RACING has a feeling of 'After the Lord Mayor's Show' about it this weekend following the high class on display at York's Ebor meeting during the week.
Who can forget the brilliant battling performance of the Irish-trained Giant's Causeway who fought back to pip Kalanisi in the Juddmonte on Tuesday to land his fourth Group 1 race of the season - it was sheer magic.
Ahead of Saturday, the Roses Racing Club was hoping for big things yesterday (Thursday) when our two horses, Amamackemmush and Pix Me Up ran at Musselburgh. Both were though to have a good chance by trainer Kevin Ryan.
Saturday's televised action comes from Goodwood (BBC1) and Newmarket and Beverley (Channel 4). Keiy to the opener at Goodwood, a 1m 6f Listed race appears to be in the hands of trainer Gerard Butler, who has both Fanfare (Kevin Darley) and Kuwait Trooper (Frankie Dettori). The market will provide the best guide to this one.
Blue Mountain, runner up in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon last Saturday, is the form horse in the six furlongs handicap at 2.45 despite carrying top weight. Pilot John Reid is bang in form too. Trainer John Gosden has set his sights on the Group 2 Celebration Mile at 3.20 for his classy Observatory who is seeking a hat-trick. Godolphin, who is curiously out of sorts this season, is also set to mount a strong challenge with Bachir, to be ridden by Frankie Dettori, the best of them.
Channel 4's Scoop6 race look impossible to pick and a third rollover appears favourite. However, some lucky punter may just land the spoils, and it could be you!
A six furlongs Class D maiden race for two-year-olds gets things underway at Newmarket and, to eb perfectly honest, a pin may be the best guide to this and most other Scoop6 races this weekend.
Having said that Luca Cumani's newcomer David Wynne could be interesting if there's market support.
It usually follows at this time in the season to follow trainers in form, so this week's selections will follow that formula. John and Ed Dunlop are flying at the moment and both have double-handed entries in the 1m 2f handicap at 3.05. Bruce Millman is also in cracking form and I like the look of his Imperial Measure in the six furlongs nursery at 4.10.
At Beverley both televised races are as competitive as they come. In the extended seven furlongs handicap at 2.50 Alan Berry's Only For Gold may hold place credentials while in the five furlongs sprint at 3.25 a good draw is a must, particularly in big fields. Given just that, the in-form Beyond the Clouds can be given a decent chance.
Thirk's penultimate meeting of the season, which will raise money in aide of the NSPCC's Full Stop Appeal takes place today (Friday) with the first race at 2.20. Then it's on to Ripon's traditional two-day Bank Holiday meeting next Monday and Tuesday, with the highlight on day one the £20,000 Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy, the course's only listed race.
Wednesday sees a quick return to the Knavesmire at York for a seven race programme.
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