UK punters are spoiled for choice on Saturday with top class flat racing action at Doncaster and Newbury plus excellent National Hunt cards at Chepstow and Aintree. The going is soft at Newbury and that is certain to be a key factor on a tricky-looking card.
The opening race only has six runners but you could make a case for each of them. Lexington Times is the form pick but he has not lived up to the form of his win in a Newmarket maiden in July. He won a race that contained no fewer than eight subsequent winners. They include the high-class Latharnach, Basateen and Snoano.
He ran well enough when third to Aktabantay at Sandown but could manage only eighth behind Bond’s Girl at Doncaster last time. It is difficult to know how good Not So Sleepy might be after he quickened away from She Is No Lady on his debut. The son of Beat Hollow travelled nicely throughout in the heavy ground and that could hold him in good stead here.
Battalion has been very disappointing this season and William Haggas is resorting to the cheek pieces after he threw away his chance in the September Stakes by hanging. I was amazed when punters wanted to be on this proven soft-ground horse here in May when the going was clearly too quick for him. He has his conditions on Saturday but he still has a point to prove.
His main danger could be the Epsom Derby fifth Red Galileo, the mount of Graham Lee. He has finished fast in second at Doncaster and Newmarket and is finally learning to settle in his races. I have been very impressed with Lee’s riding this season and he will be looking to arrive late on the scene. Red Galileo just gets the vote because he seems a bit more trustworthy than Battalion.
The two-year-old fillies’ race at 2.50 looks wide open. Shagah is the form horse here having finished close up in the May Hill behind Agnes Stewart. That filly did the form no harm when second in the Dubai Fillies’ Mile last week. Shagah was fourth behind Local Time earlier this month and it may be worth taking a chance with something less exposed.
Silver Rainbow and Muffri’Ha both won impressively on their second outing. They have very similar profiles in that they both tend to pull very hard but stormed clear once given the go-ahead. It won’t be so easy in this higher grade but Muffri’Ha’s win was on softer ground and she is the selection.
Not So Sleepy 1.50 @4-1 Paddy Power
Red Galileo 2.20 @11-2 Paddy Power
Muffri’Ha 2.50 @5-1 Bet365
