3 minute read
Sam King is back with three selections on Saturday, including a big-price each-way selection in the Irish 2000 Guineas.
Having won three of the four two-year-old races at Beverley so far this season, it's hardly surprising to see Nick Bradley Racing with three leading chances in this year's Hilary Needler (2.10).
Run over the fast-five, the unbeaten Ali Shuffle looks to have all the right credentials.
A winner over course and distance second time out, the daughter of the speedy A'ali looked value for more than the length winning margin when making all in Chester's valuable Lilly Agnes Stakes.
Her sharp gate speed should stand her in good stead from stall six and although she's drawn widest of all, I'd expect Sam James to make plenty of use of her with that experience in the bag.
The forecast quick conditions shouldn't pose an issue, and, in all truth, she looks to have every chance of taking her record to four from four.
1pt Win – Ali Shuffle
Odds – 11/4
King Casper struggled when attempting to give weight away to some decent sorts on soft ground here in September and is better judged on his performance here in August. He quickened up nicely that day on good to firm ground to put three subsequently winners to the sword, so it wasn't overly surprising to see him fairly make a mockery of an opening mark of 81 on the Rowley Mile and Newmarket last month.
A 9lb hike in the weights in this competitive handicap will clearly demand more, but it was tough not to be impressed with the manner he did that day, while the form has taken some nice boosts since with the fourth-place horse going on to run the London Gold Cup second to within a neck on his next outing.
Hugo Palmer and Oisin Murphy were both present in the winners' circle at Haydock yesterday and could be again this afternoon, with this improving colt set to follow up at general odds of 10/3.
1pt Win – King Casper
Odds – 10/3
The Irish 2000 Guineas looks like a fascinating renewal, with Newmarket's runner-up Field Of Gold looking for redemption against the likes of the unbeaten Cosmic Year.
However, one horse seems to be sliding under the radar and Rashabar needs to be massively considered from an each-way angle at odds of 20/1.
Last year's Coventry Stakes winner has been a touch unfortunate not to score at the top level, finishing an excellent second in the Prix Morny at Deauville before being denied a neck by Camille Pissarro, who has since run well in the French 2000 Guineas from a terrible draw, in the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.
Brian Meehan's charge had been set to contest the French 2000 Guineas but was forced to miss the engagement due to a small setback. That could prove a blessing in disguise with another week or so under his belt and I'm expecting him to put up a bold bid at a track that should suit his run style.
I'm no paddock expert by any means, but you didn't need to be to see that Rashabar would improve a tonne from his reappearance in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury.
Brian Meehan looks to have used the "old fashioned" trial to perfection in my mind and it's easy to see him improving bundles from what remained a highly promising effort.
I'm expecting Sean Levey to be handy on the son of Holy Roman Emperor from stall one, and with the step up to a mile expected to bring out further improvement, he's surely too big of a price at around the 20/1 mark.
1pt Each-way – Rashabar
Odds – 20/1
