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Newbury is one of seven fixtures on Friday across the UK and Ireland, featuring the Listed St Hugh’s Stakes for juveniles.
Owen Burrows' Miaharris heads the current market, having made a pleasing impression when taking a Sandown five-furlong contest by three-and-a-quarter lengths. The filly was held up by Jim Crowley, but the result never looked in doubt as she breezed past the field with a furlong to run. A half-sister to the Grade 2 placed Bletchley, the daughter of Zoustar has a nice pedigree to match her ability.
It is an opportunity for the experienced fillies to gain a valuable Listed win and Karl Burke's Dorothy Lawrence fits into that category. She has been on the track since mid-April, finishing second behind subsequent Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes winner Persian Dreamer and has produced some excellent placed form since. The daughter of Soldier's Call added some valuable Black Type when third in the Listed Prix la Fleche at Chantilly and returned to winning ways with a neck success at Ayr. That form puts her firmly in the mix for back-to-back victories.
Owners Amo Racing continue to fire out winners with alarming speed and they have enjoyed an excellent season with their juveniles, operating at a 20% strike rate for two-year-olds on turf. The unbeaten Majestic Beauty will represent the owners and trainer Alice Haynes, who has defeated two small fields in good fashion. She won by two-and-a-half lengths on debut at Catterick and had to work a little harder at Musselburgh subsequently, doing enough to beat Cover Point by a head. She will have learnt plenty from the experience and a big performance is expected.
WIN: DOROTHY LAWRENCE
There is a mix of more experienced fillies and debutantes in the 6f Class 4 BetVictor British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (2:05). Experience is expected to be an advantage in a large field and Richard Hannon's Bourgeoisie appears capable of a bold bid. Fifth behind subsequent Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes winner Sacred Angel on debut, Bourgeoisie has finished runner-up twice since, including over seven furlongs at Newmarket on the July course. She was only beaten half-a-length at the line and the return to six furlongs is expected to be a positive, having only been defeated by a nose at Newbury prior.
In the 1m Class 4 Benny Hutchins Memorial EBF Maiden Stakes (2:40), City Burglar appeals at current odds of 9/2. He looked a little inexperienced on debut when slow at the start and the colt hung right in the closing stages before staying on for a well-beaten fifth. The form has been given a boost with winner Arabian Crown scoring in a Listed race at Salisbury on Wednesday. As a son of Cracksman, the colt should improve for the step up to a mile and the yard is in excellent form with a strike rate of 34% from last fourteen days.
Invincible Tiger is capable of going back-to-back in the 6f Class 4 TPT Fire Nursery Handicap (3:15). The James Tate-trained filly has improved with each run to date, placing second at Hamilton Park over five furlongs on her second start. She had to fight hard to secure a short head win at Bath subsequently over five-and-a-half furlongs and the daughter of Invincible Army is expected to appreciate the longer trip.
RACE 1 – BOURGEOISIE
RACE 2 – CITY BURGLAR
RACE 3 – INVINCIBLE TIGER
RACE 4 – DOROTHY LAWRENCE
RACE 5 – FLYING SECRET
RACE 6 – ETON BLU