There’s Group One action at Newmarket with the Fillies’ Mile the feature of a high-class card.
Pretty Pollyanna was 4/1 for most of this week and she’s miles clear on ratings, with her best form coming over six furlongs.
This is a significant step up in trip but, visually, the way she sees out six furlongs so strongly suggests she’ll stay further, however whether this is a furlong too far is impossible to know.
Unfortunately she’s been backed into what now looks no better than a fair price of 7/2, so I’d question the point in having a bet.
Hermosa looks the big threat as she’s certain to stay, but her form isn’t anywhere near as strong, and her price is very unappealing.
I’m very tempted to have a saver on Beyond Reason, as she’s bred to thrive over longer trips and looked quite progressive before her underwhelming run in Ireland.
Pretty Pollyanna beat the second from that race last time out, despite a poor ride from Silvestre de Sousa, so that might be the key form line.
I can’t really see any value in the market, though.
Earlier on the card, Limato takes his chance over seven furlongs in a race he won impressively last year.
Despite notching back-to-back Listed successes I couldn’t say he’s returned to form, as the Group One winning Limato has been nowhere to be seen this season and he was more than entitled to win at that lesser grade.
He is a worthy favourite if he does continue to step forward, but the horses he’s been beating would get lapped in higher company.
D’bai has solid claims based on his last run at Doncaster, but I prefer the profile of the improving four-year-old MANKIB.
Despite his age he seems unexposed as he wasn’t up to much in the first half of his career in France, before being switched to William Haggas where, after finishing last on second debut, he’s found his feet and notched up three wins.
The most recent came in effortless style at Newbury, where he travelled all over the competition and won with any amount in hand to demand a step up in class.
I like backing horses that appear to be coming to the boil late in the season, as plenty of good ones start going the other way, so 13/2 is a nice bet.
1pt win Mankib @13/2, 15:00 Newmarket, Friday
I like two in the opener where Well Done Fox looks a worthy but beatable favourite.
This can go to something progressive and Clive Cox’s HEARTWARMING looks a likely candidate with the eye-catching booking of Frankie Dettori on her back.
A half-sister to Royal Ascot winner and solid Group horse Heartache, she will relish the fast ground like her sister and should be competitive if she improves again on what is just her fourth career start.
The other one I like is POETRY by my new favourite sire Kingman, who was such a brilliant racehorse in his three-year-old career.
His progeny have given him a flying start to his first season at stud with notable winners such as Calyx and Sangarius, and the way Poetry destroyed a Listed field over in France last time out could make a mockery of her 7/1 price.
She’s been beaten at Newmarket, which is a little concerning, but it’s very likely she’s improved since then and looks like she’s got real class to be competitive at this level.
1pt win Poetry @7/1, 13:50 Newmarket, Friday
1pt win Hearwarming @10/1, 13:50 Newmarket, Friday