On both sides of the pond The Shark is swimming around on the hunt for winners
Jason Weaver's hottest tips for all the C4 action plus the Irish Derby
2:30 Newcastle
Naadirr is one of a few in here on a recovery mission but with loads of front runners it’s going to suit his style of racing. He ran some good races at Meydan this winter & the Botti team are starting to fire. One thing that jumps out is he’s only ran on the all-weather once and he bolted up – he can back to the winners enclosure today.
3:05 Newcastle
No doubting Sir Robert Cheval is a bit of a villain but has loads of ability and he’s having just his second start for sprint king Robert Cowell. His previous trainer kept running him over 7 and 8 furlongs but Cowell seems to have his number back down at 6f. Jamie Spencer rides and that means he will be held up last and played late – that’s perfect for this old rogue.
3:40 Newcastle
Dannyday just missed the cut for the big one so runs in this £75,000 consolation instead. He bolted up on his return at Chelmsford and just a 6lb rise underestimates him massively. He’s up again in trip for the master Michael Stoute and it could turn into a procession
4:15 Newcastle
Saigon City slips in at the bottom of the handicap after a tiny 4lb rise in the weights for a cracking win at York. He only had a few spins for this yard and has immediately found a chunk of improvement from being stepped up in trip. We know plenty about nearly all of the other runners but with him we just don’t know how good he could be as a stayer – and with that in mind he’s a belting price.
2:45 Newmarket
Bateel should of bolted up to start back at Goodwood but she was held up of at a slow pace and did incredibly well to finish second. She looks nailed on to get her soft ground and her trainer has found an ideal Listed race. For a mile & a half filly she has a silky change of pace and that trump card will be played late in this small field.
3:20 Newmarket
Shamsaya put up a good performance to win at Ripon on her race course debut, and although not the quickest away she stayed on stoutly to win quite cosy late on. The 6 furlongs at Newmarket is much stiffer than the 6 furlongs at Ripon but she’s related to some very decent mile and a quarter performers. When weakness kicks in for some of the other juveniles she will be just getting going.
3:55 Newmarket
Birchwood brings in some top class 2-year-old form – notably when third to Air Force Blue in the national stakes Group One at the Curragh. He also ran a blinder in the breeders cup juvenile, but he ran no race in the French 2000 Guineas and quickly lowers his sights to Group 3 company. Maybe he was just top class at 2 but even if he hasn’t improved over the winter his B-game should be good enough in here.
5:20 Curragh
Trying to turn the Epsom form with Harzand won’t be easy but a look back at the replay tells a tale that Red Verdon had a shocking run around and the winner a dream trip. Connections stumped up the money to supplement and are doing it again for the Curragh showpiece. Harzand had a very tough time at Epsom and Red didn’t use any petrol – he’s going to be fresh & ready for battle.