IT IS amazing to think Mark Johnston has bagged the John Smith’s Northumberland Plate just once in his career, but Keenes Day can double that tally at Newcastle.
The Middleham handler has his horses in excellent order, as a double at Royal Ascot last week illustrated, but he will be seeking a first succcess in the Pitmen’s Derby since Quick Ransom came good in 1994.
He obliged at 25-1 when Johnston was still forming the reputation he now enjoys.
While Keenes Day will not be that kind of price, he is still decent value.
Many people will be put off by his run at the Royal meeting in the Ascot Stakes, in which he finished behind one of the fancied runners for this contest, Judgethemoment.
However, that can be forgiven as it was over two-anda- half miles, and while Johnston had targeted him at that race for some time, he just did not stay. He travelled into the straight going better than most but flattened out once his stamina gave way.
Keenes Day had proven his stamina over this trip of two miles when hacking up at Lingfield in the style of a progressive horse.
For a race with so much money up for grabs, there are plenty of in-form rivals and unexposed handicappers from leading stables lining up, but Keenes Day looks the one.
Also at Gosforth Park, a chance is taken on Godolphin’s new charge Ancien Regime in the freebets.co.uk Chipchase Stakes.
Handled by Michael Jarvis through his early days, he always looked a sprinter destined for big things.
He was third in a big field of handicappers at York when well-fancied, before beating Prime Defender in a Group Three at Sandown.
However, it was the effort he put up in his only subsequent outing that really caught the eye. Pitched into Group One class for the rearranged Sprint Cup at Doncaster, he was beaten just over a length by African Rose, surrounded by top-notch sprinters such as Corrybrough and Utmost Respect.
This race also sees the return of the very smart War Artist, but after all his troubles a watching brief is probably best advised.
At Doncaster, Johnston can double up with Layali Al Andalus in the crownhotelbawtry.
com Maiden Stakes.
Andrew Balding must be sick of bumping into Paco Boy with Dream Eater and thankfully Richard Hannon’s stable star does not appear in the John Bovington Memorial Criterion Stakes at Newmarket.
Balding’s grey is nothing if not game, but he just falls slightly short of Group One class.
Barry Hills seems to be able to do no wrong at present so Seek N’ Destroy looks a solid pick in the Cruise Nightclub Handicap at Chester.
Chris Wall’s Premio Loco is very consistent and looks to have been found another winnable opportunity in Windsor’s Totepool Midsummer Stakes.
He came out on top in a blanket finish for a similar race at Goodwood last time and still looks on the up.
At Lingfield, Ed Dunlop should win the Bet In-Running – Betdaq Median Auction Maiden with Andhaar.
Orpen Grey is a solid selection in the K J Pike & Sons Ltd Auction Stakes at Salisbury tomorrow.
Tom Dascombe’s juvenile stepped up markedly on what was a perfectly acceptable debut performance at Goodwood, when absolutely bolting up at Warwick on his next start.
A son of Orpen, he is the type of horse with which Dascombe clearly excels, given the Group-race victories he achieved with Firth Of Fifth and Classic Blade last year.
Trainers are creatures of habit too and the fact Dascombe took this corresponding race 12 months ago with Classic Blade bodes well for Orpen Grey’s chances.
Horses of the calibre of Sir Percy and Milk It Mick have won this race en-route to better things, so let us hope Orpen Grey can do the same.
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