NORTHERN POWERHOUSE
Express on fast track to success for Dods
HAVING finished second on his racecourse bow over six furlongs at the Curragh in April, WHISTLEJACKET (2.30) made no mistake when bolting up over this afternoon’s trip by nearly four lengths at the same course a month later.
Aidan O’Brien has been very positive about his chances in the lead up to the Norfolk Stakes run over five furlongs at Ascot, so take the strong steer and lump on. I’m all in at 6-4, and you will see a fat bloke in a 1996 England shirt walking the streets of Locksbottom if Whistlejacket fails to do the business.
Ralph Beckett saddled a nice winner at Doncaster on Sunday, which leads me to believe that PONIROS (3.05) will go very adjacent in the King George V Handicap over a mile and a half.
This son of Golden Horn will relish the step up in trip having finished runner-up off a mark of 88 in the London Gold Cup at Newbury last month. The fourth, Persica, has franked the form when obliging at Epsom, so Poniros looks a well-handicapped beast racing off a ledge of 92.
Unbeaten in two starts this season, DIAMOND RAIN (3.45)
looks a good thing in the Ribblesdale Stakes run over a mile and a half and confined to three-year-old fillies.
On her last trip to the belts and braces, Charlie Appelby’s lady hacked up by just over two lengths in a Listed affair at Newbury in May over a mile and a quarter from Ejaabiyah, and that filly won by half the track at Salisbury on Sunday.
Four-year-olds have been responsible for nine of the last dozen winner of the Gold Cup run over two and a half miles, so snap up the 6-1 each-way about GREGORY (4.25).
John Gosden’s beast landed the Queen’s Vase over a mile and six furlongs at last year’s meeting, and he ran a corker when third in the Yorkshire Cup 34 days ago on his seasonal reappearance.
He will strip fitter this afternoon and did a sparkling piece of work under today’s pilot James Doyle on the Limekilns recently.
The hardest race to work out all week is the Britannia Stakes run over the straight mile. QIRAT (5.05) obliged over seven furlongs at Goodwood in May when rated 88, so the assessor has been very fair in only nudging the superbly bred Juddmonte horse up to a ledge of 92.
Drawn in stall 29 of 30, he has the advantage of racing under the stands side rail, so back him with a layer paying at least six places.
Will Buick had an armchair ride when KING’S GAMBIT (5.40)
hacked up by four lengths at Newbury 33 days ago, so it’s no surprise the champion jockey retains his partnership with him when they rock up in the Hampton Court Stakes run over ten furlongs and confined to three-year-olds.
Harry Charlton reports the son of Saxon Warrior in great heart at Beckhampton, so 5-2 looks a very fair price to my fading eyesight. He has a great draw in stall seven of 12, as Buick can get cover without being trapped on the inside.
Having finished fourth in last year’s renewal of the Buckingham Palace Handicap run over seven furlongs when rated 102, NORTHERN EXPRESS (6.15)
will carry my each-way wonga at 16-1 with a benevolent firm paying at least six places.
Michael Dods’ very consistent creature ran his usual game race when second of 17 at York last month, so he comes here in great heart.