Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle travels to Wolverhampton for six races on Saturday and is looking forward to Trueshan’s reappearance in the Sagaro Stakes during testing day at Ascot next Wednesday.
Blue Point filly returns to Wolverhampton
ENCHANTINGone of the horses I talked about in my Blog “10 to follow” earlier this month, made its much-anticipated reappearance in the Get the inside track with raceday-ready.com Novice Stakes (7:30 a.m.) across five furlongs at Wolverhampton on Saturday – live on Sky Sports Racing.
Owned by my boss Imad Alsagar, this lovely daughter of Blue Point proved her potential when winning a 1 furlong fillies’ novice at Beverley last September and performed well throughout the winter.
I called into Kingsclere last week to ride Andrew Balding’s three-year-old, who was feeling much bigger and stronger ahead of such a big campaign.
It will be a good test of her progress, with Charlie Fellowes’ first-time winner Sweet Carolina and James Horton’s Grandlad, who ran well in both of his starts, against her. The outside draw in stall 7 isn’t ideal, but I’m counting on her to have the speed and quality to overcome that.
Piper can set the tone
FORT OF PIPER has shown blazing speed in his last two starts, so the return to minimum travel in the Derek Thomas Richard Butler 80th Birthday Handicap (7:00) should be ideal for him.
Archie Watson’s three-year-old really attacked in his last two races over 6f at Lingfield and Chelmsford, only to find himself short of both in the closing stages. It’s not the easiest but it’s ideally placed in pit 1, in what appears to be a winnable race.
Harris could continue Haynes’ form
Alice Haynes was among the winners this week and RICH HARRY can continue its good run in the Free digital race map at raceday-ready.com Handicap (8:00 a.m.) in Wolverhampton.
He has been a gelding since his last race in January – remaining third in a one-mile, three-furlong handicap on the All-Weather at Southwell. He loses distance here, but produced some of his best form at about a mile.
Earlier on the card, my old boss Richard Hannon runs three in the Free digital race card at raceday-ready.com Novice Stakes (6:30 a.m.)including my mount SPECIALIZATION.
This Dubawi colt is making his second career start after finishing on the field in a seven-furlong Newmarket novice in October. In breeding, the increase in distance should be an advantage, but he will have to take a big step forward in a race which confronts him with three last minute winners.
Odds of winning with the Kirby pair
I still enjoy riding for Northern trainer Philip Kirby and hope to hit the extended two miles for the Download the Raceday Ready Handicap app (8:30 a.m.) I will see his mare MOON HOUSE return to the winners’ enclosure.
She got off to a late start at the 25th attempt over a mile and six furlongs at Dunstall Park earlier this month for David Probert, but she didn’t seem to like Southwell as much last time.
Stable companion PEREPETÉE is a course and distance winner who has what it takes to make an impact at the fence Tips for every race on raceday-ready.com Handicap (9:00 a.m.).
She made a pleasing return on a similar trip to Newcastle a few weeks ago, remaining third behind another runner in Kirby in Fine.
I followed her down the straight that day on the unplaced Heatherdown Hero and thought she finished her race very well. I won against her in Chelmsford a few years ago, so I’m looking forward to renewing our partnership.
Trueshan ready for Ascot return
Alan King’s star stay VRAIHAN is about to make its seasonal return to the Longines Sagaro Stakes (2.15) Trials Day at Ascot next Wednesday – live on Sky Sports Racing.
He could well face his old rival Coltrane in the two-mile Group 3, as he embarks on a campaign which will once again feature all the major Cup races.
It’s just a starting point, but I hope he returns to the kind of form that saw him win the Doncaster Cup and Group 1 Prix du Cadran last season after being revitalized by an operation the wind.
Trueshan and Doyle should be reunited at Ascot
Folgaria wins tribute to Stefano
Winning the Fred Darling on Marco Botti’s filly Folgaria last Saturday was both exciting and emotional.
His victory in the Group 3 Classic event was a fitting tribute to our friend and weighing room colleague Stefano Cherchi, on a weekend when his coach Marco Botti attended his funeral in Sardinia.
Folgaria won all five of her races in Italy and proved herself worthy of qualifying for the French 1000 Guineas with convincing success. Moving up to the mile shouldn’t be a problem, as she won a Group 2 at San Siro on this trip in October, and I will do everything I can to be available to ride her at ParisLongchamp.
Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.
