Jockey Hollie Doyle has shared her insights on this weekend’s racing, highlighting key races at Newcastle and Chester. Her focus includes the Northumberland Plate, which will be broadcast live. Doyle also provided an update on her recovery from a leg injury.
Doyle continues her rehabilitation at Oaksey House, concentrating on reducing swelling in her foot. She has been undergoing physiotherapy sessions, which have improved the flexion in her ankle. Despite the slow progress, she noted that her recovery is moving in a positive direction, though specific timelines remain unclear.
Northumberland Plate Contenders
In the Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate, Doyle believes Roger Varian’s young stayer, Ride The Thunder, has a strong chance. Drawn in stall seven, the gelding is expected to improve after his recent reappearance at Hamilton. Doyle previously won this race four years ago.
Ian Williams’ Dancing In Paris is another horse to watch, aiming to improve on his second-place finish in the same race last year. He has a low draw and is anticipated to be fitter following a recent run at Epsom. Additionally, Alan King’s Blazeon Five is considered a strong contender, with Doyle suggesting the mare could outperform her odds under jockey Callum Rodriguez, especially given her effectiveness on the All-Weather surface.
In the Jenningsbet Festival Northumberland Vase Handicap, a consolation race for the Plate, Alan King’s Believitanducan is seen as a strong prospect. This five-year-old, who has secured back-to-back wins at Ascot and Chester, is considered well-handicapped despite a penalty. William Buick is slated to ride the horse, which has also performed well on the All-Weather at Kempton Park.
Andrew Balding’s Shrimp Shady is identified as a potential threat in the Vase. This horse has shown good form in valuable handicaps on turf and demonstrated stamina by winning a race on Tapeta at Wolverhampton in March, followed by a victory in the Chester Plate.
Meanwhile, Richard Hughes has expressed optimism for Circus Of Rome in the Northumberland Plate. The four-year-old is a leading contender, having received significant market support. Circus Of Rome has a perfect record of two wins from two starts at Gosforth Park. Hughes mentioned that the plan to target the Northumberland Plate was set after a win in August last year, although the horse still needs to prove its stamina over two miles.
Other Key Races
In the Group Three Jenningsbet Chipchase Stakes, Diligent Harry is expected to add to his impressive All-Weather record. The Clive Cox-trained gelding, an eight-year-old, showed no signs of slowing down with two Listed wins over the winter and a strong fourth-place finish in the Group Two Minster Stakes at York in May.
Andrew Balding’s Marvelman, a winner of last season’s Group Two Park Stakes at Doncaster, also has a perfect record on the All-Weather and is expected to perform well despite a four-month break. Noble Champion, who won last season’s Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, is another horse to consider at longer odds, potentially benefiting from dropping back to six furlongs.
At Chester, Richard Hannon’s Circe has an opportunity to secure a second consecutive Listed success in the Queen Charlotte Fillies’ Stakes. The mare, returning from a six-month break, won over seven furlongs at Musselburgh and is well-drawn in stall one. George Scott’s Forty Years On, also well-drawn, needs to show further improvement to contend in this race.
In the Group One Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes at The Curragh, Joseph O’Brien’s Oaks heroine, Thundering On, sets a high standard. However, David O’Meara’s Estrange, who finished second in two Group Ones last season, is a strong challenger, especially if there is forecast rain. Ed Walker’s Qilin Queen, a filly that won a Listed race at Newbury last year and a Group Two in France, is an outsider to watch.
The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh will feature Benvenuto Cellini, who aims to regain his reputation after a controversial incident at Epsom. Joseph O’Brien’s James J Braddock, who finished third at Epsom, is also expected to perform well over a mile and a half at The Curragh.
In other racing tips for Saturday, Jonathan Doidge has selected Team Player as an each-way bet in the Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate Handicap at Newcastle. This four-year-old, trained by Ewan Whillans, has shown improvement since joining the trainer and is a course and distance winner. Despite being beaten by less than three lengths into fifth place in the Chester Cup, he is considered well-treated on his current mark of 92.
At York, Zennor Storm is tipped in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Mile Handicap. Trained by William Haggas, this gelding won both of his All-Weather starts as a juvenile but has finished last in his two starts this season. Having been gelded, he is expected to show significant improvement. In the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dash Handicap, Schrodinger’s Cat is an each-way selection after a recent success at Redcar. Finally, Invincible Boy is tipped in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sprint Handicap, having shown promise over the course and distance on debut last October.
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Source: skysports.com
