11.45am Fabre sets Territories up for second clash with Gleneagles
Andre Fabre’s 2,000 Guineas runner-up Territories is likely to be seen next in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot where he is likely to face the Newmarket Classic winner Gleneagles.
“He’s come out of the [2,000 Guimneas] fine, I’m perfectly happy with him,” said Fabre on Monday. “It was a good run, he was just beaten by a better horse on the day. It looks like it will be Ascot next.”
Monday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
A handful of races stand out on a five-meeting programme, with the Listed Royal Windsor Stakes at the riverside track this evening an unusually prestigious and valuable contest for a Monday. First, though, there are some intriguing handicaps to unravel on the afternoon cards, the most obvious, and competitive, being the seven-furlong Class Three event at Doncaster.
A maximum of 15 runners will go to post in the expected absence of Speculative Bid, the Victoria Cup winner at Ascot on Saturday, which is a pity for each-way purposes. This is still a race full of possibilities, however, with only a couple of runners whose chance can be disregarded with any confidence.
Farlow (4.25) looks to be building towards a big race, however, and could be the answer at around 13-2. Richard Fahey’s gelding has run with credit on his two starts so far this season, recording a good performance on the clock on both occasions, including at this track back in March. Both runs were over six furlongs, though, and Farlow’s last success came over today’s seven, off just a 2lb lower mark. The step back up could be all he needs to get his head back in front.
Mulaaseq (5.00) won with something to spare on his racecourse debut here at the Lincoln meeting and an opening mark of 80 should not be beyond him second time up. Coral’s early price of 9-4 is unlikely to get much bigger.
Shifting Power is the pick of the ratings for the Royal Windsor Stakes having finished runner-up twice in Group One company last season, including a five-length second behind the outstanding Kingman in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. He was a short-priced favourite for his seasonal debut in a Group Two at Sandown last month too, however, but never looked likely to justify his odds as he finished third.
It may be worth chancing Market Share (7.25) instead on his debut for the excellent David O’Meara. The five-year-old had some useful form in France for Pascal Bary, and has been gelded since joining O’Meara in October. He does not have a huge amount to find with the favourite on the figures, and any improvement for the change of scenery could see him go very close.
Quick Defence (6.50) should not find a mark of 78 beyond him on his handicap debut, while Go Dan Go (4.50), who improved to win at Beverley last time out, is the best bet on the card at Musselburgh.
Tipping competition - a new week
Congratulations to Steve Ellis, who won last week’s competition on a final score of +17.33, edging past dean055 (+14) thanks to Storm Force Ten (100-30). It was a grandstand finish, with these others finishing on excellent scores: waltersobchak +12, AndieAndson +11.75, ID6858027 +11.75, slackdad38 +11.75, JahLion +11.50.
This week’s prize is a pair of tickets to Sandown for Britain’s best evening at the races on Thursday 28 May, featuring the Brigadier Gerard Stakes, the Henry II and the National Stakes. If you don’t win, you can buy tickets here.
To kick things off, we’d like your selections, please, for these races: 4.25 Doncaster, 7.20 Windsor, 7.50 Windsor.
As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price on our nominated races, of which there will be three each day up until Friday. Non-runners count as losers.
In the event of a tie at the end of the week, the winner will be the tipster who, from among those tied on the highest score, posted their tips earliest on the final day.
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
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