Fine Form
Veteran sprinter
Dakota Gold RE – 2.50
can come out on top in the Jacks Coaches Handicap at Redcar.
Michael Dods’ 10-year-old is a seasoned professional over five and six furlongs, winning 15 times and placing on a further 18 occasions throughout his career.
At the height of his powers, he was a Group Three winner with multiple Listed titles to his name too, though his mark has eased since those 100-plus rated days and he is now more often seen in handicaps.
It has perhaps taken a few runs for his mark to balance with his age but he looked to be back in business when beaten only a length and a half to finish second in a competitive heat at York in the middle of the month.
His mark has crept up 2lb as a result but he is out of the hustle and bustle of a large field at Redcar and can pounce having clearly shown he is not a spent force last time out.
Jungle Land RE – 2.15
can get off the mark in the Racing TV Maiden Stakes at the same course for Karl Burke and owner Clipper Logistics.
The Kodiac gelding has run twice so far, finishing second at Ayr early in May and then second again on the all-weather at Newcastle 10 days later.
Both runs came over six furlongs and the three-year-old takes on the same trip here with surely more to offer.
At Cartmel,
Irish Lullaby CM – 2.20
can strike in the Hadwins Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle for Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero.
The grey was formerly trained on the Flat by Jessica Harrington, contesting Listed and Group Three contests without winning but also without being disgraced.
Since changing hands and stables she has run twice over hurdles, finishing third on her debut at Market Rasen in March and then winning convincingly at Warwick next time out.
That five-and-a-half-length victory caught the eye and although it burdens her with a penalty now, she can shine again when slightly upped in trip at Cartmel.
On the same card, Nicky Henderson’s
Mill Green CM – 3.30
can come to the fore in the Cartmel Veterans’ Handicap Chase, a small-field affair run over just shy of three miles and five furlongs.
The 12-year-old is a consistent sort who switches happily between hurdles and fences, previously faring well in these veteran events when second at Warwick in November and third at the same track in the series final in January.
He then reverted to hurdling to book his place in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham, where he was out of the money, but back over fences and in a less competitive environment, he can win for the first time since 2021.
There is a Listed contest at Ballinrobe in the McHale Mayo National Handicap Chase over nearly three miles.
Emmet Mullins’
Romeo Magico BA – 6.30
looks a likely candidate under Rachael Blackmore, a six-year-old who had a fruitful last season hunter chasing.
He took on the National fences to finish sixth in the Foxhunters’ at Aintree and was second when last seen in a hunter chase at Killarney in May.
This is a step up in grade in a professional sphere, but he clearly has ability and the rider on board suggests there is confidence in his bid here.
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