1.50 Newbury – Sons And Lovers EW
Sons And Lovers is a horse I’ve been following for a while, as I do think he’s capable of winning a race of this nature. He’s been brought along slowly this season by Jane Chapple-Hyam, and he was last seen finishing sixth in the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot. I just think the ground was a bit quick for him that day, and he’ll prefer a bit of ease in it. If you go back to the time before when he finished third at Sandown, he made some late headway when the ground was testing. With the wet weather we’ve had this week, I think the conditions will be in his favour in what looks like an open race.
2.25 Newbury – Kyle Of Lochalsh (Win)
Kyle Of Lochalsh has been improving rapidly through the handicap ranks this season and he ran superbly well to finish third at Royal Ascot. The handicapper has raised him 2lb for that effort, but there could be a lot more to come from him. He’s won at Newbury before and seems to handle most types of ground. I think he’s got a great chance to get his head back in front here.
3.00 Newbury – Lake Forest (Win)
This is very open, but I thought Lake Forest ran a cracker on his seasonal return to finish second in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. He flew home in the final furlong and he suggested that he might come on for the run. The only blips that have come in his career to date have come when he’s run at Newmarket, and he’s either won or come second everywhere else he’s been. If they do hard here I can see him running on well and with the three-year-old allowance he might be able to pick up the pieces.
3.35 Newbury – Caburn EW
All kinds of horses can win this race, but I like the profile of Caburn for Jack Jones. He won well on his racecourse debut at Salisbury after attracting some late-market support. That form was boosted as the second-placed horse bolted up at Chester last week. The son of Twilight Son has some fancy entries over the next few months, and if he were to win this, then we will likely see him at the major summer racing festivals.
2.05 Market Rasen – Flying Fortune (Each Way)
I thought there was a lot to like about the performance of Flying Fortune at Uttoxeter last time out, when she ran on well to finish second. She is now switching back into handicap company, and I do think there is scope on her current mark of 109. The ground should be fine, and with Peter and Michael Bowen’s horses in good form, I can see her being there or thereabouts.
2.40 Market Rasen – Manuelito (Each Way)
It’s great to see a competitive race, but I am just going to take a chance on Manuelito for David Pipe. This four-year-old is still relatively unexposed over hurdles, and he won very comfortably when last seen under National Hunt rules at Ffos Las. Since then, he has run on the Flat where he bumped into a progressive rival at Carlisle on ground that was probably softer than ideal. Coming back onto better ground looks to be a positive, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was still ahead of his mark.
3.15 Market Rasen – Francky Du Berlais (Each Way)
I’ve been a follower of this horse for quite some time now, and I’m going to give him one more chance here. The 11-year-old gelding has been a great servant for connections, and in his last two runs, he’s shown he’s still got the ability. On both of those outings, he’s worn cheekpieces, and he seems to have reacted well to them. He won this race two years ago off an 8lb higher mark, so he’s well handicapped on that form. I can see him rolling back the years and going close in this year’s renewal.
