A Preview Of The Weekend’s Key Races

Ascot may be just round the corner, and what better way than to warm up with a fantastic weekend’s worth of racing. Here’s a look at what’s going on around the courses…

Friday 16^th June

Racing Hotspots: Aintree, Goodwood, Sandown, York

Key Race: Layla’s 40^th Birthday Apprentice Handicap, Goodwood (18:35)

Pastoral Player is twice a winner here over course and distance and continues to run well, finishing runner-up in each of his last two contests. This includes being defeated by the narrowest of margins to Henry Candy’s runner Noble Peace and the two lock horns again in what promises to be another exciting encounter. Also keep a lookout for Fiftyshadesofgrey who has the credentials to score off this 4lb lower mark in a lower grade and comes from a flourishing yard that are able to boast three winners from their last ten runners.

Odds

Pastoral Player 7/2

Noble Peace 7/2

Fiftyshadesofgrey 4/1

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Saturday 17^th June

Racing Hotspots: Bath, Musselburgh, Sandown, York

Key Race: Best Western Hotel Ganton Stakes, York (14:55) and William Hill Scottish Sprint Cup Handicap, Musselburgh (15:10)

Best Western Hotel Ganton Stakes, York (14:55)

Yorkshire-based Richard Fahey saddles the admirable Gabrial who has suffered a string of near misses since a Listed win at Windsor back in June 2016. Confident on any ground and with 64 runs under her belt, he is expected to be a strong contender.

Custom Cut is a 13-times winner and one of two stable stalwarts representing David O’Meara with his other runner Mondialiste dropping in class and distance after finishing fourth in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown last month. Both are previous winners on the Knavesmire and should run well across the quick ground.

Golden Stunner ran impressively at York on her latest appearance and steps back up in grade.  If given a soft lead, she should be tough to catch for a yard in good form at present.

Odds

Gabrial 9/2

Custom Cut 12/1

Mondialiste 11/2

Golden Stunner 8/1

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William Hill Scottish Sprint Cup Handicap, Musselburgh (15:10)

This hugely competitive Class 2 contest has decided to favour David O’Meara’s Edward Lewis in the very early market, ahead of the £100,000 feature at the Edinburgh course. The firm conditions will favour the four year old son of Kyllachy having stormed to his third race three starts ago at Lingfield,

Duke Of Firenze was only beaten a short head and a nose when third to Caspian Prince at Epsom and his trainer David Griffiths is expecting a big run from his eight-year-old. He’s hard to discount with the ground to suit, but he looks best placed in an each way wager.

Desert Law and Line Of Reason were seventh and ninth respectively in the Dash and are two of three intended runners for Paul Midgley. The former is down a pound in the handicap and he’s impossible to rule out based on his previous efforts which saw him blitz clear to win the Borderlescott Sprint Trophy here over course and distance in April.

Odds

Duke Of Firenze 6/1

Desert Law 9/1

Line Of Reason 14/1

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