ITV Saturday Racing Preview - 18/09/21

Juan Elcano returned from wind surgery a different proposition at the start of the summer, running on impressively to land the listed Wolferton Stakes.

The son of Frankel subsequently stepped up to a Group 2 following that run and again impressed by finishing a head 2nd behind Bangkok and ahead of Mohaafeth.

He was outclassed in Group 1 company last time out in the Juddmonte however now takes a big drop in grade back down into listed company to be competitive here.

Looks to have leading form claims in this field and is likely to be too classy for the majority of his rivals.

Kings Lynn was a solid listed winner in the Achilles Stakes at Haydock in May on good to soft and looks set to be well suited by the conditions once more here.

Progeny of Cable Bay have an impressive 19% strike rate and 45% place rate on straight, flat galloping tracks like Newbury's on ground softer than good, outperforming their expected wins by 1.46x.

He's had genuine excuses on his last 3 runs, undone by ground too quick and having trouble in running on his penultimate run at Ascot.

Andrew Balding is 20% with his 3yo's at Newbury this season and has a 21% strike rate when teaming up with champion jockey Oisin Murphy.

His runner has had a 2 month break from the track now and looks set for a big bounce back run if returning rejuvinated from the layoff.

Kevin Ryan and Kevin Scott look set for a big day at the races and we turn to the pairing once again in the Silver Cup Handicap.

Magical Spirit was a dominant winner of this race last year by a 3.5 length margin and returns a year on, 6lb higher, from the exact same stall (4) as which he won from previous.

The Silver Cup is likely to have been a long term target once again for connections and Magical Spirit ran his best race of the season at Ascot last time out, running on well before just missing out by a shoulder.

That race was also run at todays class 2 level and the form looks strong given race winner Tis Marvellous subsequently landed a listed affair next time out.

The son of Zebedee will relish the step back up to 6f and looks set to at least go close, once again.

Al Aasy is a confident vote ahead of race 4, the Legacy Cup Stakes.

Sent into the Group Three Al Rayyan Stakes over 1m4f here at Newbury, he could not have been an easier winner of the race, cruising to the front and demolishing a field on the bridle that included St Leger winner Logician and Dante Stakes winner Thunderous.

That run was arguably one of the performances of the season and he tried to reproduce that last time out in the Group One Coronation Cup but was unfortunately chinned on the line by the gritty Pyledriver.

Looking to get back to winning ways he was last seen at Newmarket in the Princess Of Wales Stakes and again he finished narrow second to the determined Sir Ron Priestley.

He has been given a break now and dropping back into a Group Three makes him appear extremely difficult to beat.

Hala Hala Athmani for Kevin Ryan looks a big player in the Group 3 Firth Of Clyde Fillies' Stakes over six furlong on Saturday, with the youngster holding bundles of potential.

The two year old holds a superb pedigree being a half sister to the dual Group One winning sprinter Hello Youmzain and off the back of her debut run, she will be looking to follow in his footsteps.

She has only been seen once to date, at Carlisle on good ground over 6f, ripping apart a fair field by close to six lengths.

The filly seemed to take to racing naturally, showing plenty of raw pace, and although she is stepping up in class she is potentially a cut above any of her rivals in the field with Irish raider Head Mistress looking the threat.

Dawaam has been running consistently well this campaign for trainer Owen Burrows without due reward.

Burrows has his yard in great shape of late with a 20% strike rate across the last 14 days and operating with an eye-catching 80% of his horses running to form.

He teams up with Jim Crowley who is also flying of late with a 32% strike rate across the same 2 week period and he also holds a 32% strike rate when teaming up with Burrows.

Dawaam is fairly lightly raced for a 5yo and is not completely discounted for stepping up on recent efforts which included a blanket finish 3rd last time out at Yarmouth at this level.

The visor has been turned to for the first time in order to eek out that further improvement from this once $450,000 purchase and if having the desired effect, may just be what Dawaam needs in order to get his head in front.

Furthermore the switch to Newbury looks set to suit given progeny of Kitten's Joy hold a 19% strike rate and 38% place rate at the track.

Solid each way claims at the very least.

Ostilio was an eye-catcher last time out in the Listed Bullet Sprint Stakes at Beverley, flying home from the rear to finish an ever-closing 4th.

Paul Midgley, often known as a shrewd operator with his sprinting prospects, now drops his runner back into handicap company off what is already a low weight for the affair and gives his runner the application of a further 3lb weight reduction via claimer Billy Garrity.

The son of New Approach also returns to the better suited 6f trip for the contest and despite having never won for the Midgley yard, his run last time out signified his time was close, and the runner now appears well prepped for a big run here.

John Gosden won this race in 2018 and boasts a highly impressive 24% strike rate at Newbury across the last 3 seasons.

John and Thady enter their 2yo colt Dhabab for the contest, who has been well backed throughout the week.

The son of No Nay Never was a huge eye-catcher to fly home to win from the rear on debut at Leicester (6f), however was luckless next time out in the Coventry (6f) when hitting traffic inside the final furlong when loaded up for a big run.

The step up to 7f last time out at Newmarket in the Superlative Stakes didn't quite go to plan when showing little in the final furlong despite going off as favourite for the contest, fading into 3rd.

The drop back to 6f looks a big plus whilst progeny of No Nay Never also boast an 18% strike rate on straight, flat galloping tracks, providing substance that the switch to Newbury will seemingly also suit.

Hong Kong Harry is very lightly raced for a 4yo and his record currently stands at 4 wins from 6.

The son of Es Que Love is 2 from 2 at Ayr and has shown a liking to the track over the 7f trip, latterly a comfortable 2.25 length win in class 4 company.

The runner returned from a 3 month break last time out to blow away the cobwebs in a keeping on 3rd placed effort over 7.5f on the all weather at Lingfield and with that run now under his belt, he looks sure to improve and step up again.

He looks sure to relish the step up to the 8f trip whilst trainer Richard Fahey's 22% strike rate at Ayr this season only further compliments the runners chances here.