BALDING’S CHANCE COULD COME HERE
RUNNERS have been disappearing from today’s Betfred Hungerford Stakes quicker than Australia Test batsmen from the crease, but the deteriorating underfoot conditions should be no problem for HERE COMES WHEN (Newbury, 3.45).
Andrew Balding’s charge drops back in trip for this afternoon’s Group Two, but yesterday’s racing looked hard work and his confirmed stamina at a mile appears a huge positive. The loss of front-runner Home Of The Brave is a shame as he was likely to provide the selection with a good lead, but Heaven’s Guest i s ridden aggressively so could provide a target late on.
BURNT SUGAR (Newmarket, nap, 2.50) has been mixing it at a good level this term and won’t mind if the heavy rain makes its way to the east of the country, while SPINATRIX (Ripon, nb, 3.30), runner-up in the last two runnings of the William Hill Great St Wilfrid, will find the ground in her favour as she bids to go one better today.
The absence of Gleneagles from tomorrow’s Prix Jacques le Marois looks to have robbed the race of much of its prestige and left the door open for Territories to profit. Andre Fabre’s three-year- old made short work of the Charlie Hills-trained Dutch Connection i n the Prix Jean Prat and is going to take some beating, even given his trainer’s reservations over the ground.
However, stablemate ESOTERIQUE (Deauville, 3.10) ran a blinder to chase home another Hills horse in Muhaarar at the French venue last weekend and could spring a surprise. ANDRE FABRE plans to make a late call on whether to let Territories take his chance in Sunday’s Prix Jacques le Marois due to concerns about the ground.
Runner-up to Gleneagles in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, the Godolphin-owned colt went once place better to claim Group One glory in last month’s Prix Jean Prat.
Territories would be a major contender to add another top-level prize to his CV if he takes his chance at Deauville this weekend, but Fabre admits the heavy rain that has hit the track is far from ideal.
ASHLEY IVESON