Like having to choose from the bottom layer of the Milk Tray after all your unwelcome in-laws have eaten the good ones, Sunday’s action is a notch below the highs of the Oaks and Derby, but nonetheless, there are winners to be found in every race!
Tucked away in a quiet corner of Norfolk, Fakenham isn’t even an easy place to find, let alone winners, but Fifty Shades (16:10) looks to have an obvious chance in the aptly-named Jarrold Ladies Day handicap chase.
Running off bottom weight, the six-year-old (Christian) Grey is a proven course and distance winner, having shown plenty of (Anastasia) steel when successful at the track in March. He is unlikely to go down…without a fight, and, with the shorter trip in his favour here, he’s certainly not one to lay.
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There’s a higher standard of fare over at Nottingham, with Sun Maiden nicely clear on Timeform ratings in the listed Nottinghamshire Oaks at 15:55.
Her best effort last term came when third to Magic Wand in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, but she improved on that when filling the same position behind Lah Ti Dar in the Middleton Stakes at York last time, travelling well and holding every chance until the final furlong.
Like Phil Neville, she’s been in the shadow of her sibling (Midday) so far, but Sunday’s race gives her a good opportunity to hog the limelight herself.
Tham Luang hit the headlines last summer as the scene of the dramatic cave rescue of 12 Thai boys and their coach – and subsequent face-palm efforts of Elon Musk – but the horse of the same name can create another feel-good story in the 15:30 at Listowel.
He closed all the way to the line when second to Galtee Mist at Gowran last time and should relish the step up in trip here.
He could be the value play against Tranchee, who did a good impression of Scooby Do when spooked by a shadow around a furlong out when a close-up fifth at Cork on his reappearance last month.
Completing our whistle-stop tour around the four British and Irish racecourses staging racing on Sunday, the fourth bet comes in the opener (14:00) at Kilbeggan.
I got a disciplinary hearing when typing in similar on the work laptop, but Cats For Cash improved plenty for headgear when sporting first-time blinkers at the track last time, beaten only by an improving mare, and is fancied to go one place better this weekend.
Cork runner-up Union Gap – who is presumably named after the 60s American pop group led by the announcer’s nightmare Gary Puckett – is the obvious danger.
And remember, if you don’t win…Puckett.
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