The listed Upavon Stakes is the feature race on Salisbury’s nine-race card this afternoon and there is the prospect of heavy showers hitting the track throughout Wednesday and on raceday although, at the time of writing, conditions remain good to firm.
Three-year-olds have won three of the last five renewals of the race and it would be no surprise to see Award Scheme maintain her progress and land the hat-trick. The William Haggas trained filly was hugely impressive at Yarmouth last time and looks sure to go close as she steps up in class. The selection has yet to race on anything other than fast ground on turf, however, and marginal preference is for Roger Varian’s Gold Wand (2.20).
The selection – 7s into 4s at William Hill on Wednesday afternoon – bounced back from a moderate run in the Oaks – failed to stay – to finish second at York in this grade dropped back to today’s 10f trip, and she ran a very good race on heavy ground when runner up at Doncaster on debut. The winner of that race – Domino Darling – has yet to see the track this summer but note she is entered to run at Windsor on Monday.
Without A Fight (3.20) showed a willing attitude to score at Redcar over 10f last time and he is taken to follow up as he steps up in trip to a-mile-and-a-half for his handicap debut. That success was gained on fast ground but there was a bit of give underfoot when he finished a promising third at Newbury on debut. The selection is 6/4 at bet365.
There is only 5lbs between the five runners and all have realistic chances with Andrew Balding’s Gold Heart considered the main danger to the Crisford runner who was gelded before he saw the track.
Willy Nilly (4.55) made all at Bath to break his maiden tag last time and he is well drawn in stall one to follow up under a 5lbs penalty for Clive Cox this afternoon. The first and fourth home in that Bath race are subsequent winners and, granted decent ground., I will be disappointed if the lightly raced selection does not go close for his inform yard and 3/1 with 10bet is a fair price.
Soft ground at Hamilton and Credible (2.40) can make it third time lucky in the 6f maiden for Richard Fahey. The filly is a daughter of Pivotal so should appreciate the give underfoot and her neck second to the promising Muker on debut is very good form. The combination of 5f and fast ground saw her have to settle for second place at Doncaster again last time, but today’s additional furlong should see her in a better light and she was trading at Even money with bet365 on Wednesday evening.
In the listed Vinnie Roe Stakes at Leopardstown the Irish Derby third Dawn Patrol (3.30) can follow up his recent facile maiden success at Naas. The colt did not get the best of runs when third in the classic at the Curragh and gave every impression he would appreciate a step up in distance. This looks an ideal stepping-stone to the St Leger at Doncaster next month for the colt who is a best priced Evens.
