MARIA BRANWELL stands out in the Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes (3.30) at Newbury.
Bargain buys do best in the five-furlong test for two-year-olds – the weights are dictated by the horses’ purchase price – and David O’Meara’s daughter of James Garfield is certainly that, having gone under the hammer for €22,000 as a yearling.
After making a winning debut at Thirsk in the middle of May, Maria Branwell fought to a courageous neck verdict over Crispy Cat in the Listed National Stakes at Sandown Park 12 days later. O’Meara then sent Maria Branwell to the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot last month – and Kieran Shoemark’s mount ran a blinder to finish third, beaten three lengths, to the Karl Burke-saddled Dramatised.
A reproduction of that performance would probably be enough to lift the £98,340 first prize and, with the promise of more to come, Maria Branwell rates a worthy favourite to take the big pot back to North Yorkshire.
DILIGENT HARRY can avenge his defeat by Happy Romance 12 months ago to lift the Group 3 bet365 Hackwood Stakes (2.56).
The Clive Cox-saddled son of Due Diligence went under by a neck in this contest last July before running down the field on rain-softened terrain in Ascot’s Group 3 Bengough Stakes in October. Diligent Harry made his return to action in the Listed Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster in March, being sent off the 7-4 favourite in a field of seven.
My selection looked likely to deliver for punters when sent to the front by Adam Kirby with a furlong to race, only to be collared by head victor Volatile Analyst.
Diligent Harry was flying high when down the field behind Naval Crown in the Group 1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, but this assignment is much less exacting and the heatwave should provide the right conditions for a return to winning ways.
A second try at two miles is expected to work the oracle for DIAMOND BAY in the Highclere Castle Gin Cup Stakes (2.21). The Tom Ward trainee wasn’t at his best when attempting the distance for the first time at Goodwood two starts ago, struggling to get involved in fourth behind Aggagio.
Heavy rainfall on the Sussex Downs probably worked to the detriment of a horse whose only previous success on turf – from eight attempts – had come on a faster playing surface. Stepping back to a mile and three-quarters on quick ground at Salisbury 24 days ago, Diamond Bay came home strongly to finish a short-head second to Dancing Harry.
David Probert’s mount is still unexposed at staying trips and gets the vote to go one better.
After a promising start for Kevin Philippart de Foy with a second in Royal Ascot’s Listed Wolferton Stakes, the ex-Irish CADILLAC looks the correct market leader for the Listed bet365 Stakes (1.50).
The defection of favourite Emily Upjohn has robbed the Juddmonte Irish Oaks (3.45) of its star performer, and the filly most likely to profit is MAGICAL LAGOON, a determined winner at Royal Ascot on her most recent outing.
MANOFTHEMOUNTAIN is fancied to return to his peak to lift the Unibet Summer Plate Handicap Chase (3.14) at Market Rasen. Emma Lavelle’s nine-year-old has drawn a blank in five attempts since a victory at Cheltenham in April of last year. There was enough in his second at Uttoxeter at the end of May – his first run back from wind surgery – to suggest a return to winning ways was close at hand.
Manofthemountain travelled with purpose before finishing second to Kerry Lee’s gambled-on Demachine, and is capable of going one better from a mark just 1lb above his Cheltenham success.
Irish raider CIRQUE ROYAL brings a lightly raced and progressive profile to the Unibet 15 To Go Summer Handicap Hurdle (2.41). Sent to Lincolnshire from Co Antrim by Gerald Quinn, the six-year-old followed a cosy maiden hurdle score at Perth in mid-May with a five-length call in a Kelso novice hurdle 17 days later.
He looks well treated for his debut in this sphere.
Jonjo O’Neill and son Jonjo jnr are the combination to follow in the Unibet Horserace Betting Operator Of The Year Handicap Hurdle (2.06) with APACHE CREEK. Shantou’s son made a successful comeback at Warwick 59 days ago and a 4lb rise for his length-and-three-quarter supremacy is within range.
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