Fine Form
Epsom hopefuls take centre stage at Lingfield where Godolphin’s unbeaten Dubawi colt
Maho Bay LI – 1.58
can continue his winning streak in the William Hill Lingfield Derby Trial.
After making an impressive start to his career with a six-length win on debut, he followed up with another comfortable victory in a Newmarket novice last month.
Charlie Appleby’s colt looks to be a long way from his peak and can deliver again on his path to Epsom.
William Haggas’ Maltese Cross is amongst Britain’s strongest Derby hopes and comes here with good credentials. The form of his maiden win at Newmarket looks particularly strong with the next three horses home all going on to win since but he was all out to win at Newbury on his return.
Aidan O’Brien won this race last year and is represented by Isaac Newton this time, who was not disgraced when two and a half engths behind well-respected stablemate Pierre Bonnard in a Saint Cloud Group One last autumn, however, he was well beaten on his seasonal return.
Appleby and Godolphin look poised to do the double across the trials with another unbeaten Dubawi progeny
Romantic Symphony LI – 1.28
in the William Hill Oaks Trial.
The filly comes here off the back of an impressive victory in a Kempton novice and looks a promising type, though she does not hold an Oaks entry at present.
She is beautifully bred, with three of her siblings winning at the highest level, the best of them being Yibir who won a Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2021.
O’Brien saddles an interesting type in Cameo who has been tried in Group Three company over a mile but takes a marked step up in trip for this, being almost a mile and a half.
Haydock’s Pertemps Network Spring Trophy Stakes looks wide open but
Ten Bob Tony HY – 3.40
makes appeal returning to the site of his John of Gaunt Stakes win.
He is no stranger to these competitive seven-furlong contests and made a decent start to the season when a staying-on fourth at Curragh in March and should go well here.
The worry is he has always preferred plenty of cut in the ground but there is no doubt he is good enough to win a race of this nature.
A Cheltenham Festival runner may be the answer to the Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle where
Gibbs Island HY – 1.15
looks the pick in an open field.
Tom Lacey’s gelding outran his odds of 50-1 when keeping on into seventh in the County Hurdle and this course and distance winner can put in another good effort.
Dan Skelton’s Tellherthename was not far behind Gibbs Island in the same race and comes from a yard in excellent form, though, and may give him most to do.
In a wide-open Carey Group Victoria Cup, Eve Johnson Houghton saddles
Great Acclaim AS – 2.20
who ran creditably when beaten only half a length in a class two Haydock handicap 14 days ago.
This son of Aclaim has been placed in hot handicaps over this course and distance before and the first-time application of a visor may give him the edge over his rivals today.
John and Thady Gosden’s Mudbir also warrants respect on his seasonal reappearance having won a similar Goodwood contest last summer but he is 4lb higher than that now.
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