Blue Bayou (Newmarket, 15:35) was just a neck behind the unbeaten Illuminate and subsequent Ascot scorer Besharah last time out, when racing six furlongs in Group Two company at Newmarket’s July meeting. Ryan Moore was a confident, eye-catching jockey booking that day, but suffered an injury earlier on the card and was replaced by today’s rider Dane O’Neill. Regardless of whether that cost them the race, the form is excellent and, with similar conditions today and a supposed drop in class, she looks good to take the step up to seven furlongs in her stride.
The biggest threat looks to be Hawksmoor, who is one-from-one after bolting up in the Leonard Curtis/British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies’ Steaks (sorry). Dutch Heiress, 2nd that day, has since franked the form by winning both her subsequent starts. 5/1 looks good for a horse with form in the book and open to any amount of improvement.
It’s disappointing to see Intilaaq only tackle Group Three company (Haydock, 14:55), which presumably means he’ll be scratched for the Group One Juddmonte International at York in a few weeks. He’s a horse I’ve followed closely since bolting up at Newbury earlier in the season and looks high class. He’s not a complicated colt, so navigating this small field should be a formality.
Master Carpenter rates the biggest threat, stepping out of handicap company and arriving in good form. The change may be out of necessity though now up 6lbs for his York success and, this being his sixth start of the season, I don’t fancy his chances.
On Sunday in the Keenland Phoenix Stakes at The Curragh, Coventry Stakes winner Buratino looks to get off the mark in Group One company. Rocket fuelled on his previous two starts, I’ve not seen a better 2yo sprinter this season so the 9/4 looks tasty.
Over in France, this season’s star 3yo sprinter Muhaarar looks for his Group One hat-trick in the Prix Maurice De Gheest at Deauville. A bad draw contributed to his flop on his previous trip to France in the French Guineas, but sensational performances in the Commonwealth and July cups rocketed him to the top of the European sprinter ratings. With dry conditions forecast and the insurance of having won on heavy should any rain arrive, it’s hard to see him beaten over an ‘ideal’ straight six-and-a-half furlongs.
0.5Pts Win (Fourfold) @29/1 (SkyBet), Blue Bayou/Intilaaq/Buratino/Muhaarar
0.5Pts Win (Fourfold) @69/1 (WillHill), Hawksmoor/Intilaaq/Buratino/Muhaarar