GEORGE BOUGHEY: Weekend Preview

It’s a busy couple of days with runners at both Newbury and Newmarket. Some are making their reappearances, so hopefully there will be some good performances, and horses can get some good fitness, while some have live chances, writes GEORGE BOUGHEY.

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FRIDAY

CELEBORN – 2.40pm Newbury

Celeborn has been off the track for a year after suffering a setback last season and we probably left him off a little longer than we expected to. We had no intention of running him on the all-weather through the winter, so we just gave him the time and he’s ready to go now.

I think the step up to a mile and a quarter should suit him well and if we get a drop of rain it would help him too. He’s in great shape and I think he should give a really good account of himself.

MIRZIMAAN – 3.07pm Newmarket

We haven’t run many two-year-olds yet and we’ve just been waiting for the right time to start introducing them. Mirzimaan’s work has been pleasing. He’s never done anything too serious at home but he’s shown a decent level of ability.

He’s a well-bred colt, related to Battaash, and I hope he can run well. He’s definitely going to improve for the run but this looks a nice place to start him off.

CASE STUDY – 3.42pm Newmarket

Case Study was very immature last year but she seems to have done well from two to three. She took plenty of time through the spring to really come to herself and I’m happy to get her started.

A little bit of rain at Newmarket won’t do her any harm and I think stepping up to a mile should suit her well. Whatever she does here, she’s going to improve for the run.

ERUDITION – 3.53pm Newbury

We were really pleased with Erudition’s debut. He hadn’t done a huge amount beforehand but the work he had done was very positive. The Leicester form has worked out brilliantly, with the second horse winning by five lengths at the weekend and the fourth horse winning yesterday off a mark of 80.

His work since has been good and he’s been working like a horse capable of winning a maiden and progressing from there. He’s a well-bred gelding and it’s great to have a horse like him for Jamie Perkins, who has been a big supporter of the yard.

ARMSTRONG – 5.35pm Newbury

Armstrong has probably been a little unlucky to bump into three well-treated horses so far. Everything he’s done suggests ten furlongs is well within his compass and we’ve always thought he was better than his mark.

These are competitive races at a smart track but plenty looks in his favour and hopefully he can get his head in front.

SATURDAY

QUEENCARD – 2.15pm Newmarket

Like plenty of ours, Queencard is ready to start without having been asked too many serious questions at home. Her work has pleased us and I think she can be winning a maiden before too long.

We’re just trying to split up a number of horses at this stage and she possibly has the pace for five furlongs, so it’ll be interesting to see whether she stays six as well. She’s out of a Queen Mary winner by a fantastic stallion, so we’re looking forward to getting her started.

SHAH – 2.50pm Newmarket

Shah has been off the track a long time but we’ve been very happy with his work. He showed form around some very progressive horses as a two-year-old and everything he’s done at home has been positive.

Although he’s been off a while, he’s straight enough and ready to go, so we should get a pretty good assessment of where he’s at. I think he’ll improve when he gets up in trip later on but he’s showing enough pace to start back over seven furlongs.

LAKE COMO – 5.40pm Newbury

Lake Como was disappointing on very fast ground at Newmarket but I didn’t think he handled the track or the conditions that day. We actually worked him through the dip afterwards with a monitor on and his stride became very inefficient coming downhill, which probably explained what we saw on the track.

Straight away I wanted to get him back on a flatter track and Newbury should suit him much better. He actually finished off his work very well there and I think we might see the real Lake Como on Saturday. He’s got a perfect set-up from his draw and hopefully he can bounce back to form.

BEST CHANCES

Erudition and Celeborn.

⭐ HORSE RACING MARKETS ⭐

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