reverse the form with Alyanaabi, although I do wonder if he\u2019ll be better with some cut in the ground \u2013 especially over this trip.<\/p>\n Do you prefer the returning Estrange or race-fit Beautiful Love in the Pinnacle Stakes?<\/p>\n Andrew Asquith: <\/strong>You have to respect the claims of both fillies, particularly Estrange, who had her form boosted when Diamond Rain won at this track last weekend. However, I was particularly taken by the performance which Shaha<\/strong> produced when winning a Listed event on her return at Goodwood, travelling powerfully and relishing her first try at a mile and a half. I though she still looked a little rough around the edges when asked to stretch in the final furlong, but she displayed a nice turn of foot to quicken into the lead, and was always doing enough. She\u2019s still totally unexposed and I love the booking of Oisin Murphy, who has a 100 percent record when riding for John & Thady Gosden at Haydock.<\/p>\n Matt Brocklebank:<\/strong> It was reassuring to see Estrange <\/strong>end her campaign in the manner that she did as the belated debut success at Goowood last August was pretty striking. She probably found the ground too quick for her at Yarmouth three weeks later but those who kept the faith were rewarded when she resumed back on a testing surface at Doncaster towards the end of the year (replay below). I think she’s dead exciting and I can’t be alone in that view as she’s been given Group 1 entries in the Pretty Polly (Curragh) and the Arc which is rather eye-catching.<\/p>\n Ben Linfoot<\/strong>: Interesting to see Beautiful Love <\/strong>taking in another UK engagement. She was at her best out in America last season but she has never had the chance to tackle 1m4f over here. She gets that chance now and the trip can unlock her best performance on these shores. With race-fitness on her side she can beat the returning Estrange who might just prefer softer ground. The sticking point is the 3lb penalty for her Grade 3 win at Belmont At The Big A last September as that gives the likes of Shaha a chance against her, but Charlie Appleby\u2019s filly is the one to beat for my money.<\/p>\n Is there a bet to be had at York, Chester or elsewhere this Saturday?<\/p>\n Andrew Asquith: <\/strong>There\u2019s a good three-year-old handicap at York on Saturday (16:25) and the Andrew Balding-trained Urban Glimpse<\/strong> looks a well-handicapped colt. Connections sent him over to Milan for a Group 2 last season, but circumstances were against him that day (a quick turnaround and he seemingly didn\u2019t handle heavy ground), so that run is best ignored, though it does tell you he\u2019s held in some regard. He showed much more of what he\u2019s all about on his return and handicap debut when runner-up to a fine prospect, looming up two furlongs out \u2013 he traded at 1.2 in running on Betfair \u2013 but maybe just in need of the run. Urban Glimpse seems sure to go on to even better things this season and I\u2019d expect him to prove himself well treated.<\/p>\n Matt Brocklebank:<\/strong> Seeing as Andy has whipped Urban Glimpse from right under my nose I’ll suggest Allonsy <\/strong>earlier on the York card in the Bronte Cup. She’s run really well on her two previous goes over this mile and three-quarter trip and shaped like the outing would bring her on when fifth of 10 in a 12-furlong Listed race at Goodwood earlier in the month. She’s got untapped potential and is clearly in the right hands to continue her progress as a four-year-old this time around.<\/p>\n Ben Linfoot<\/strong>: The Kids Pass Fillies\u2019 Handicap over six furlongs at Chester on Saturday does not look anywhere near as taxing as the red-hot five-furlong race Seraphim Angel<\/strong> contested at Chester\u2019s May Festival. That form has already been franked by the second home Ruby\u2019s Profit and Seraphim Angel kept on well for fourth, very much suggesting she\u2019s worth another go over six. With a first-time visor applied and the one stall allocated to her a big run is expected.<\/p>\n Who do you fancy in Sunday\u2019s French Derby?<\/p>\n Andrew Asquith: <\/strong>I was very impressed by Bowmark<\/strong> on his turf debut at York earlier this month albeit in a race he was fully entitled to win. He\u2019s clearly well regarded, and you could argue he\u2019s unlucky not to be undefeated, inexperience costing him when narrowly denied in Listed company on just his second start at Kempton, while he also started a strong favourite that day. Bowmark is also bred to excel over middle distances, being from the family of Derby winner Serpentine and related to other middle-distance horses. He has a decent draw in stall 8 and the best is yet to come from him.<\/p>\n Matt Brocklebank:<\/strong> I’ve got to mention Tipinso<\/strong>, pitched in deep here by trainer Jean-Claude Rouget who has a fantastic recent record in the Prix Du Jockey Club. This horse, who runs in the same silks as 2023 winner Ace Impact, has plenty to find on the face of it but is quite an intriguing runner nevertheless. Luther <\/strong>has been done no favours by the draw again (13) but he ran a belter of a trial when fourth from stall 16 in the French Guineas and looks made for this sort of trip. Charlie Fellowes and Kieran Shoemark are due a break at some stage surely…<\/p>\n Ben Linfoot<\/strong>: The Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains looks a key piece of form with the third, fourth, fifth and sixth reopposing and John and Thady Gosden\u2019s Detain<\/strong>, sixth home in the French 2000 Guineas, could well turn that form on its head. The son of Wootton Bassett didn\u2019t get the best of runs under Colin Keane but he finished well and wasn\u2019t beaten far, suggesting all day long like he\u2019d be better over 10 furlongs as befitting his pedigree. The Gosdens\u2019 \u2018best available\u2019 policy sees Christophe Soumillon take the ride.<\/p>\n Finally, give us one horse you\u2019re looking forward to seeing at the Betfred Derby Festival at Epsom next week\u2026<\/p>\n Andrew Asquith: <\/strong>I\u2019m a big fan of Giselle<\/strong> in the Oaks. She shaped like the best horse in the race when beaten in a Group 3 on her final start last season and, though she didn\u2019t have much to beat in the Oaks Trial at Lingfield on her return, she won as she liked, and you\u2019d imagine she\u2019ll come on a bundle for that. She strikes me as a filly who will be even better when faced with better competition and particularly a stronger pace which will help her channel her energy more efficiently. Giselle will get that at Epsom and she\u2019d be my pick from Ballydoyle, and current favourite, 1000 Guineas winner Desert Flower, isn\u2019t guaranteed to stay on pedigree.<\/p>\n Matt Brocklebank:<\/strong> I was half-hoping the aforementioned Urban Glimpse<\/strong> might be saved for the 10-furlong handicap at Epsom on Derby day but let’s see how he fares at York on Saturday first shall we? The Coronation Cup should be an ideal opportunity for Calandagan <\/strong>to finally open his account at the highest level, although whether I’d be willing to back him at odds-on is another matter entirely. Epsom often finds a way of challenging even the best in the business and this race won’t be a walkover if the likes of Jan Brueghel <\/strong>and and Giavellotto <\/strong>turn up too. <\/p>\n Ben Linfoot<\/strong>: It\u2019ll be interesting to see who turns up for the Coronation Cup. It sounds like the retirement of Kyprios will see Illinois confirmed for the staying route but I\u2019d love to see him being given a chance in a top 1m4f race this season. Epsom looks unlikely for him now but I wonder if Ralph Beckett\u2019s filly You Got To Me<\/strong> will turn up? Now owned by Amo Racing she goes well fresh and ran well in the Oaks last year, so she\u2019d be a fascinating runner first time out as a four-year-old.<\/p>\n More from Sporting LifeSafer gambling<\/p>\n We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.<\/p>\n If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline \/ GamCare<\/a><\/strong> on 0808 8020 133.<\/p>\n Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org<\/a><\/strong> and gamblingtherapy.org<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Our experts Ben Linfoot, Andrew Asquith and Matt Brocklebank take a look at some of the key action…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":141572,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4107],"tags":[1071,79,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-141571","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-racing","8":"tag-racing","9":"tag-sports","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114591510289938014","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141571","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=141571"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141571\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/141572"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=141571"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=141571"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=141571"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}