There are four Sunday meetings to look forward to across Britain and Ireland as the month of August draws near an end and summer really begins to say farewell.
There’s Group 3 action from Ireland via the Ballyogan Stakes at Naas, while action comes from Beverley, Goodwood and Yarmouth in the UK as Flat racing holds sway on this Bank Holiday Sunday.
Amongst Sunday’s fancies is the Jessica Harrington filly Ocean Quest as she looks to build on a career-best effort when last spotted at Royal Ascot in June.
Sunday Racing Tips
Ocean Quest – Naas 3.15
Two fillies’ by Sioux Nation contest the Group 3 Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF Ballyogan Stakes at Naas and punters must beware not to confuse OCEAN QUEST (11/8) and Ocean Jewel, representing Jessica Harrington and Paddy Twomey respectively.
The pair have clashed before, when they were second and third in the Goffs Lacken Stakes over this course and distance in May behind The Antarctic for Aidan O’Brien.
They have also excelled since that. The Harrington filly went on to finish a very fine fourth in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot in June behind Shaquille – a race that has worked exceedingly well since, with the winner taking the July Cup at Newmarket in barnstorming style.
Ocean Jewel, meanwhile, did her bit for the Naas form by scoring in a Leopardstown Group 3 over 7f in June.
That Royal Ascot fourth-place finish was the first time in her six-race career Ocean Quest hasn’t been in the money and she returns to Naas with strong claims under Shane Foley now eased back into the grade.
Jeff Koons – Yarmouth 4.20
John & Thady Gosden’s Frankel colt JEFF KOONS (3/1) looked useful in his first two starts and is taken to put behind him a poor effort in a Doncaster novice earlier this month now that he steps out in a handicap for the first time.
He was second-best on debut at Kempton over a mile on his debut in April on the Polytrack and made good on the promise of that run by winning a Newmarket novice (1m, good) in July.
He had to knuckle down and battle for that win, and did so in pleasing fashion as he came and collared even-money favourite Elnajmm in the dying strides in a contest from which three next-time-out winners have emerged.
At Doncaster, he moved with menace for most of the race but appeared not to find as much as looked likely in the soft going. A return to faster ground here ought to suit Rab Havlin’s partner and they can land this contest, which is a Betfred Super Extra Place Race (four places) as they attempt to justify inclusion on the Most Napped table via the Betfred Betfinder for Sunday’s action.
Nonsuch Lad – Goodwood 5.20
The finale at Goodwood is the Gay Kindersley Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap and it might be worth siding with NONSUCH LAD (7/2) as he searches for a first win of the season for local trainer Jim Boyle.
The 4YO gelding is a dual winner over 1m2f and has run some encouraging races in defeat so far this summer.
He came from further back than ideal when a close third at Sandown in May and it was a similar tale when fourth over this C&D (good to firm) in June.
He was third at Epsom in July and while his most recent Sandown effort was underwhelming, he is now on a workable mark and Serena Brotherton is a good ally in this sphere.
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