It’s Haçienda Classical night after racing at Newmarket on Friday, July 28th – but first there’s a cracking six-race flat card, with the likes of James Doyle and Kevin Stott doing their ‘thing.’
Racing takes place between 5.52pm and 8.45pm with four handicaps and two novice events. Not over-burdened with runners apart from in the opener, but more than enough to ensure competitive contests and exciting racing.
In time-honoured fashion let’s see if we can signal one or two who might do the business for us at HQ on Friday night, before that nostalgic slice of ‘Madchester’ takes centre stage.
7.35 – Naqeeb @ 10/11
First-rate, powerful connections. Shadwell Estate, William Haggas, Richard Kingscote. Two promising runs so far – ten-furlong maidens at Leicester and Newbury, with a bunch of improvement shown on the latter occasion.
His Newbury conqueror went in again on Thursday at Sandown, so the form’s solid.
A Qatar Racing colt opposes, Middle Earth, trained by the Gosdens, so this could be a warm little contest. A son of Nathaniel, Naqeeb can hopefully get on the scoresheet in what should be a very informative and exciting few minutes.
8.10 – Terwada @ 9/4
Terwada runs in Sheik Ahmed’s famous silks, is trained by Ed Walker, and will be ridden by James Doyle. The 3-yr-old son of Tamayuz has had three runs, the last of which was an impressive romp in a Nottingham novice.
He turns up for his first handicap running off a mark of 90 in a Class 3, so the promise and ability shown thus far has been recognised. His sire was an out-and-out miler, so he can be expected to thrive here but on what he’s done so far I feel a little further will be well within his compass in time.
Also, Tamayuz won on heavy so the likely easy ground should hold no terrors. A cracking little contest, and ‘The Doyler’ can steer him home.
8.45 – Split Elevens @ 6/1
The Henry Cecil Open Weekend Handicap – and what a legend we all commemorate and reflect upon when we see and hear that name. Much-loved, greatly-missed.
Not the greatest of contests to be fair, but little fish taste just as sweet. A winner at HQ is still a much-prized affair, and Spilt Elevens plies his trade at the lower levels with a degree of aplomb. Respectable third here just under a month ago in a similar race over a furlong further, and the 5-yr-old has certainly won his share over the years.
This won’t take the world of winning and given the likely price PLUS we’re paying four places, you might want to consider each-way? Just a thought.
Have a great evening and if you’re lucky enough to be there, immerse yourself in all that New Order/Stone Roses/Happy Mondays stuff that’s hopefully coming tunefully your way after racing.
There was an Irish race mare called Sally Cinnamon, a daughter of Montjeu no less, active around 15 years ago. I think and hope she may still be with us. Wouldn’t it have been great to have her parading on such an occasion?
Share Article
