Our ambassador Hollie Doyle reveals her thoughts on the key races at Newcastle and Chester on Saturday, including the Northumberland Plate – live on Sky Sports Racing – and highlights her horses to follow on a Classic weekend in Ireland.
‘Rehab’ continues at Oaksey House
As I continue my recovery from a broken left leg, my main priority has been to get the swelling down in my foot, which isn’t easy in this hot weather.
The boot I was fitted with last week has been left off to give my wounds a chance to dry up and heal and the physiotherapy sessions at Oaksey House in Lambourn have given me more flexion in my ankle.
I’ve also been working out in the gym every day, doing as much exercise as I can that doesn’t involve my left leg. It’s slow progress and I still have no idea of timescales, but everything seems to be moving in the right direction.
Thunder can storm home in Plate
As usual, I’ll be glued to the television to enjoy some fantastic action on Sky Sports Racing this weekend, including the Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate (3.15) – a race I won on the gallant Trueshan four years ago.
It’s a tough race to win, never mind under the welter burden of 10st 8lbs that he carried to that momentous victory. You need luck and talent in equal measure and with a clear passage I expect Roger Varian’s young stayer Ride The Thunder to go well.
Nicely drawn in stall seven, he’s entitled to come on for his re-appearance at Hamilton, his first run since being gelded. It’s a big step up but he’s lightly raced and open to enough improvement to take advantage of an attractive mark.
Ian Williams does well in big handicaps like this and Dancing In Paris is out to go one better than his neck defeat to Spirit Mixer in this race 12 months ago. Once again, he’s been blessed with a low draw and will strip fitter for his run at Epsom earlier this month.
My good friend Alan King, who trained Trueshan, wouldn’t be sending Blazeon Five all the way to Tyneside if he didn’t expect a bold show so this mare may well out-run big odds under Callum Rodriguez. Effective on the All-Weather, she stays well and ran an encouraging race at Newbury last time off the same mark.
I believe in King’s Vase contender
Alan King also holds a strong chance in the Plate’s consolation race, the Jenningsbet Festival Northumberland Vase Handicap (2.40), with the progressive Believitanducan.
This five-year-old looks well handicapped despite his penalty following back-to-back wins over two miles at Ascot and Chester and has run well on the All-Weather at Kempton Park. He’s a plum ride for top jockey William Buick.
An obvious danger is Andrew Balding’s Shrimp Shady who has run well in valuable handicaps on turf since taking a mile and three quarters race on Tapeta at Wolverhampton in March. His win in the Chester Plate shows he has the stamina and durability for a race like this, but he shoulders a big weight.
Harry can follow up in Chipchase
Diligent Harry can enhance his already remarkable record on the All-Weather by claiming his 11th success in the Group Three Jenningsbet Chipchase Stakes (2.10) – a race he won last year.
Clive Cox’s gelding is eight now but showed no signs of slowing down when notching two Listed wins on synthetics over the winter. Since then, his close fourth in the Group Two Minster Stakes at York in May has confirmed him in fine form.
Andrew Balding’s Marvelman bolted up in last season’s Group Two Park Stakes at Doncaster and is one from one on the All-Weather, so must go well, too. Rest assured that Andrew will have him spot on despite a four-month break.
At a bigger price, I’d like to see Noble Champion get back to the sort of level that saw him with last season’s Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. He should have sharpened up for his comeback run and gives me the impression he will enjoy dropping back to this stiff six-furlongs.
Hannon mare set for second Listed success
Over at Chester, Richard Hannon’s Circe has been found a golden opportunity to gain a second consecutive Listed success in the Queen Charlotte Fillies’ Stakes (3.33).
This lovely mare came back from a six-month break to win over seven furlongs at Musselburgh and is well enough drawn in stall one to overcome her penalty under the excellent Sean Levey.
George Scott’s Forty Years On looked good over that trip at Newbury and is similarly well drawn but needs to improve again to win this better race. She’s done her winning on straight tracks so must also overcome a contrasting test around this turning track.
Dangers to Oaks heroine lurking in Pretty Polly
Joseph O’Brien’s Oaks heroine Thundering On sets a high standard in the Group One Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes (3.55) at The Curragh on Saturday – but dangers are lurking!
David O’Meara’s grey mare Estrange goes in search of her first top level win after finishing second in two Group Ones last season and will benefit from any forecast rain. She tuned up with another Pattern success at Carlisle when she looked as good as ever.
An outsider to watch is Ed Walker’s Qilin Queen, a filly I won a Listed race on at Newbury last year. Since then, she’s added a Group Two in France to her CV and wasn’t disgraced behind Arc winner Daryz on her re-appearance last month.
Curragh test ideal for Braddock
Like most racing fans, I can’t wait to see Benvenuto Cellini put his reputation back on the line in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (4.35) at The Curragh on Sunday following his controversial ‘non-runner’ verdict at Epsom.
He was building a tall reputation until that stalls incident in the English version curtailed his progress, but this looks an ideal platform for him to justify the faith that Aidan O’Brien has put in the colt this year.
I’m sweet on Joseph O’Brien’s runner James J Braddock, who was third at Epsom despite proving a handful before the race. This will be a relatively calmer occasion, and I expect him to be well enough suited by a mile and a half at this track to run another big figure.
Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.
