Graphic (tipped at 5-1) more than made up for a disappointing run from Dungannon at York on Friday. There are more big fields at Newmarket and York and Newmarket on Saturday to tempt punters but there are a couple of two-year-olds that catch my eye.
The first is Richard Fahey’s Rufford who goes in the Rockingham Stakes at York. A winner here back in June, the son of Invincible Spirit disappointed at Pontefract on his next outing behind Cool Bahamian. He first caught my eye when running on strongly after a slow start in the valuable sales race here in August.
He was a well-backed 6-1 shot that day and flew home in fifth place behind Haikbidiac. Plenty of winners have come out of that race since, notably Nezar, Green Door, Ventura Mist and Morning Post. He was allowed to start at 20-1 for the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury but raced right up with the pace and plugged on when challenged on all sides. In the end, he only gave best by three-quarters of a length to stable companion Supplicant.
He holds Figure Of Speech on that form and is clearly the one to beat. The lightly-raced Outer Space could be the main danger but 4-1 looks a good price with BetVictor.
My second selection is Lightning Thunder in the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket. This filly has always been held in high regard by Olly Stevens and has around 12lbs in hand on her rivals tomorrow. She followed up her debut win by scrambling home at Doncaster but she showed how good she is in the Oh So Sharp Stakes.
She looked to have the race won when she was sent to the front over a furlong out by Harry Bentley but Miss France arrived late on the scene to beat her by a head. Lightning Thunder was left a bit high and dry in front on Newmarket’s wide open spaces and may have idled slightly but it was still a good effort. The winner is the new favourite for the 1000 Guineas and it will be disappointing if Lightning Thunder cannot win tomorrow.
Rufford 4-1 BetVictor
Lightning Thunder 5-6 Stan James, Totesport
