GEORGE BOUGHEY: Weekend Preview

Star Sports ambassador GEORGE BOUGHEY previews his weekend runners…

⭐ HORSE RACING MARKETS ⭐

---

FRIDAY

WESTPORT – 1:50pm Sandown

Westport was a little disappointing at Royal Ascot, having been drawn low and never really getting involved. I think he possibly wants six furlongs, but a testing five at Sandown could just be ideal for him. There looks to be plenty of pace on and he arrives in great shape, so hopefully he can bounce back.

HAVANA FLASH – 2:25pm Sandown

Havana Flash wasn’t helped by sitting in the stalls for a while at Lingfield last week, but she seems to have come out of the race very well. She’s drawn a little wide and is here to have a crack at some black type. Her work has been progressive and while she’s the outsider of the field at the moment, we’re hopeful she can outrun her odds.

---

SATURDAY

LADY DORA MAE – 2:40pm Newmarket

Lady Dora Mae is a rapidly progressive filly who has trained super into the Lancashire Oaks. A mile and a half is probably the top end of her trip and, like many in the race, she’s chasing some valuable black type. It would be no surprise to see her raise her game again now stepping up in grade.

SHARPEN – 2:40pm Newmarket

Sharpen is a filly we’ve had to be patient with while waiting for some slower ground. Newmarket generally produces good racing ground and, being close to home, we’re happy to let her take her chance. She has some decent form from Ireland and I think this trip should suit. She’s a filly we’re looking forward to campaigning in the second half of the year, so it’s nice to get her back on the track and hopefully she can run with plenty of credit.

BRASIL POWER – 5:22pm Sandown

Brasil Power is coming back to a mark where he’s becoming more competitive again. Against his own age group and without any unexposed three-year-olds in the field, he doesn’t need to improve too much. We were pleased with his effort at Ascot over what was probably an inadequate trip and, while he probably finds life a little harder on turf than on the all-weather, he’s not without an each-way chance at a very big price.

---

SUNDAY

LEONATO – 3:15pm Ayr

Leonato will take his chance at Ayr before heading to the sales next week. I was much more encouraged by his latest run on a flatter track and he seems to have come out of Yarmouth in even better shape than he went into it. A mile might be slightly on the sharp side for him, but they usually go a good gallop at Ayr and hopefully he can run a big race.

CLASSIC ENCOUNTER & CELEBORN – 5:00pm Ayr

It’s still a toss-up as to which of these two will run, but both are in very good form. Celeborn had a stop-start beginning to the season and ran with plenty of credit behind Hand Of God at Newbury when probably needing the run. We thought he’d run very well at Epsom, but he had absolutely no luck there. My preference at the moment would be for Celeborn and, if he lines up, I think he goes there with a great chance. Classic Encounter is also in brilliant form and whichever one we run, I hope they’ll be very competitive.

---

GEORGE’S WEEKEND SELECTION

If I had to pick one I’m most looking forward to, it would be whichever of Classic Encounter or Celeborn runs in the Summer Mile Handicap at Ayr on Sunday.

⭐ HORSE RACING MARKETS ⭐

---

STAR PROMOTIONS