It’s a fair bet that plenty of the boozed up patrons staggering out of a brilliant three day Chester May Meeting won’t be making it much further than the adjacent ancient city walls, but fingers crossed that won’t apply to too many of the Channel 4 Racing team who’ll be hot-footing it in the direction of Gatwick Airport and more specifically, Lingfield Park, for Saturday’s Oaks and Derby Trials at the Surrey venue.
A few names spring to mind of great horses who’ve completed the Lingfield/Epsom colts double, not least High Rise in 1998 (aren’t winning bets always memorable?!), although Teenoso, Slip Anchor and Kahyasi also won the Lingfield Trial before winning the big one.
That said, I’ll be waiting ’til 3.45pm for a bet and the Group 3 totesportbingo.com Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes over 7f for which 10 go to post.
Barry Hills’ is having a week to remember after Ghanaati’s 1,000 Guineas triumph and Daraahem’s success in the Chester Cup, and the veteran trainer could be about to make a return visit to the winner’s podium courtesy of a success for game four year old Royal Applause filly Royal Confidence.
I’m not convinced how much winning this race is going to take, and while previous Group race winner Chantilly Tiffany is sure to attract plenty of interest, I liked the way Royal Confidence beat her at Doncaster’s Leger meeting in September, and fancy her to get her measure once again.
A seven furlong specialist, she was only beaten two and a half lengths in last year’s Guineas, and with Hill’s string in flying she can arrive fast and late to take this en-route to a likely tilt at Royal Ascot’s Group 2 Windsor Forest Stakes.
Up the M1 at Nottingham I’ll also be investing a few shillings in another filly – snappy dresser Alan Berry’s Look Busy, who lines up in the Listed totesport.com Kilvington Fillies’ Stakes at 3.30pm.
Berry hasn’t changed his stinking blue puffa jacket since about 1987, and neither had Look Busy changed her coat when seeing off Crimson Fern in her recent winning seasonal re-appearance. She should improve markedly for that.
Tough as old boots she notched her seventh win inside a year at Bath over 5f just eleven days ago, and now stepping up to 6f Berry wants to take this before trying to land Haydock Park’s valuable Temple Stakes on May 23rd. Don’t be surprised if she heads to the ‘dock with another win under her belt.
Good luck!
Weekend tips:
2 Look Busy (win) 3.30 Nottingham (Saturday)
4 Royal Confidence (win) 3.45 Lingfield (Saturday)
Posted 10 months, 2 weeks ago