A decent card at Windsor this afternoon and I am surprised that Adam Kirby is not aboard Bayar (2.50) who is set to carry 9st for Clive Cox in the 3-year-old handicap. Kirby has ridden at 9st 2lbs recently but his lowest weight in the last 12 months is 9st and that is perhaps the reason he doesn’t keep the ride on the selection who stayed on well, having met trouble in running, at Lingfield on his handicap debut earlier in the month.
This is his turf debut today and it is likely he will get further in time, but I thought he looked well treated on polytrack last time and gets the each way nod.
Sea Trout Reach (3.50) has been gelded since finishing fifth in a hot Novice event at Salisbury when last seen back in September on what was just his second start. He had previously finished runner up to Ralph Beckett’s Wycliff at Doncaster and Beckett saddles the filly Calatrava who was beaten 7L when second at Chelmsford earlier in the month. This will be the fastest ground Sea Trout Reach has encountered but I thought he shaped like a sure-fire future winner on both starts last season.
The 10f three-year-old handicap is a cracker and I am loath to desert Amir Kabir who did us a favour when scoring at Wolverhampton over an extended mile last time from a 5lbs lower mark. This step up in trip ought to suit, but Chichester (4.50) got going far too late at Lingfield on his reappearance when slowly away from a poor draw. If Louis Steward can get this son of Dansili out on terms, then I will be disappointed if he does not run a big race. He was put in at 5/1 by William Hill on Sunday morning but that was quickly snapped up and, at the time of writing, he was trading at 10/3.
Surrey Pride was a fluent winner at Bath on his second start last autumn, but I wonder if he will need softer ground to be seen at his best. I am convinced this race will throw up plenty of winners in the weeks and months to come.
At Yarmouth Alnaseem (3.00) has been raised 3lbs for finishing second at Windsor last time on just her second start for James Ferguson. The filly won on fast ground for her previous yard last season and she remains open to further improvement. William Buick takes over in the saddle.
If Twist Of Hay (6.00) can get away on terms, then I believe she is favourably treated from an opening mark of 69 for Michael Dods at Thirsk in their 6f handicap for three-year-olds. The selection was no match for Art Power at Newcastle on her reappearance, but that form was franked when the winner bolted up at Royal Ascot. At 11/2 with William Hill she gets the each way vote.
A great weekend for Aidan O’Brien who saddled the first four home in the Irish Derby and his Dawn Rising (3.40) looks sure to appreciate the step up to 12f at Limerick having got going too late when a never nearer fourth at the Curragh on his reappearance over 10f. By Galileo, the selection is a brother to last year’s Irish Derby hero Sovereign, and he looks another smart middle distance/staying prospect for the yard.