There's a bit of everything for everyone on the racing front this weekend courtesy of Group 1 juveniles at The Curragh, Group racing at HQ, the team event Shergar Cup at Ascot and a Betfred-sponsored card at Haydock featuring the Group 3 Betfred Rose of Lancaster Stakes.
1.35 ASCOT – TIS MARVELLOUS
The Shergar Cup isn't my cup of tea but it is still competitive racing and TIS MARVELLOUS can retain his title by taking Ascot’s opener.
He won the 2019 renewal off 2lb lower and last year's contest off this mark, while Luke Morris did ride him once here at Ascot as a 3yo when behind Blue Point. His track and trip form figures now read 1144431109 after a couple of below-par efforts last year, but this is his forte and he should have a big say in the Shergar Cup Dash.
Rogue Lighting has the right profile as a lightly-raced 3yo improver on the back of a win last time out, while Michaela’s Boy ran a belter when just nabbed in the Rockingham at The Curragh on Irish Derby weekend.
2.25 HAYDOCK – KATHAB
A competitive opener on the Betfred-sponsored card at Haydock can go the way of the lightly-raced KATHAB for William Haggas and Jim Crowley.
Having finished second at the Wood Ditton at HQ, he was made 6/4f at York’s Dante meeting when five lengths behind owner mate Mostabshir who entertained Group 1 company on his next start. That looked like a good contest on the Knavesmire and, although disappointing on his next start at Sandown, that was over 10 furlongs and the form worked out with the winner placed in hot company and now rated 93 while the second subsequently scored.
He got a confidence-boosting success at Ripon when scoring easily as he was entitled to, and a mark of 85 may not overburden him here. He is well berthed in stall four too and should have a major say.
Isle Of Jura is similarly lightly-raced and is on a hat-trick but has gone up 14lb for his latest success. Poet Master is also on a hat-trick after remaining unbeaten on his second start here five weeks ago and could be anything,
Helm Rock isn’t ideally drawn in stall 10 for a front runner but has the services of Richard Kingscote, who is great from the front around Haydock. A return to his solid Sandown form earlier in the season makes him a huge price at around 25/1.
3.40 NEWMARKET – JABAARA
The Sweet Solera at Newmarket is a Group 3 for juvenile fillies over six furlongs.
Fallen Angel and Soprano finished second and third at Sandown two weeks ago, but the fourth home has let that form down by failing to win off a low mark at Goodwood. I am going to give JABAARA a chance to prove that Royal Ascot wasn’t her true form and bounce back.
She really impressed with the way she quickened up on debut on the Rowley Mile and was well touted ahead of the Albany but wasn’t the only horse form the Varian yard to run below expectations that week. She has had seven weeks off to recover and, at around 8/1, is worth an each-way play to deliver on that debut promise.
