There was more rain overnight in Newmarket but it has been a lot drier than the weather up at Haydock. The old adage suggests a very good horse can handle any ground and Harry Angel has a chance to prove that he is one in the Sprint Cup. He looked a serious horse when breaking the track record at Haydock at the end of May but it was Caravaggio everyone was talking about until Harry Angel won the July Cup with authority to turn the tables on his Royal Ascot conqueror. There is no Caravaggio today but there is a swarm of top sprinters who will be at home on the soft ground and if he can beat them it will mark him out as a serious horse. He settled well at Newmarket and showed a good turn of foot, the ground was soft enough when he beat Global Applause in the Mill Reef last season and with possible further improvement to come he will take all the beating today.
Michael’s Mount ran another good race on his favoured soft ground to finish third up at Haydock, there is another race in him on this surface at ten or twelve furlongs. Zamjar was hampered in the first at Kempton, he ran well in fifth but it is annoying that we could not see if he conclusively stayed the mile trip. Vision Clear ran green from his wide draw and will be better for his first experience whilst Manjaam never fired, I may give him a holiday as he has not been the same horse this year.
It is a busy day today, we run six horses across three meetings. Fabulous Red is our first runner in the 2:40 at Kempton. She has done her best work late on in all three of her starts, her best run was arguably her first but she got a little too far back early on her third start given the slow early pace. I would expect this 7f trip to bring about a little improvement and she should run a big race. Tunes Of Glory is very consistent and he may find this easier than carrying a penalty in Novices whilst Tig Tog showed a little last time.
Tadleel runs in another competitive Nursery in the 3:50 at Kempton. He is very genuine and a slow start has undone him the last twice where he arguably should have won. Di Fede was very unlucky when just getting nailed on the line at HQ and has gone up seven pounds for that but she is to be feared and the fourth from that race has since won. Jazeel is a winner on the all-weather and looks the biggest threat of those at bigger prices. I would expect our horse to run his race once more and be bang there.
Mulzim steps up in trip to 7f, he has won on the all-weather over 7f and so I would expect him to run a good race from a nice draw this afternoon. It is a tougher race than the one he finished second in at Yarmouth and he will have to improve. Yabrave could be anything and beat a subsequent winner when breaking his Maiden, if he can overcome his double figure draw then he is the most likely winner, it has been easier to make up ground at Kempton recently. Phalaborwa can attack from stall six and will run well and Marylebone may fare best of the outsiders back on the all-weather.
Agar’s Plough runs in the second division of the seven furlong Novice at 4:30. He ran well from a bad draw on debut at Newmarket and did his best work late. This soft ground is an unknown for him but if he builds on his debut then he should run a nice race. Dream Warrior is very well bred and will know his job whilst Antagonist will improve a lot on his debut. It will be an informative Maiden and it would be great if we can sneak a place, anything else will be a bonus given there could be a smart horse amongst those that have yet to race.
Sir Gnet runs in the 6:00 at Wolverhampton. We have not quite been able to get it right with him yet and he keeps knocking on the door in similar company to today. He atleast has a good draw today and if he can hold a good position and settles early on then he has each way claims, I would expect him to do his best work late. Alnasl is on a role and her stable are in cracking form, she is drawn in ten which is not ideal but she holds strong claims.
Indian Warrior is our final runner in the 7:30 at Wolverhampton. He was very unlucky not to win at Windsor and was then disappointing the last twice. His last run was better than it looked at the time with Lake Volta now having a rating of 98. He has a good draw this evening and has been going nicely at home so I hope he can go close. We think the 6f will suit him despite his best form being over 5f and I think he is on an attractive handicap mark. It is a very open affair and Leaderofthepack is lightly raced and is sure to improve for a sixth furlong, Central City ran into an improver last time and Just For Fun is a well-drawn course and distance winner who should go well again.