Newmarket’s Craven meeting this week signals that the first Classics of the season will soon be on us at HQ.
After this week’s ‘trials and more to come at Newbury on Saturday is there anything to prevent a Ballydoyle double in the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas?
Coolmore ran a blinder behind Nathra in the Nell Gwyn Stakes and will give Ballydoyle a good line for 1,000 Guineas ante-post favourite Minding.
Meanwhile, Stormy Antartic is going to need more than a downpour to lower the colours of O’Brien’s Air Force Blue in the colts’ Classic, the 2,000 Guineas and the stable already have a line on Ed Walker’s Craven winner as their Johannes Vermeer beat him in France.
Now could be the time to start looking at a Ballydoylke English Guineas double.
But there’s action at Dundalk & Bath to come tonight first …
Big Amigo, Bath, 5.50pm
The Tom Dascombe team have been quick go for the visor after he gave the race away at the gate last time. Gets his toe into some rain-softened turf this time which on his pedigree, should be right up his street.
This €65,000 purchase is held in high regard and has a perfect draw in stall 3 tonight. He can prove better than his rating of 75.
Oor Jock, Dundalk, 6.35pm
Drops back in trip to the minimum distance tonight to try and break his winless streak of 14 efforts on the dirt without a win. Put in a massive effort behind Coreczka when third two weeks ago and is well enough treated off 63. In these apprentice races they normally go very hard from the barriers – so he’ll have the race run to suit.
Strong run here this time last year over 5f behind Chiclet.
Victorious Secret, Dundalk, 7.35pm
Has done little wrong in three starts for the Tommy Stack team and I’m a little surprised she’s only on a mark of 72.
Go Kart was rated 87 when they met at level weights and on that form she looks thrown in tonight. She’s also runs well fresh and this is her first start for 126 days.
Shanghai Dolly, Dundalk, 9.05pm
Keith Clarke’s filly looks the lightly-raced improver in the line up. She didn’t set the world alight early on and was given a mark of 51, which dropped to 48, after another no show over a mile. She’s stepped up to 10f a week ago and put in a much better show when a close-up fourth to much higher-rated runners. A quick return with the blinkers on could paid dividends tonight.