Newbury Saturday Preview - 18/05/2019

Red Impression certainly made just that in her two starts as a juvenile last term, when winning at both Lingfield and Kempton on the All-weather, and now takes her campaign for the opening race at Newbury on Saturday - the Shalaa Carnarvon Stakes.

The three-year-old grey filly finished third on a her reappearance at Chelmsford in Listed honours earlier this month, and should improve on what will be her first start on the turf for Roger Charlton.

Looks progressive and consistent over this trip of six furlongs - should go close under Jason Watson.

Stall one a further plus.

A very genuine, likeable character from Sir Michael Stoute’s yard, Crystal Ocean looked to pick up where he left off from last season and did so when taking the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown a few weeks back.

After victory in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, the now five-year-old son of Sea The Stars did finish second in his next three starts, but ran into a top-class individual each time, including Enable at Kempton and Cracksman back at the Berkshire venue.

This time of season he usually prepares well for future engagements with victories, and more of the same will be expected in the first group action of the day - the Al Rayyan Stakes over a mile-and-a-half.

The London Gold Cup Handicap is always a contest to look back on at the end of the season to find out how many winners it has produced over the course of the year, and Solid Stone will be hoping to use this as a potential stepping stone onto bigger and better things.

This three-year-old got the better of War Tiger in a good scrap in a five-runner handicap at Newmarket on latest start a month ago over the distance required today.

Learned to knuckle down to the task for Sir Michael Stoute and looks a rapid developer on the rise in some well-known colours for the yard.

Strong contender in this big field.

Previously with Andre Fabre, Aidan O'Brien secured the services of former French Guineas second Le Brivido before his Irish debut at Naas in April, and now takes him to the Group One Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes - the feature race of the afternoon.

Third to Dermot Weld's Imaging over seven, this five-year-old has been very well punted and fancied for this contest, over the mile he is so craving to return to.

Won the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot a couple of years ago, and should bounce back to his best with a solid effort.

High class field for this year's renewal - Le Brivido carries a big weight of expectation.

Temple Of Heaven won a five-furlong Nottingham novice on debut, and should be seen to good effect in the step-up to six in the Olympic Glory Conditions Stakes.

Two-year-old son of Iffraaj will fancy possibly seven furlongs or a mile in time, but can continue his growth with another good effort - the second on his debut has since come out and won second time out as well to boost the form.

Richard Hannon has won the two of the four runnings of this race, and has a likely player for this year's renewal.

Exciting prospect; Sean Levey gets the ride.

Queen Power was so close to making it two out of two on return at Ascot just over a fortnight ago, but has some of the better form arriving into the Listed Haras De Bouqetot Fillies Trial Stakes over ten furlongs.

Winner on debut at Newmarket in October, she just found an in-form Frankie Dettori and Muchly too much at the royal course, but looks likely to stay the new trip on Saturday afternoon at another Berkshire venue.

Should improve further in colours that have had an outstanding start to the season, and will benefit again from the services of Champion Jockey Silvestre De Sousa.

Decent field for this year's contest - we think we've got the right one!

Thrave can take the finale - the Toronado Handicap over a mile, and can benefit from an encouraging fourth in a handicap over eight furlongs on return at Newmarket.

Won a nice race on the Rowley Mile last term when breaking his maiden tag over seven, and despite remaining lightly raced and inexperienced, he can begin to take things to the next level retaining the same trip now after a spell over further.

Form looks decent enough from that run in Suffolk for this season, and should go well again.

Jason Watson in the saddle again for us, this time for Henry Candy.