Good ground forecast at Newmarket for the second day of their Cambridgeshire meeting and I am disappointed to see Baby Alya run in the listed Rosemary Stakes as I can see her running very well and taking a big hike in the weights as a result. I am convinced she is well handicapped off a mark of 77 but connections obviously want to try and get some black type. She does have two stone to find on official figures, however.
Albaflora (2.25) was no match for Snowfall in the Yorkshire Oaks last month, but she is taken to go one better although she is another who is not yet proven on fast ground – good is ideal. The filly has raced mostly on soft ground so far this term, but she ran near to a personal best on the Knavesmire, and she has a good record under Rossa Ryan. The times on the Rowley Mile on Thursday suggested the ground was fast – irrespective of the offcial description – and that is the only negative for the selection.
The form of Majestic Glory’s impressive (3.00) Sweet Solara Stakes victory on the July course last month was given a huge boost when the second Wild Beauty ran away with a Grade 1 at Woodbine at the weekend. Wild Beauty promised to be suited by the step up to a mile but at todays 7f trip she was readily put in her place by the selection who showed an impressive turn of foot under David Probert.
The filly has changed ownership in the interim period and will run in the colours of Mrs Doreen Tabor today and Ryan Moore as a result takes over in the saddle. There was 7/2 available when betting opened which was attractive and the filly is a best price of 5/2 with 10Bet at the time of posting.
The Group 2 Joel Stakes is a fascinating clash between the 2000 Guineas runner up Master Of The Seas and Benbatl (3.35) who won this corresponding race in 2019 and finished third behind Guineas winner Kameko 12 months ago.
Master Of The Seas only went down by a short head to Poetic Flare over today’s C&D back in the spring but, apart from the winner, it was not a vintage renewal of the colts’ classic, and the Charlie Appleby colt has been put in short enough in the betting.
Benbatl – 3s with Boylesports – should have made a winning reappearance in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood but gave away about four lengths at the start. That was the first time the gelding has shown such a tendency from the boxes, and it certainly took Oisin Murphy by surprise. The champion jockey will be ready for such an eventuality this afternoon.
Lockerbie (1.00) is taken to make a winning handicap debut at Haydock for William Haggas stepping up in distance to an extended 10f. The filly has plenty of stamina on the dam’s side and looked ready for a step up in trip when a staying on third at Ripon last time over a mile. The selection runs in the colours of the trainer’s father and is certainly bred to be better than a 70-rated horse.
Third Kingdom (3.50) sweated up badly prerace and was beaten before he went into the stalls at Newcastle last time. He is worth another chance in York’s mile handicap for the classic generation. His previous run on tapeta over that stiff mile suggested he was well treated at present, and I hope the return to turf – and first-time blinkers works the oracle for the Gosdens’ colt. The 4s with William Hill is about right.
At Worcester Bleue Away is interesting on her chase debut but Makety (3.27) is entitled to come on for her own chase debut when run out of it close home over C&D ten weeks ago. The selection – 3s with Mansion Bet – was no great shakes over hurdles but is a winner between the flags and can run from the same mark today.
