First class racing tomorrow at Newmarket (could be argued the best, on a Friday, in recent times outside of a major Festival in fact) but if my regular readers will allow me I’ll instead take them ‘oooooooooooooooooooop’ to Newcastle.
LUGANO (5.40 Newcastle) – one must say that this one absolutes reeks of a ‘Prescott plot’ and I wouldn’t be at all concerned that Lugano makes his seasonal bow here as the old rogue certainly knows how to get one ready without a ‘prep’. Was beaten 11.5, 11.25 and 12 lengths in 3 maiden events last term and that has earned the old boy a perch of just 60 which I would expect his trainer to exploit to the full. The eye catching thing is that on his handicap bow Lugano is stepped up to 12.5 furlongs and expect the son of Galileo to excel over this distance. Was a very expensive yearling purchase back in 2014 (just over a quarter of a million pounds) and is certainly a well bred type as his dam was a dual Listed scorer and his siblings include Swiss Diva (dual Group winner), Swiss Spirit (Group winner) and the Frankel 2YO Swiss Storm who created an enormous impression when winning over 7 furlongs at Newbury recently and is now quoted for both the 2017 2,000 Guineas and Derby. Lugano’s opponents look extremely exposed and this most deffo is not the greatest race ever run. Would therefore expect him to start his season with a win. No prices, at the time of writing, but Sporting Life are forecasting 7/2.
Good luck, team.