Soft ground forecast at Newbury for this evening’s seven-race card and I hope they go a good clip in the 11f handicap which should suit Amanda Perrett’s Suns Up Guns Up (5.00). The recommendation – 3s with Boylesports – often compromises his chance with a slow start but has been knocking on the door in recent starts as he looks to add to his polytrack win at Kempton. Jockey Adam Farragher has yet to ride a winner under rules but finished runner up at Newmarket on Saturday beaten just a neck. I hope he can go one better today.
Duke Of Condicote (6.30) finished runner up to Opera Gift at Yarmouth back in October when he had no less than Aaddeey back in third. The winner is now rated 19lbs higher while the selection can race from the same mark. Alan King was out of luck at Ascot last week but has his string in very good form and Duke Of Condicote put behind a disappointing run when runner up at Doncaster last time on ground, arguably, faster than ideal. There is 11/2 available on Tuesday morning but he is into 7/2 with MansionBet.
Richard Hannon’s Mark Of Gold is unbeaten on soft ground – two from two – and can race from the same mark as when scoring at Haydock back in September. He represents a big danger as does the handicap debutant Navegaon Gate who is bred to be smart although he must improve on what he has shown so far to take a hand from his opening mark.
At Beverley there is a cracking 10f handicap and Puckle will appreciate the drop back to this distance having seemed a non stayer over Carlisle’s stiff 11f trip last time. Mark Johnston’s filly has been very busy of late, however, and this will be her fourth run in June. She is also 4lbs worse off with Regal Mirage (3.30) for the 2L she was behind the selection over today’s C&D back in April.
Tim Easterby’s 7-y-old – 3s with William Hill – finished behind Majalaat at Pontefract at the end of April but can reverse the form on 4lbs better terms. The selection has won four times at today’s track although all have been from lower marks. That said he has looked better than ever, despite his advancing years, so far this term and he should have the race run to suit with old adversary Majalaat likely to go forward.
There is a listed fillies and mares contest at Ayr which looks Keep Busy’s to lose but she has been put in at a shade of odds on and she only ran a week ago when a close fifth in the King’s Stand Stakes.
Of more interest is the 1m 5f handicap and Three Castles travelled supremely well and looked sure to win for most of
the home straight before fading close home over 1m 7f here last time. This drop back in trip should suit but the each way vote goes to Four Kingdoms (4.20) who bounced back to something like his best form when runner up at Hamilton last time from a 2lbs lower mark.
The ew selection – 14s with BetVictor – is a C&D winner and has his optimum underfoot conditions. His best form is, arguably, giving weight to inferior animals but he has run well in class 4 events in the past and gets the vote ahead of top-weight Wise Eagle who has won four of his last five starts and has only been raised a pound for scoring at Musselburgh last time.
