Matthew Ireland's tips for Friday include two selections from Newmarket and one from Dundalk.
There is some cracking racing in store on Friday with six meetings scheduled in the UK and Ireland.
The second day of Newmarket’s Cambridgeshire meeting takes centre stage and we have bets in the two feature Group 2 races at HQ plus one in a competitive Listed race at Dundalk.
SHUWARI @ 2/1 (Newmarket 15:00)
MUTASAABEQ @ 7/2 (Newmarket 15:35)
PIZ BADILLE @ SP (Dundalk 18:45)
Shuwari to stay unbeaten
The Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai, Rockfel Stakes for 2yo fillies over 7f has been won by plenty of smart horses over the years, including 1000 Guineas winner Speciosa in 2006. This year’s renewal looks well up to scratch with several of the runners having already shown some smart form. It is interesting that Aidan O’Brien runs Ylang Ylang again so quickly after her disappointing effort in the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes, although it is difficult to fancy her on the back of that run. Carla’s Way and Alshinfarah were placed in Group 3 company last time and have to be considered, but strong preference is for the Ollie Sangster-trained SHUWARI 2/1. Unbeaten in a Newbury novice and Sandown Listed race over this trip, she beat subsequent Group 1 winner Fallen Angel on the latter occasion which gives her very persuasive form claims. She is ground-versatile and the only question mark is her ability to handle this track. If she does, she should win under Oisin Murphy.
Mutasaabeq to return to form
In the following race at Newmarket – the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Joel Stakes over one mile – it could pay to take a chance on Charles Hills’ course specialist MUTASAABEQ 7/2 to return to form under Jim Crowley. Four of his six wins have come at Newmarket on varying grounds, including an impressive win in the rerouted Group 2 Bet365 Mile in May. He then ran a cracker in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes before a couple of subsequent below-par efforts. However, a return to Newmarket could spark a revival and he is a bit of value. Richard Hannon’s Chindit has been in excellent form of late and is a big danger, while William Haggas’s Maljoom hasn’t been seen since he was an unlucky fourth in last year’s St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot but will surely need this outing to put him right.
Badile to be too classy
The Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Diamond Stakes at Dundalk over 1m2f was downgraded from a Group 3 last year to a Listed race, but today’s renewal looks worthy of its former standing with eight entrants holding a rating of 100 or higher. They include last year’s runner-up Freescape, Simon and Ed Crisford’s Sea The Casper, Listed winner Bold Discovery and Dundalk regular San Andreas. However, the standout on form is PIZ BADILE SP. Trained by Donnacha O’Brien, he should be able to get back on the scoresheet despite a tricky draw in stall 14. He won the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes on his seasonal debut as a three-year-old before finishing a seventh-length runner-up to Arc fancy Westover in the Irish Derby. The best of his two runs this year was an equally respectable third to the classy pair of Luxembourg and Bay Bridge in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in May. This is a significant drop in class and, although he is unraced on the All-Weather, he could prove too classy under regular partner Gavin Ryan.
