Newbury’s seven-race offering on Saturday 19 August features a couple of Group contests, some competitive handicaps and an intriguing two-year-old maiden.
I’m keen on one for the latter – plus one in the G3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes that opens the card at 1.50.
1.50 – Klondike @ 4/1
William Haggas is going great guns at present and can land the opener at Newbury on Saturday courtesy of Klondike.
The three-year-old boasts two standout pieces of form – firstly when behind Betfred St Leger favourite Gregory at Goodwood in May and most recently when fourth, beaten just under 3L, in what looked a smashing renewal of the G3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket last month.
Crucially, the son of Galileo carries no penalties for his exploits to date and everything – track, trip and ground – is in his favour.
I’m sure Arrest will be popular for John & Thady Gosden with Frankie Dettori in the plate, but he’s underperformed the last twice and isn’t sure to be suited by conditions, while Kemari has to give stacks of weight to the selection.
All in all, I think Klondike ought to make a very bold bid here under Tom Marquand.
4.05 – Navy Jack @ 2/1
Clive Cox’s Navy Jack went straight into my tracker after I watched him make striking late headway to finish runner-up to subsequent Listed winner Arabian Crown at Sandown just over three weeks ago.
That was the two-year-old’s second start, following a promising effort in another red-hot contest at Newbury on his racecourse debut.
He certainly sets the standard when it comes to this 7f maiden and remains open to significant improvement, especially considering the first-time booking of the fantastic William Buick.
The selection, who holds an entry for the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket in late September, should see off his five rivals with form in the book – which includes the re-opposing Highland Spring – and frankly I’m uninspired by most of the nine newcomers.
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