13:40 – Jez Bomb
14:10 – Caspi Star
14:45 – Nala Star
15:20 – Emaraaty Ana
15:55 – Macarone
16:30 – Capital Guarantee
17:02 – It Just Takes Time
17:37 – Edvard Grieg
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Raised just 1 lb for his recent success on the all-weather, JEZ BOMB looks the way to go, assuming that the free-going Olympicus ensures a decent pace.
Sam England’s hold-up performer is equally effective on turf, performing with credit on both previous visits here, and his credentials are rock-solid after two wins from his last four starts.
An on-song Just Hiss would have a real chance off this mark despite his advancing years, while the in-form Dr Rio is also likely to be in the thick of things given his good course record.
Though a €100,000 purchase, CASPI STAR failed to land a blow on her introduction in a soft-ground Goodwood novice. Being well-backed ahead of that Class 2 event suggests that she has been showing the right signs at home.
The Camelot filly is likely to prove a different proposition with that run under her belt and now racing on better ground; her dam won on good and yielding. Misty Memories made an encouraging start to his career at Ffos Las.
This half-brother to strong stayer Buyer Beware is the second choice ahead of York third Springbok and interesting newcomers The Trickster and Rogue Diplomat. The greater emphasis on stamina should suit the stoutly-bred Divine Legacy.
A race in which the market has tended to get things right, with two of the last three renewals won by warm favourites and the other by a 7/2 shot. The vote goes to proven winner NALA STAR, who followed her Catterick maiden success with a near-miss in a Bath nursery ten days ago.
She looks rock-solid in the context of this race and is taken to see off Carlisle third Maddelina and the tongue-tied Pearly Squirrel, both of whom are open to improvement. Monetize, who is from a successful family, also has each-way claims having progressed from first to second start when third at Newcastle last time out.
EMARAATY ANA, who won a local Group 3 Dukhan Sprint at Doha in February, went close in the Beverley Bullet over C&D three weeks ago and could be hard to beat if replicating that effort on these terms now down in grade.
Clarendon House is the class rival and would have a good chance of conceding weight all-round at his best, but has been having real trouble at the start this season; a visor is applied in the hope it will aid his focus.
Tees Spirit has done his winning all over but is clearly at home on an uphill finish. With wins over C&D and at Sandown amongst his eight, he rates more of a threat from the front than the long-absent King of Stars, for whom the market should help guide.
Two-time winner MACARONE, fitted with cheekpieces for the first time, has slipped in the weights and could be set to resume winning ways, having scored in a nursery here last year.
Brighton scorer Marching Mac (declared to run at Wolverhampton on Monday), Musical Diva – who is yet to win on turf in 10 starts but has some solid near misses to her name – and recent Newcastle winner Blue Force are other likely contenders.
Watch the market for clues about the chance of Sacred Melody, who shaped with some promise on her first start for Ruth Carr earlier this month.
CAPITAL GUARANTEE, who recorded a hat-trick last summer, strikes as a well-handicapped sort following last week’s second at Thirsk when doing too much too soon having been well-backed.
Representing an in-form yard, he looks set for another big run off the same mark. Bottom-weight Captain Corelli bids for a four-timer and isn’t penalised for his Redcar victory, so has to be feared despite the rise in class.
At the same time, Legend of Leros has dropped to a very tempting mark and would be interesting if the ground softens. Ugo Gregory could run well from the front at a price as he could get an uncontested lead.
The well-treated IT JUST TAKES TIME won on his last run over C&D and arrives in good form, having his first go over 7f for a while.
In the hope that he can see off fellow front-runners Paladin and Overlooked in the early stages, he gets the vote over Magical Merlin, who bounced back to form at Chepstow last month, and the very well-treated C&D winner Princess Alex in a competitive contest.
Having joined a shrewd yard that is going places, EDVARD GRIEG surpassed his Irish form at the first attempt for new connections when second at Nottingham a month ago and from the same mark, a very bold bid to go one place better is on the cards.
After wins at Chelmsford and Musselburgh, Hardman chases a hat-trick over this intermediate trip, so he demands respect under a 6 lb penalty, with recent Salisbury runner-up Claxton Bay also of interest. With the cheekpieces reapplied in place of the blinkers, Inspiring Speeches looks the pick of the rest.
13:40 – Jez Bomb
14:10 – Caspi Star
14:45 – Nala Star
15:20 – Emaraaty Ana
15:55 – Macarone
16:30 – Capital Guarantee
17:02 – It Just Takes Time
17:37 – Edvard Grieg
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
The latest racing odds are on PaddyPower.com now
