I’m looking forward to a busy Saturday and will be traveling up to Thirsk to ride two of Archie Watson’s youngsters from his Lambourn yard.
Watson’s two-year-old NIEWIADOMA makes her eagerly awaited debut in the British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes (1.37). She’s a lovely Cotai Glory filly I’ve schooled and can’t be happier with — a £40,000 yearling with plenty of natural speed and a great attitude. It’s always tricky with debutantes, and her five rivals are all unexposed, including Karl Burke’s Blue Point filly Bai Tong, who cost 125,000gns.
MERLIER has been progressive on the All-Weather and I’m pleased to be aboard him in the Stirrup Bar For Deli-Style Dinning Packages Handicap (5.07). He won a five-furlong maiden at Newcastle for Luke Morris and followed up under a penalty for me at Wolverhampton, which earned him an opening mark of 85 that looks fair. Stepping into a handicap and onto turf is a different test — he’s up against established sprinters and hasn’t raced on grass — but good ground should suit and I’m happy with stall five.
WARM SPELL has dropped to a career-low mark and, on paper, should run a big race in division one of the Join Racing TV Today Handicap (3.58). He’s been consistent for Mark Loughnane after being highly tried for Roger Varian. My husband Tom rode him in a Listed race when a two-year-old, and he produced solid placed efforts off higher marks over seven furlongs at Sandown and Kempton last autumn. He tends to handle a fresh run well, so I expect him to be competitive on his seasonal return.
It’s always nice to ride for someone who backed me early on, so I’m pleased to be linked up with Wilf Storey at Thirsk. I’m on his course-and-distance winner IDYLLIC in the Happy 21st Birthday Lily Watkinson Handicap (4.32) — she won at the track off a similar rating last summer and should enjoy similar conditions.
Mark Walford was flying at Ripon earlier in the week and his new recruit SOLAR BIRICZ looks interesting in the Nick Simpson Cannot Be 60 Handicap (2.47). He won a 5f handicap at Doncaster last summer for Brian Ellison and now steps up to six furlongs for the first time, so Mark and his team will learn a lot from this race.
On the Classic trail at Newbury, I’m hoping Eve Johnson Houghton and Charlie Bishop can keep ZAVATERI’s 2000 Guineas hopes alive in the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes (2.00), live on Sky Sports Racing. The Without Parole colt sets the standard after a brilliant juvenile campaign that culminated in a Group 1 National Stakes win in Ireland. He didn’t look entirely at ease on Newmarket’s undulations in the Dewhurst, but the form was given a boost when Oxagon, who was close to him there, won the Craven Stakes on Thursday.
Albert Einstein’s reappearance in a Listed race at the Curragh three weeks ago was disappointing, but it’s interesting that Aidan O’Brien is trying him again over seven furlongs despite previously suggesting he might target big sprints this summer.
The Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes (the Fred Darling, 1.25) looks wide open. I’m convinced Shadwell’s TOULEEN is better than she showed in the Rockfel and, returning to the flatter track where she won on debut, Owen Burrows’ filly should go well. She may, however, have most to fear from Richard and Peter Fahey’s CATCHING THE MOON, who won at this level at Ayr in September and has Ryan Moore booked. It’s a race I won 12 months ago on Duty First at 33-1, so it’s always a fascinating trial for the fillies.
At Newbury again, URBAN LION would give young trainer Jack Channon a superb double if he can follow up his Lincoln success by winning the Win Unique Experiences At OLBG Prizes Spring Cup Handicap (3.10). He beat Rogue Diplomat narrowly on Town Moor and should be capable of improvement, confirming the form for a progressive yard and giving Eddie Greatrex another notable winner. I also expect Simon and Ed Crisford’s Shout to improve on his Doncaster run; with that outing under his belt and champion jockey Oisin Murphy booked, he’s one to keep on side.
I’d love to see the evergreen AL AASY take the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (John Porter) (2.35) for Tom and William Haggas. The gallant nine-year-old loves Newbury and could keep Karl Burke’s likely favourite Convergent honest.
A busy day with plenty of interesting races and horses to follow — I’ll be watching closely and hoping for a few winners.
Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.