Thursday’s Race of the Day: We preview the 14:40 at Newbury
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It’s a busy day across the UK and Ireland on Thursday, with Beverley, Gowran Park, Lingfield, Yarmouth and Newbury all hosting competitive cards.
We’re interested in the latter of those tracks, where 12 runners are scheduled to go post over 6f at 14:40 in our Race of the Day.
There are some stellar jockey bookings on show, and its Guineas winner Oisin Murphy who looks set to ride the favourite, Rodin. Andrew Balding’s inmate has been progressing nicely in 2020 and broke his maiden tag with a hard-fought win at Southwell in mid-February.
The step back up to 6f should suit on his first time handicapping, although there are questions to be answered over his ability to do it on the turf.
His main danger looks like Al Dawodiya. Richard Hannon’s charge looks ripe for progress after twice hitting the bar on the all-weather at both Chelmsford and Kempton towards the back end of last year.
Ryan Moore is booked to ride the Handicap debutant, who should put up a decent fight even if the yard are nought from eight with three-year-olds on the turf so far this season.
Similar can’t be said of Roger Charlton, with the Wiltshire trainer boasting two wins and a place from his five three-year-old runners on the turf. He saddles the interesting Tambourine Girl here.
The filly has been there or thereabouts in each of her three starts, coming out on top in a three-way battle at Kempton in October to land the odds for the first time. She looks a game sort who’ll put up a serious fight.
Aweemaweh, who has a name you’ll have to try extremely hard not to sing, also looks an interesting sort after getting on the board at Wolverhampton last time ahead of two subsequent winners.
On that basis his Handicap mark looks more than fair, and if he can get the run of the race and finish strongly again here, he’ll warrant consideration once more.
Of the remainder, Spring Bloom has been gelded during his 11 months off the track, with three previous frame finishes suggesting he may be worth a check in the market.
Broughtons Gold could also be one to keep on side with his trainer Tom Clover firing in winners a 4/1, 40/1, 100/3 and 6/1 while operating at a 50% strike-rate prior to Wednesday’s 20:15 at Yarmouth.
Lexington Storm, Punchbowl Flyer and Epsom Faithfull all require more if they want to feature, with the latter of the trio up 5lb from his win at Kempton as he goes in search of the hat-trick for Pat Phelan.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
