Our tipster Karl Hedley provides the odds for the weekend's races
SATURDAY
YORK
2-20 DOWLOAD THE CORAL APP STAKES – 1 M 2 F 88YDS
Fattsota has been relatively lightly raced this year and he can take advantage of some rivals who unlike him have had a long gruelling season. He goes well when there is a bit of cut in the ground and he has at last dropped back down to a winnable looking mark. Danny Tudhope has ridden him plenty of times in the past and they can build on what already has been an amazing season for trainer David O’ Meara.
First Flight was an eye-catching runner up in the Dubai Duty Free Handicap at Newbury last month. He found Air Pilot far too strong on that occasion but with conditions likely to suit and with the weight he is set to receive from all of his rivals today, he has to be a huge threat. Sudden Wonder should also go well.
The Godolphin second string won on his only previous attempt on soft ground and comes here following a three month lay-off. If he is fit enough to do himself justice he too can make the frame. Educate still looks a little too high in the weights at present. He has a seven pound claimer on board to alleviate some of that burden this afternoon but he needs the handicapper to relent further before he wins again. Fattsota comes from a yard very much at the top of their game at present and he looks set to go very well.
NEWMARKET
2-40 BETFRED MOBILE PRIDE STAKES (FILLIES LISTED) – 1 M 2 F
Albasharah made a pleasing return to the racecourse when making her seasonal debut at Yarmouth last month in similar company. She went down by the only the narrowest of margins when finding the unexposed Hadaatha too strong. She is likely to have blown away any cobwebs and ought to improve for that reappearance. She has won three times at this trip in the past and provided the ground does not dry out to much she ought to be right in the mix at the finish. Freddie Tylicki keeps the ride on this lightly tried filly and they can make their presence felt at this level.
Blue Waltz won in commanding fashion at Doncaster last month and is clearly going the right way. She is still only a three year old and as a result she picks up a few pounds from her older rivals and that can only enhance her claims as she is rapidly on the upgrade.
Richard Hughes rides for the first time this afternoon and the combination look the biggest threat to the selection. Provenance was doing all of her best work in the closing stages at this track last time suggesting that this step up in trip would be in her favour. Ryan Moore has partnered her in every career start to date and they too warrant respect. Albasharah ought to have some further improvement to come and she can go on to bigger and better things in the future.
3-10 BETFRED TV STAKES – 1 M 4 F
Fire Fighting went close here just last week and now that Joe Fanning is back on board he can make a bold attempt to go one place better. Unlike most Mark Johnston runners this three year old actually likes to attack from off a strong pace and there will be no hanging around with twenty four runners scheduled to line up. He has already seen off many of these rivals this season including Adventure Seeker, Latenightrequest and Mistiroc amongst others. Mark Johnston specialises in winning these three year old handicaps and despite top-weight it would be of very little surprise to see Fire Fighting in the winners’ enclosure yet again.
Battersea remains completely unexposed and won a couple of competitive handicaps at Ascot during the summer months. Roger Varian has given him a short break and despite now racing off a career high mark, he should still be able to get into the thick of things.
Rewaaya is a previous course and distance winner that has won her last two starts. She mixes it against her male counterparts for the first time this afternoon and has Frankie Dettori in the saddle. This will prove her toughest assignment to date but she deserves to take her chance and she too can go well. Fire Fighting is the highest rated in this field and granted luck in running he can go close.
3-50 BETFRED CESAREWITCH (HERITAGE HANDICAP) – 2 M 2 F
Digeanta remains relatively unexposed having had only ten career starts to date. Of those starts he has won five times and been placed another two. He is a more than useful dual purpose performer and having won at up to distances of up to two and a half miles over hurdles, this trip is unlikely to prove too much of an issue. Wayne Lordan is one of Ireland’s top flat jockeys and his booking suggests that a bold showing can be expected. Digeanta was a good third to stable-mate Pique Sous in a handicap at Leopardstown last September and the winner subsequently went on to record a facile success at Royal Ascot earlier this year.
Quick Jack is a fellow Irish raider that has his eyes set firmly on the prize. He has beaten Digeanta by nine lengths in the past and comes here very much at the top of his game. Wins at the Cheltenham and Galway festivals mean he is likely to be favourite for this and with him being well used bossing his was through big fields he has to command utmost respect. Richard Hughes has won on him the only other time that they have been paired together and they have strong claims.
Big Easy lost out by only a neck over the course and distance last time and Philip Hobbs knows exactly what it takes to win this marathon event having done so with the same colours when Detroit City landed this race back in 2006. Tom Queally looks to be an ideal partner for the seven year old and they too look primed for a big run. Digeanta is the only Willie Mullins trained runner in the UK today and with yard in red hot form he can make a positive impact here.
SATURDAY 2-20 YORK FATTSOTA
SATURDAY 2-40 NEWMARKET ALBASHARAH
SATURDAY 3-10 NEWMARKET FIRE FIGHTING
SATURDAY 3-50 NEWMARKET DIGEANTA (E/W)
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