Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up four to follow on Saturday at Newbury and Ripon. View selections below
BROWN PANTHER (3.05) puts his St Leger credentials on the line in the Group 3 CGA Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury on Saturday and is fancied to pass the examination with flying colours. After storming to an emphatic six-length romp in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot, Brown Panther was the subject of a gamble in the German Derby but the combination of very testing ground and an ill-advised furious early gallop proved his undoing. Brown Panther has been given a welcome break to recover from his overseas exertions and strictly on the formbook should again have the measure of Census, who got a rear view of him at Ascot. Both are trading at best-priced 14-1 for the St Leger and this will be an informative rehearsal.
It’s Ladies’ Derby day at the Berkshire track and Brian Ellison has despatched OVERRULE (5.55) south with a big chance. Overrule produced his best run for many months at York last time, running Apprimus to half a length. Third horse Trip The Light ran a brave race in defeat when just denied by William Haggas’ Rastaban at Goodwood on Thursday night, so the form looks solid.
The big-betting handicap of the weekend is the William Hill Great St Wilfred sprint at Ripon and battle-hardened QUEST FOR SUCCESS (3.30) should go well. He ran a cracker in this event last year, finishing a close fifth from the worst draw (20) in a cavalry charge dominated by those drawn low (stalls 6, 1, 8 and 3 filled the first four places). Quest For Success has been in good form this summer, scoring at Hamilton and Ayr, and showed plenty of early dash in the Stewards’ Cup at Glorious Goodwood before fading into midfield.
Later on the card, HOT ROD MAMMA (4.40) can continue her sizzling run. She is a filly on a roll, having recorded wide-margin victories at Catterick, Ripon and Carlisle when exaggerated waiting tactics were employed. Hot Rod Mamma is climbing the ratings as the handicapper attempts to drop anchor, but her winning streak may not be over just yet.
Tally Ho
Alan
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