Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five to follow on Saturday at Ascot, Haydock and Redcar. View selections below
SHERGAR CUP day at Ascot often throws up some strange results but ERMYN LODGE (1.25) can give pin-up girl Hayley Turner another high-profile success. Ermyn Lodge has a terrific record at Ascot, boasting two wins and two seconds from four starts, and he ran right up to scratch when chasing home Veiled in the Ascot Stakes at the royal meeting in June. He races of his highest mark in the Stayers’ Handicap but should handle the easier underfoot conditions, having scored here on good/soft last September.
HALIFAX (2.30) disappointed at Glorious Goodwood, fading out of contention when Kieren Fallon brought him under pressure at the two-furlong pole, but should up his game in the Shergar Cup Classic. This assignment looks easier and a repeat of his earlier fifth place behind stablemate Namibian in the Queen’s Vase will put him in the mix.
John Quinn has his string in good order and DUCHESS DORA (2.00) can turn around course and distance form with recent conqueror Medicean Man in the Shergar Cup Dash. His filly goes well on soft ground and enjoys a nice weight pull here.
Quinn can grab another winner closer to home when ABIDHABIDUBAI (4.05) drops into a claimer at Redcar. This three-year-old filly has been a model of consistency, finishing in the first four (winning once) in all nine career starts, and Quinn has entered her off an attractive weight.
Feature event at Haydock is the Betfred-sponsored Group 3 Rose Of Lancaster Stakes and HOT PROSPECT (2.45) looks the answer to a tricky contest. Roger Varian has been hitting the crossbar lately without scoring (six placed efforts in the past 12 days) but Hot Prospect doesn’t mind the mud flying. A repeat of his second at Newbury behind Dux Scholar (reopposing Elusive Pimpernel well held in fifth) will make his Motivator colt competitive.
Tally Ho
Alan
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