3 minute read
Yibir can get a big weekend for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin up and running when he goes in the Betfair Exchange Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket on Friday.
The Moulton Paddocks handler, along with big-race jockey William Buick, have made a fine start to the season and look set for more Group level honours in this one-mile-four-furlong contest on the Rowley Mile.
The six-times winner emerged victorious four times in his three-year-old season, firstly capturing the Bahrain Trophy and Great Voltigeur on home soil, before striking twice overseas in the Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes at Belmont and then at the Breeders' Cup.
That final Del Mar success in the Breeders' Cup Turf marked him out as one of finest operators at this distance and although tasting defeat when sent off the 7-2 favourite for the Dubai Sheema Classic on his first run of 2022, it does little to sway the opinion Yibir will take plenty of beating.
The Dubawi gelding is 11lb clear of his opposition on official figures and is backed to put on an impressive display before tougher challenges later in the season.
Before that Charlie Appleby and Buick team up with the four-timer seeking Nations Pride in the Listed Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Newmarket Stakes, although the value in the race may lie with Roger Varian's Subastar, who made a winning debut at HQ last autumn.
Although the second Dawn Of Liberation slightly let down the form in the Feilden Stakes, the race has been full of winners, with the third Symbol Of Light winning three on the spin since while the fourth, Magisterial, has been on the board at both Haydock and Leicester in his next two appearances.
Elsewhere at HQ, Wizard D'amour registered the success his consistency deserved at Catterick last time and has a fine chance of following up under a 5lb penalty in the Betfair Daily Rewards Handicap, while Harry Davies' 7lb claim can be put to good use aboard Carolus Magnus in the concluding Daily Tips On Betting.Betfair Handicap.
Andrew Balding's four-year-old is only 5lb higher than when scoring over track and trip last season and was beaten less than two lengths here on his seasonal bow during the Craven meeting.
Tuscan can forward his Royal Ascot claims by following up his recent Newmarket win in the British Stallion Studs EBF Conditions Stakes at Goodwood.
Charlie Hills' son of Churchill put his experience to good use to down a well-regarded favourite of John and Thady Gosden over seven furlongs, bouncing back well from a disappointing finish to his two-year-old campaign.
It could be a similar story as he steps up to a mile here and a streetwise performance could be enough to see off some interesting prospects, with the Jersey Stakes a possible target.
Silence Please is an intriguing contender as she makes her debut for Andrew Balding in the British Stallion Studs EBF Daisy Warwick Fillies' Stakes.
Previously trained by Jessica Harrington in Ireland, the five-year-old ran well in a number of Group races last year without success and her mark of 103 makes her the pick on the ratings, with good ground and easier company other positives.
Also on the Sussex Downs it may be worth taking a chance on Raasel getting back to winning ways in the William Hill Pick Your Places Handicap. Mick Appleby's five-year-old won five in a row at the back end of last season and was not disgraced when blowing away the cobwebs at Musselburgh earlier this month.
The first lady of racing, Honeysuckle, is the star attraction on day four of the Punchestown Festival as she looks for back-to-back victories in the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle.
Henry de Bromhead's unbeaten mare would have to run well under par to suffer her first defeat in what should be a straightforward task for the dual Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winner.
There could be a fascinating contest in store in the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle over just short of two and a half miles.
Three Stripe Life proved he is the most consistent of operators when landing the Grade One victory he deserved at Aintree, but may have to give way to State Man, who was a real blot on the handicap when winning the County Hurdle with plenty in hand and is now given the chance to make his mark in Grade One company.
SELECTIONS:
CHELTENHAM: 4.40 Envious Editor, 5.15 Latenightfumble, 5.50 Fixe Le Kap, 6.25 Mighty Stowaway, 7.00 Kalabaloo, 7.35 Shantou Flyer, 8.10 Cousin Pascal.
GOODWOOD: 1.30 Tuscan, 2.05 Rocket Rodney, 2.40 Raasel, 3.15 Silence Please, 3.50 Twilight Madness, 4.25 Zoom, 5.00 Saratoga Gold.
NEWCASTLE: 5.05 Parikarma, 5.35 Francesco Clemente, 6.10 Ghost Rider, 6.45 Golden Voice, 7.20 King's Knight, 7.55 Red Zone, 8.30 Mutabaahy.
NEWMARKET: 1.15 Dramatised, 1.50 SUBASTAR (NAP), 2.25 Ribhi, 3.00 Wizard D'amour, 3.35 Yibir, 4.10 Picual, 4.45 Carolus Magnus.
PUNCHESTOWN: 3.40 Jezarus, 4.15 French Dynamite, 4.50 Elimay, 5.25 Honeysuckle, 6.00 State Man, 6.35 Billaway, 7.10 El Fabiolo, 7.45 O'Moore Park.
WOLVERHAMPTON: 1.00 Headora, 1.40 General Sago, 2.15 Gherkin, 2.50 Strategic Fortune, 3.25 Three Start, 4.00 Captain Kane, 4.35 Lopes Dancer.
DOUBLE: Subastar and Carolus Magnus.
