Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Leicester, Naas (Ireland) and Sandown this evening

Frankie Dettori, back from a week´s suspension, is in action at Sandown this evening and can take the 2yo maiden over 7 furlongs at 20.10 with Godolphin´s Combat Zone, who was a close 6th of 11 in a Newmarket maiden a fortnight ago. He also rides the promising Pegasus Again for terry Mills in the 3yo handicap over the same distance half an hour later, but the obvious favourite here is Sir Michael Stoute´s unbeaten Main Aim (Ryan Moore), who needs to settle better but is expected to go on to better things. At Leicester, the 12 furlongs handicap at 20.50 looks dfficult, as few of the 9 runners can be recommended on recent form. Top-weight Polish-bred Dzesmin (Rae Guest/ John Egan) has had no chance in better quality races, but has prosects in this grade, while Alfie Noakes (Amanda Perrett/ Jim Crowley) is very well in on his older form, but the well-bred Crystal Prince, a half-brother to german Group One winner Catella, can score on his first run for Charlie Longsdon. There are 14 runners in the 7 furlongs fillies handicap at 21.25, where last-time-out winners Desert Chill (Saeed bin Suroor/ Kerrin McEvoy) and Lekita (Walter Swinburn/ Saleem Golam) are just two oif several possibilities. There are 5 flat races and 2 hurdles races at Naas in Ireland. The final flat race is an apprentices handicap, but the other four could all go to the all-conquering Aidan O´Brien/ Johnny Murtagh team with Great Barrier Reef in the 6 furlongs maidane at 18.55, Bor to be King in the 2yo maiden over 6 furlongs at 19.25, debutant Masterofthehorse, an own brother to triple Oaks winner Alexandrova, in the mile maiden for 2yo´s at 21.00 and in the mile conditions race half an hour later Mystical Lady, who is dropping in grade.