ITV Racing Saturday Newmarket, Ascot & Redcar Preview - 07/10/23

Andy Smith | @AndySmithRacing

Ascot - October 06 2023
Ascot 12:50
4(9)
Jason Watson

Nymphadora

J:
 
Jason Watson
T:
 
Andrew Balding
Age: 4
Weight: 9-1
OR: 104
Days: 14

Andrew Balding’s filly has been in fine fettle this season having scored in a handicap and a listed contest so far.

Unable to lie up in Group 1 and Group 2 company since, she was dropped back down to a Group Three event last time out at Newbury on desperate ground and went agonisingly close behind Thunderbear.

She drops back into Listed company today and if running to a similar level as last time out she won’t be far away.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
23/09/23NBY5Hy9-02
25/08/23YOR5GF9-109
04/08/23GOO5GS9-18
15/07/23YOR5GS8-101
24/06/23AYR5Gd9-64
Ascot - October 06 2023
Ascot 13:25
2(1)
Jim Crowley

Al Aasy

J: Jim Crowley
T: William Haggas
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 9-9
OR: 113
Days: 28

Relatively lightly raced for a 6 year old, Al Aasy has been highly consistent for connections at this level over the years, winning four times at Group Three level.

He's been at his usual best this season scoring a listed race over today's course and distance in comfortable fashion before scoring twice over 10 furlongs at Newbury and Haydock, the latter being in a Group Three.

Last seen at Leopardstown just being touched off by favourite Adelaide River, a run similar to that level should see him win this event.

Ascot - October 06 2023
Ascot 14:00
2(10)
Jim Crowley

Garrus

J: Jim Crowley
T: Charles Hills
N/A
Age: 7
Weight: 9-7
OR: 110
Days: 28

Charles Hills 7 year old sprinter and although he's yet to score at Ascot he's been aimed at Group One level for all of his outings there.

He's been running to a high level this season, scoring a Group 3 back in April at Newmarket, just getting the better of Commanche Falls. Unable to lie up in Group Two company after that, he was dropped to Group Three company and ran well twice to be 2nd both times.

Last seen in the Sprint Cup Stakes, he struggled to perform again at the top table but has been given some time to freshen up and goes well at this level. Can get in the mix again here.

Ascot - October 06 2023
Ascot 14:35
18(2)
Benoit De La Sayette

Hickory

J: Benoit De La Sayette
T: James Fanshawe
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 8-10
OR: 89
Days: 28

James Fanshawe's 5 year old has been relatively lightly raced for his age and has only been able to get a full season under his belt this year.

The succession of runs has seen him start to improve and he's been a little unlucky not to score a win in a decent handicap so far this season. Narrowly beaten here by Baradar (who's since franked the form) he again ran well over this course and distance to be 3rd behind winning machine Quinault.

Popmaster confirmed the strength of the form from last time out when winning a listed race at Newbury and Hickory lines up again today off a low looking mark of 89. Can make his presence felt again.

Newmarket - October 06 2023
Newmarket 12:30
2(4)
Kevin Stott

Lady Alara

J: Kevin Stott
T: Charles Hills
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-11
OR: 95
Days: 14

A debut winner as a 2 year old, Lady Alara failed to take much of a step forward subsequently until she suddenly bounced back to form at Ascot in September winning a handicap over a mile.

She showed her strong stamina making all the running and scoring with a fair bit in hand. The handicapper reacted to the tune of 6lbs and she nearly defied the handicappers attention when coming 2nd here at Newmarket to what looked to be a well in rival.

She shaped that day like the move up to 10 furlongs will suit and a mark of 95 is necessarily too stiff for her to deal with now going over further.

Newmarket - October 06 2023
Newmarket 13:05
8(10)
Kieran Shoemark

Rich Glory

J:
 
Kieran Shoemark
T:
 
Edward Bethell
Age: 2
Weight: 8-11
OR: 81
Days: 91

Although Zoulu Chief heads the betting there's value to be found elsewhere in this race with plenty of runners. Rich Glory is an interesting entrant here for Ed Bethell.

Despite not showing much on debut over 5 furlongs despite being sent off favourite, he took a major step forward on his next outing to make all the running over 6 furlongs at Nottingham in a smart performance. He couldn't repeat the tactics in a deeper event last time out but shaped well enough to be 4th. That contest looking a relatively decent event subsequently.

He's been given a break since then and with this race having some serious pace in it, he might just get a perfect tow into the contest from the nearby drawn Zoulu Chief and hit the frame.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
08/07/23CRL6GF9-104
15/06/23NOT6GF9-71
19/05/23HAM5Gd9-77
Newmarket - October 06 2023
Newmarket 14:15
3(3)
Frankie Dettori

Inspiral

J: Frankie Dettori
T: John & Thady Gosden
N/A
Age: 4
Weight: 9-5
OR: 118
Days: 55

She's been incredibly classy for John Gosden, after being an unbeaten Group One winning 2 year old, she captured another two top tier events last season.

Returning at Royal Ascot this season after a long lay off, she was desperately unlucky to be beaten a neck by Triple Time and floundered on very soft ground at Goodwood in the Sussex Stakes. However, she bounced back to her brilliant best last time out and captured the Jacques le Marois at Deauville again in impressive fashion.

See sets the standard and gets her good ground to bounce off of today, which should just give her the edge over the French Raider who seems to be at her best on soft ground.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
07/10/23NMK8GF9-51
13/08/23DEA8GS9-21
02/08/23GOO8Sft9-75
20/06/23ASC8Gd8-132
15/10/22ASC8GS9-06
Redcar - October 06 2023
Redcar 13:45
8(1)
Oisin Orr

Flaccianello

J:
 
Oisin Orr
T:
 
Richard Fahey
Age: 2
Weight: 8-11
OR: 88
Days: 15

Dragon Leader could be vulnerable in this race followinghis defeat at Doncaster and Flaccinanello represents connections who have won two of the last six renewals of this race.

The filly has scored a maiden and a deep fillies nursery this season and wasn't disraced in 5th at Doncaster in the £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes on her penultimate outing. She put that behind her last time out when winning another nursery event against some decent colts.

Another big run isn't ruled out for her here.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
07/10/23RED6Gd8-116
22/09/23AYR6GS9-51
14/09/23DON6.5Sft8-95
05/08/23NMK6Sft9-01
08/07/23HAY6GF9-56