Johnston’s duo
Supporters of Es Que Love must be tearing their hair out after the past fortnight. First of all he looked set to lift the Coral Challenge under a superb front-running ride from Olivier Peslier only to be reeled in by Prince Of Johanne. Last week, dropped back to seven furlongs for the Bunbury Cup, he looked certain to collect until Field Of Dream kicked in the turbo and collared him on the line.
The old warrior is turned out yet again tomorrow in the opener at Newmarket with Ryan Moore in the saddle. To make matters worse, the handicapper has shoved him up 5lbs and he going back up to a mile. Lurking at the foot of the handicap is his stable companion Shebebi, winner of the valuable Silver Bowl at Haydock earlier in the season.
Shebebi looked likely to win in a decent race at Haydock last time when sent on two furlongs from home but was cut down by the useful Ashaadd. He received a bump at the start and possibly did a little too much too soon that day. I think he can take advantage of the huge weight concession he is receiving from his stablemate.
Ribblesdale form
My nap on this card is Sir Michael Stoute’s Waila in the Newsells Park Stud Stakes. She beat Riposte on her second start and was then sent to Royal Ascot for the Ribblesdale Stakes. Kieren Fallon failed to settle her in the early stages and she was seen fly jumping at one point.
Her run reminded me of a similar performance by stable companion Hillstar when he made his seasonal debut at Newbury. He came out and won the King Edward VII Stakes after that so no wonder there were some long faces after he was beaten in a handicap!
The Warwick Oaks form supplies the main opposition but that looked a muddling race to me and, providing Ryan Moore can get Waila settled, the Ribblesdale form looks far superior.
Improving filly
My third selection for Newmarket is Midnight Flower in the 3.40. She is trained by David Simcock and comes here on the back of a shock 25-1 course victory. She won comfortably from Nardin who ran respectably in a competitive fillies race at the July meeting. 100-30 seems a fair price for this improving filly in a similar event tomorrow.
Shebebi 4-1 William Hill
Waila (NAP) 9-4 Coral
Midnight Flower 100-30 BetVictor
