Our ambassador Hollie Doyle has three rides at Southwell on Saturday evening, live on Sky Sports Racing, and looks ahead to next week’s Feilden Stakes at Newmarket with Archie Watson’s exciting colt Wareeth.
Form boosts give Appleby sprinter a great chance
Mick Appleby’s Ambishio must have a great chance of supplementing his recent course and distance win when he returns to Southwell on Saturday night for the Country & Western Night 25th April Handicap (6.15pm).
This speedy son of Australian sprint ace Kuroshio turned over a new leaf after being gelded when he made every yard of the running on his re-appearance in January, beating a subsequent winner who has gone on to achieve a rating of 96.
The former Champion All-Weather Trainer has given him more time since that impressive performance which was given another timely boost when the fifth Call Margot won at the track on Thursday.
Out to repeat Newcastle win on Fircombe
Phil Kirby has old Fircombe Hall in terrific form with two wins in his last three starts so I’m looking forward to jumping back on him in the Come Racing For Free 18th June Handicap (8.15) at Southwell.
I won on the chestnut at Newcastle a couple of years ago and it’s great to see he retains all his old enthusiasm with those six furlong wins at Wolverhampton in March.
Crucially, we have a good draw in stall two and a 3lbs rise for his latest success in an amateur riders’ race shouldn’t be a problem in this 0-55 grade. The main danger could be Kevin Frost’s course and distance winner Piperstown, who is on the same mark as Fircombe Hall following his win at Wolverhampton last month.
Wide draw a doubt for Thomas
Thomas Equinas is well handicapped on his old form but needs to improve on his four performances so far this year when he runs in the Conference & Events At Southwell Racecourse Handicap (7.15) at Southwell.
Dean Ivory’s seven-year-old knows how to win on the All-Weather – he’s done that five times – and is 5lbs below his last winning mark. However, a wide draw in stall 10 isn’t ideal over this seven furlongs.
Derby hope Wareeth has Feilden date
Next Wednesday will be a big day for my boss Archie Watson’s exciting colt Wareeth, who has been entered in the Listed bet365 Feilden Stakes (2.25) at Newmarket’s Craven Meeting.
Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum’s son of Sea The Stars has been destined for a Classic trial ever since his hugely impressive debut in a mile Newcastle novice last month when we drew clear of his rivals to score by 14 lengths. That performance confirmed what we thought and he felt fresh and well when I put him through his paces in Lambourn on Wednesday morning.
Stepping up to 9f in the Feilden should be ideal at this stage and if the Derby dream is still alive this time next week he could head to the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York on May 14.
Proud to ride my 70th Hambleton winner
Riding my 70th winner in the familiar gold and navy blue silks of Hambleton Racing on Monday was a proud day for me.
Elements Of Fire’s convincing win at Wolverhampton made it three out of three for the syndicate and trainer Archie Watson since being bought out of John and Thady Gosden’s yard for just 32,000 gns at the autumn sales.
Hopefully he can add to the tally on turf in the coming weeks and put his name up in lights alongside my unforgettable first Group 1 winner Glen Shiel and heroic Pattern performers Outbox and Tempus, to name just three.
Remarkably, the four-year-old’s win was Archie’s 114th winner for Hambleton Racing and we’re now looking forward to possibly dropping him back to six furlongs at Ascot next month.
Don’t Panic! Skeltons have the key to the National
It’s been 75 years since a mare won the Randox Grand National but I’m hoping Dan Skelton’s Panic Attack can emulate Nickel Coin’s achievement at Aintree on Saturday (4.00).
Panic Attack is Hollie Doyle’s selection for the Grand National
She’s been a revelation this season, winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the Coral Gold Cup in the autumn and then running a lovely race in defeat at the Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. With just 10st 5lbs on her back, I think she can give Harry Skelton the ride of a lifetime.
I’ve also got a hunch that Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero’s IROKO can carry the famous JP McManus silks with distinction. He was found to be under the weather at Cheltenham last month but don’t forget how he ran on to be fourth in last year’s National.
