3 minute read
Charlie Appleby and William Buick can cap an extremely successful week by landing another Classic trial with Wild Beauty at Newbury.
Native Trail's Craven Stakes victory on Wednesday was the highlight of five wins over two days at Newmarket for the Godolphin team and Wild Beauty will be short odds to boost her 1000 Guineas claims in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes.
The Frankel filly twice found Inspiral too good last year, beaten three and a half lengths in the Star Stakes when second at Sandown and the same distance behind in finishing fifth in the Fillies' Mile on her final run of the year.
Wild Beauty had scored a Grade One victory in Canada on her penultimate start though, with the form of her win at Woodbine working out particularly well as runner-up Pizza Bianca went on to lift the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Her mark of 111 puts her well ahead of her rivals here, with the only slight question mark being the drop back to seven furlongs.
Lusail can atone for what was a disappointing final run last term in the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes.
Having won four of his five previous outings, Richard Hannon's colt was sent off second-favourite for the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster but came home last of the four runners.
There were valid excuses and a slow early gallop saw him racing far too keenly under a penalty for his previous Gimcrack win.
With question marks over the trip for Perfect Power and the ground for Angel Bleu, Lusail could be a decent alternative.
Thunderous is worth a second look as he returns from a lengthy absence in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes
Now a five-year-old, Thunderous has not hit the heights expected after his Dante win back in 2020 and was limited to just four starts last term, rounding off with a fair fourth in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot.
He had plenty to find on the ratings and did not help himself by taking a strong hold early on, with injury issues subsequently hampering his campaign.
Now a gelding, connections are eyeing staying trips and this looks a good starting point.
Musselburgh stages some fine action with Zarzyni taken to strike in the Betway Holyrood Handicap.
Second in each of four all-weather starts over the winter, he will be fit for action in this five-furlong contest.
Brian Hughes is closing in on the 200-winner mark and Bavington Bob can add another vital victory at Haydock.
The soon to be dual champion jockey is on a four-timer with Ann Hamilton's charge, having struck at Newcastle, Carlisle and Kelso on the pair's last three runs while Callum Bewley was aboard when he won before Christmas.
Bavington Bob can extend his winning run in the Challenger Staying Chase Series Final Handicap Chase.
Knappers Hill can get back on the winning track in the Racing Partnership Novices' Hurdle at Newton Abbot.
Paul Nicholls has set his charge some stiff tasks since winning his first two hurdles starts and finishing third to Jonbon at Grade Two level.
He found the Betfair Hurdle too big an ask, although he was not disgraced in sixth, while his most recent Sandown outing resulted in a heavy defeat as favourite.
Soft ground was against him there and back against lesser opposition, Knappers Hill should shine again.
Aimeric boasts a fine pedigree as a Frankel half-brother to Aclaim and is one to follow in Nottingham's Racing TV Profits Returned To Racing Maiden Stakes, while Latino Fling is the pick in the Join Racing TV Now Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at Carlisle.
SELECTIONS:
CARLISLE: 1.09 The Raven's Return, 1.44 Ashjan, 2.19 Super Survivor, 2.54 Wheelbahri, 3.29 Schalke, 4.04 En Meme Temps, 4.39 Latino Fling.
CORK: 1.40 Culcor, 2.15 Run The Jewels, 2.50 Comfort Line, 3.25 Barrington Court, 4.00 Martinstown, 4.35 Sussex, 5.10 Hell Bent, 5.45 Pale Moonlight.
FAIRYHOUSE: 1.55 Level Neverending, 2.30 Poli Roi, 3.05 Feyan, 3.40 Fox Watch, 4.15 Belle Metal, 4.50 Mighty Tom, 5.25 Oakroom Lady.
HAYDOCK: 2.09 Peltwell, 2.44 Isolate, 3.19 Zabeel Champion, 3.52 Bavington Bob, 4.29 Go Chique, 5.01 Molly Carew, 5.34 Sigurd.
LINGFIELD: 4.25 Charming Paradise, 4.55 Strike, 5.30 Knebworth, 6.00 Run Forrest Run, 6.30 Touchwood, 7.00 Miss Sligo, 7.30 Forge Valley Lad.
MUSSELBURGH: 1.32 Last Hoorah, 2.04 Zip, 2.39 Zarzyni, 3.14 Sir Rumi, 3.47 Miss Jungle Cat, 4.22 Khabib, 4.57 Pallas Lord.
NEWBURY: 1.50 Thunderous, 2.25 WILD BEAUTY (NAP), 3.00 Lusail, 3.35 Rogue Bear, 4.10 My Prospero, 4.45 Morghom, 5.20 Lionel, 5.55 Random Harvest.
NEWTON ABBOT: 12.30 Knappers Hill, 1.00 Mr Mafia, 1.37 Morfee, 2.14 Forget You Not, 2.49 San Giovanni, 3.24 Le Tueur, 3.59 Lady Reset, 4.34 Folly Gate.
NOTTINGHAM: 5.07 Amasova, 5.40 True Statesman, 6.15 Aimeric, 6.45 Solanna, 7.15 Cliffcake, 7.45 Crush And Run.
DOUBLE: Wild Beauty and Bavington Bob.