Fine Form
Diamond Rain NC – 6.53
returns to the site of former glories and is taken to defend her crown in the JenningsBet In Delves Hoppings Fillies’ Stakes at Newcastle.
The Shamardal mare got the better of Running Lion last summer to win the Hedge Oak Stakes before stepping up in grade at Gosforth Park to land her first race at Group level, taking it up a furlong out and keeping on to beat Tasmania.
The Charlie Appleby-trained five-year-old then had her sights raised for the Group One E P Taylor Stakes at Woodbine and was only beaten a head by She Feels Pretty.
She then headed to the Breeders’ Cup where she again bumped into She Feels Pretty and was a one-and-a-quarter-length third in a race won by Francis-Henri Graffard’s Gezora.
Diamond Rain was again third on her seasonal reappearance in the Middleton Stakes at York, this time to the classy See The Fire, and with William Buick making the journey she is expected to get back to winning ways.
Ed Bethell’s
Corolla Point NC – 7.28
can get back to winning ways in the JenningsBet In Bradford Gosforth Park Cup Handicap.
The Blue Point gelding made a sparkling start to his career in Bethell’s yard after switching from the care of the aforementioned Appleby, with wins at Haydock and Hamilton in September before he was put away for the winter.
He was beaten only three-quarters of a length at Beverley when he reappeared in April and then stepped up last month at York and was a close third to Jakajaro and Heavenly Heather – both of whom ran huge races in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot.
A reproduction of that Knavesmire effort off the same mark gives him a huge chance.
Viper NC – 5.43
has a fine opportunity to break his maiden in the JenningsBet In Shiremoor Novice Stakes.
A line can be drawn through his debut when down the field at Doncaster but he gave a much better account of himself on the all-weather at Newcastle next time out and was only beaten half a length.
He was again second at Pontefract, beaten by the useful Naval Light, and can make his experience pay back on the all-weather.
Starlight Lass NM – 5.20
caught the eye first time at Yarmouth and is taken to get her nose in front in the John Banks Group Front Runner Fillies’ Novice Stakes at Newmarket.
The daughter of Dubawi took her time to get into it at the seaside but was doing her best work at the business end.
Rockafeller Skank NM – 7.00
is unbeaten this season and is the selection to make it five out of five in June in the Debenhams.com Handicap.
A pair of wins at Yarmouth were followed by success at Wolverhampton and then another victory at Lingfield made it four wins in eight days for the three-year-old, who will be in handicap company for the first time.
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