The card at HQ opens with a Listed sprint where there are no penalties. That has attracted some fillies and mares using it as a stepping stone to pattern races later in the campaign. The conundrum today might be which one is fittest. On known form most of the outsiders are easily eliminated. Paris Babe has been running in handicaps on the kitty litter without winning so it is hard to give her any chance here. Rhyme Dust has place form at this level but her only career win was a novice race. Ryan Moore has been booked for Magic Basma but she was behind Rhyme Dust at Ayr and her only career win was on her debut. Clive Cox’s Hold A Dream has race fitness after running third last at Bath at the beginning of April. She was placed in a couple of Listed races last term and her only win was in a novice race. Ed Walker’s Celandine was well regarded as a juvenile, winning the Group 2 Lowther Stakes; however, she only ran four times last term finishing third in a Group 3 on her return but only running midfield in the Nunthorpe. When last seen she was behind Hold A Dream over course and distance. Race fit Sayidah Dariyan won the Group 3 where Celandine returned and finished ahead of her in the Nunthorpe. She won on her seasonal debut last term and her best effort was when fourth in the Commonwealth Cup, two facts that give her a leading chance here. Sky Majesty ran six times as a three year old after going unbeaten as a juvenile. She was behind Sayidah Dariyan in the Commonwealth Cup but finished ahead of that one in the Haydock Sprint Cup. Ahead of both of them was Flora Of Bermuda in third and she is probably the overall form pick here for the Balding yard; however, neither of her career wins has been first time out and she failed to win last year. That leaves me with Rosy Affair, from the in-form Boughey stable, winner of a Pontefract Listed race (Magic Basma second, Hold A Dream third, Rhyme Dust fourth) and then the Group 3 Prix de Meautry when last seen. She started last year in a three way photo over course and distance so she could give Sayidah Dariyan and Flora Of Bermuda most to do here.
The Suffolk Stakes handicap (2.20) looks like my type of betting race but comes with some imponderables. It looks easy enough to rule out 2023 Cambridgeshire winner Astro King, not seen on course for nearly two years. Marhaba Ghaiyyath is fitted with cheekpieces after two disappointing efforts this term and I can see the Johnston charge being sent to the front here. The other Johnston runner Thunder Wonder was fourth in a Musselburgh where he tried to make most of the running so he can be expected to be up front today in this better race. Al Arbeed has only placed once since his debut win and now steps up to nine furlongs. Erzindjan was fourth in the Cambridgeshire last year and goes well fresh but he has never won on these shores. Fifth Column ran respectably in the Newbury Spring Cup and should be expected to come on for that. There are two runners from the Balding barn and jockey bookings would suggest that The Lost King is the second string. In four starts on the kitty litter he has not finished out of the frame and back on turf he steps up a furlong today. The other Balding runner Mister Winston won comfortably on his return (Tycoon fifth), only has a 5lb penalty here and is sure to go well trying to justify favouritism. He has to give weight to Alcarath, a gelding with only four starts under his belt. Alan King’s charge seems to have been assessed entirely on an easy win in a five runner novice race at Epsom where he beat a 1/4 shot from the Gosden barn; however, that one did not handle the track and HQ is nothing like Epsom so I am prepared to take on the Timeform top rated. The topweight Bullet Point had an excellent season last year winning a handicap here on his return followed by second in the Royal Hunt Cup and a win at the York Ebor meeting. Upped in class he then disappointed when favourite for the Group 3 Strensall Stakes. With his sights lowered he should go well today. My pick, however, is BOTANICAL from the in-form Karl Burke stable. Last year he was second in the John Smith’s Cup and followed that with places in Listed races at Goodwood and Doncaster. He has race fitness thanks to a fourth place finish in the Lincoln and the nine furlongs today should suit as he has won over nine and ten furlongs.
