Six flat races on offer at Newbury on Thursday evening, where competitive racing is very much the order of the day.
Five handicaps, one of which is restricted to amateurs, and a maiden make up our card. It’s potentially a brilliant evening with Yarmouth, Limerick and Leopardstown also lined up for some twilight magic.
7.45 – Cinnodin @ 6/5
A 3-yr-old gelding representing in-form trainer Richard Hughes, and ridden by Finley Marsh, among the winners himself at Bath yesterday afternoon.
In this grade at Sandown last time (June), over 2f less, he ran extremely well to be a close-up third. Didn’t have the smoothest of passages late on, and was running well once more after winning at the same track the previous month. He was penalised 5lb for that success and is up another pound on Thursday.
Stepping up to middle distance and staying trips has been the making of him this term, and at 3 has time on his side to develop and prosper further.
8.15 – Lunar Landscape @ 4/1
Charles Bishop takes the mount for Eve Johnson Houghton – always a potent combination. Beaten here less than 2l last time over a mile, he gets an extra 2f today and it should be right up his street. Sire Sea The Moon excelled at middle distances and ‘Lunar’ was doing his best work late in the piece.
This is an ordinary Class 5 contest and the step up could easily unlock some improvement.
8.45 – Alchemystique each-way @ 9/1
A 6-yr-old mare by Derby winner Authorized. Trained by Steph Hollinshead in Staffordshire, and ridden by the excellent David Probert.
Making such an audacious raid (well, bold at the very least) is for me an encouraging sign. Mixes flat and hurdling contests, and last time after a mid-season refresher she was narrowly beaten at Chester over a few yards further than this. Give in the ground that day, too – and that could well be the case on Thursday.
David Probert takes over from a 5lb claimer and carrying 8st 12lb she doesn’t look overburdened to me. She’s 1lb higher than at Chester, but gets Probert AND that should have brushed away any post-break cobwebs.
Have a lovely evening’s sport, good luck, and take care.
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