Straight From The Horses Mouth 22/6/12 Other Meetings

Straight From The Horses’ Mouth

Brian Meehan

14:05 Newmarket – Hometown Glory 14/1

Overcame a difficult trip to break his maiden before proving slightly disappointing in his first handicap attempt at Haydock. Remains in great form at home and could get in the money on what is only his fourth start.

16:15 Newmarket – Harry Bosch SP

Kyllachy colt, half brother to 2011 winning juvenile Vinnie Jones, has looked a decent sort on the home gallops. Our usual caveat – likely to be better for the experience – applies in his case too.

18:35 Lingfield – Bix SP

Very green on debut, he shaped a little better last time, but still needs more to be competitive even at this ordinary level.

20:35 Lingfield – Madame St.Clair SP

Seemed a doubtful stayer despite a stamina-laden pedigree when trying 10 furlongs on the soft at Goodwood. One-paced at a mile last time, she gets her chance to cope with this longer trip with a descent into the lowest level of competition.

Roger Varian

15:40 Newmarket – Tioman Pearl 3/1

Tioman Pearl lines up in a 5f handicap at Newmarket where any rain that falls will be a bonus.
The son of Royal Applause won easily on heavy ground at Windsor last month but burst out of the stalls a week later at York. He has subsequently passed a stalls test and Roger is looking forward to getting him back on the racetrack. He said: “He has got a lot to prove having been raised 18lb for his win at Windsor and then not getting to run off a penalty at York. “It is a big step up in grade but I hope he can handle it and he will be suited by soft underfoot conditions.”

17:25 Newmarket – Afraah SP

On the same card Afraah could make her debut in a mile maiden, providing the ground is not too soft. Sheikh Hamdan’s filly, who is by Hard Spun, is a half-sister to his 1000 Guineas winner Ghanaati from the family of Nayef, Nashwan and Unfuwain. Roger said: “She is a lovely, scopey filly who has had a few minor training hiccups which is why she is only making her debut now. “But she is ready for a run and we are looking forward to seeing how she performs. She wouldn’t want very soft ground.”

19:35 Lingfield – Signor Sassi SP

Signor Sassi completes Saturday’s trio when he lines up in a 6f maiden at Lingfield. The son of Acclamation was second three times last season and can hopefully get off the mark.

Richard Fahey

14:55 Ayr – Baccarat 9/4

He could go there and get beat but I'd be surprised if he did. I think he's a very good horse and we're very hopeful he'll win on Saturday and progress from there.

16:30 Redcar – Irish Heartbeat SP

is a very hard horse to win with. He has plenty of ability but runs well one day and badly the next for no apparent reason. He runs in the Ladies' And Gents Evening - 25th August Claiming Stakes at Redcar and back in claiming company I'd like to think he'll very nearly win but he isn't one I'd be putting my house on.

16:40 Ayr – Dutch Heritage 8/1

We do feel he's very well handicapped and expect him to run well in a competitive race. To try and raise a few quid I'll put him up each-way as my Sky Bet charity bet. I'd expect him to be in the three with eight runners, if not better than that.

18:40 Haydock – Bishops Green & Charlie Em SP

We run two in the Christie Bucket Collectors Army Maiden Stakes at Haydock. Bispham Green has been disappointing as we liked him at home. He had an issue with a soft palate and needs to grow out of it but Tony Hamilton felt dropping back to five furlongs would suit. Charlie Em was very green at Musselburgh and was outpaced on debut and from what we see at home Bispham Green would be the pick of my pair.

19:50 Haydock - Bountiful Girl 12/1 & Lady Loch 5/1

Bountiful Girl won for David Barker last season but we don't really know where we are with her this year, we're a little bit lost. She was a bit keen last time she ran and needs to settle and run her race properly in the Christie Charitable Fund Handicap, a race in which we're double handed. The blinkers did the trick for Lady Loch the last day and she'd still be well handicapped. I'd like to think she'll run a very big race here

Robert Cowell

15:55 Redcar - Cats Eyes 11/4 and Jwala 11/2

We will monitor the ground before running either of these to Manor Farm Stud fillies