ITV Racing Newbury, Ripon And Newmarket Preview - 14/08/21

First up is the Listed Denford Stakes over seven furlongs at Newbury and the Roger Varian Bayside Boy could take some beating if coming on for his impressive debut.

The son of New Bay was a 200,000gns purchase a yearling and first made his debut in July over course and distance when emphatically winning a Novice Stakes on good ground.

He looks a very likeable and progressive type that will be sure to step up to the challenge of Listed company and with his handler running at 32% strike rate, he looks tough to take on.

Newmarket's first race of the weekend on ITV is the 1m6f Fillies' Handicap and we have sided with the impressive winner last time out Goolwa for Andrew Balding.

The yard have been in flying form all season and will be looking to extend that at Newmarket on Saturday with some nice chances, but this filly looks to be the pick of them.

The three year old was seen once as a juvenile and looked to need the run, but this term has turned into a different animal over staying trips.

Goolwa on seasonal debut got off the mark in taking style beating a decent field in a 1m4f maiden on the all weather at Kempton.

Over the same C&D he was a bright fourth in a better race and she then went to Ascot for her turf debut only going down by a head behind a well backed horse.

Last time out she was seen getting back to her best when scoring at Kempton again, seeing off the talented Golden Bugle with ease and stepping up an extra 2f could be the making of her.

One of the smarter events on ITV is the Group Three Geoffrey Freer Stakes over 1m5f and we can't look past the favourite Hukum, who on ratings should school this field.

The four year old colt was a decent two year old, only racing twice and getting off the mark at the second time of asking at Kempton over a mile.

Burrows always planned to step this horse up in trip and on his seasonal debut last term he landed the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot in gritty style.

The way he battled and stayed on that day showed he could handle a bigger trip and when stepped up to 1m5f in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury, he was a runaway winner in soft conditions.

Both these runs set him up perfectly for a crack at the Group One St Leger at Doncaster, but on the day he was outstayed by better horses and had to settle for fifth.

He returned this season at Sandown in the Group Three Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown over 1m2f and looked to need the run in the final stages.

As expected he came on for the run last time out when getting off the mark for the term in the Listed Tapster Stakes at Goodwood back over 1m4f and that put him spot on for a go at back to back Royal Ascot winners.

He headed into an above average renewal of the Hardwicke Stakes and plugged on well in soft ground to grab third behind the dual Group One winner Wonderful Tonight.

Many horses coming out of that race have franked the form and Hukum added to that roster of animals when last time out landing the Group Three Silver Cup Stakes at York in taking style.

Anything near that performance makes him very tough to beat, with his closest rival in the field having 8lb to find on ratings.

The quirky Grey Horse Handicap comes round every year and sees just these specific horses take to post and this year we fancy the Jedd O'Keefe trained Devil's Angel to go close.

The five year old this term has been in stellar form winning three of his six events since March, recently regaining his form over course and distance when taking a decent Class 4 Handicap.

He is only up 3lb for that run which shouldn't halt his progress and with Megan Nicholls jumping back on board it looks a big positive, with the rider winning on him twice already this term.

Looks the value in the race.

The next selection of the afternoon fro Newbury comes in the Class 3 Handicap over seven furlongs and we are taking another chance on the William Haggas trained Ajyaall.

The four year old makes a big appeal in the contest being a lightly raced son of Kingman that is sure to have a big race in him.

As a three year old the gelding was seen three times, winning two events well once at Haydock and another at Wolverhampton, also finishing second in another event on the all weather.

He returned this term at York over 7f and the soft ground scuppered any chance of running a big race.

The gelding then went back to the Knavesmire over a mile and ran a much better race to finish fifth of 17 behind some course specialists.

He might not have stayed the mile out aswell as possible the step down to 7f is a plus and off the same mark of 90 he could go close.

The first event on ITV from Ripon sees the Silver Trophy Handicap over six furlongs and Ghathanfar for Tracy Waggott looks extremely consistent and that might be the angle into the race.

The five year old made a winning turf seasonal debut at Redcar in April and then went on to finish second in his next three events on good on soft ground.

On his penultimate start he was a good fourth at Pontefract when up in grade and the first and third have since franked that form.

Ghathanfar was last seen a 19 runner handicap at York finishing third and that race has seen the first (Capote's Dream) and second (Mr Wagyu) since go one and win.

He holds leading form claims off only 2lb higher.

The feature race of the afternoon at Newbury on Saturday is the Group Two Hungerford Stakes and we are taking a value punt on the Roger Varian trained Laneqash.

The son of Cable Bay was a £175,000 purchase as a yearling and last year was seen three times, winning smartly on debut at Ascot by three lengths and then backing that up in the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster when a head second to New Mandate.

He was last seen on heavy ground at Newbury in October in a Group Three event, where the conditions ruined any chance he has, so the less rain the better for him.

The now three year old has not been seen since then, but holds plenty of ability and potential for what he could be this season and at the prices could be worth taking a chance on if not needing the run.Varian in flying form a bonus.

The final event on the show this Saturday is the William Hill Great Wilfrid Handicap over six furlongs and with many horses opposing each other it looks a tricky one from a punting perspective.

The horse we have sided with is the Tim Easterby trained Music Society, who has been extremely consistent this term and at an each way price again should be in the mix.

Having won well in June at Pontefract, he then went on to finish second at Hamilton and York, the latter in a good handicap event.

He headed to Glorious Goodwood last time out for the Stewards' Cup Consolation Race and finished a superb fourth coming from off the pace.

That was a superb run and although up in the weights off the back of that event he looks progressive in this sphere and should go close again, with extra places on offer with some firms.