April 17 – Newbury – Holguin – 88
Some of the better two-year-olds are beginning to emerge and there’s no doubt this has to be one of Andrew Balding’s top notchers based on the speed figure he posted first time out. The way he travelled throughout a strongly run affair suggested he knew his job and then when asked to go and win his race at the furlong pole, he found the necessary turn of foot to seal the deal. On the evidence of this display an extra furlong wouldn’t go amiss and having exhibited similar traits to last season’s Coventry winner Berkshire Shadow, the same race at the Royal meeting looks the obvious target for this son of Havana Grey.
April 18 – Kempton – Maljoom – 98
William Haggas has introduced some pretty smart three-year-olds to the fray so far this season and this son of Caravaggio is arguably the pick of the bunch. Up against the strongly-fancied Saga at the Sunbury venue, the lightly-raced type proved the market to be all wrong with the way he went past his main rival in the later stages and everything about the performance in terms of the overall time and backend sectionals suggest he is a pattern race horse in the making.
April 20 – Salisbury – Kaasib – 89
Having shaped well on debut, Clive Cox’s colt was a warm order to deliver the goods at the second time of asking and he could not have been any more impressive in justifying 1-2 favouritism. Tracking the strong pace set by Democracy Dilemma, the son of U S Navy Flag showed a smart turn of foot to overhaul the front runner inside the final furlong and he only had to be nudged out close home to establish a commanding advantage. Sharp enough for the minimum trip but the type to do just as well over further, there will be plenty of options for him going forward, none more so than at the Royal meeting.
April 21 – Beverley – Primrose Ridge – 89
Having finished runner-up on her two previous starts and drawn stall 14 of 14, there were many willing to stand against Daryll Holland’s filly at a short price, but those that did were in for a rude awakening as defied the doubters with a performance of some class. Breaking well from the outside gate, the daughter of Aclaim soon negated the draw and once establishing early command, she steadily drew clear of her rivals inside the final two furlongs. Clearly very pacey, the Queen Mary would seem the logical choice for a juvenile going places in a rush.
April 23 – Navan – New York City – 98
Still a maiden stepping into this season despite tacking Group company as a two-year-old, Aidan O’Brien’s colt is really beginning to make waves as a sprinter and this performance was by some way his best so far to date. On the engine throughout, the son of Invincible Spirit stayed on extremely strongly to turn away his better-fancied stable mate late on and on this evidence, he looks ready for something a good deal tougher further down the line.
April 23 – Boardman – Haydock – 99
Having caught the eye first time out this season, Tim Easterby’s gelding proved a popular choice despite the competitive nature of the race and as it turned out, those who took part in the gamble were absolutely spot on. Held up towards the race of what turned out to be a very strongly run affair, the six-year-old found a smart turn of foot inside the final furlong to get up close home and in doing so, he posted a career high effort on the figures. A smooth traveller who likes to be covered up before being delivered with a late run, one would imagine all roads lead to Chester’s May meeting in a bid to land the extended seven furlong handicap for the second season in a row.