GEORGE BOUGHEY: Bumper Weekend Preview

I’m super happy with the form and well-being of the yard. The horses are in great shape and that bodes well for a big weekend, writes GEORGE BOUGHEY.

We had a treble on Tuesday with Panelli, Both Of Us and Indian Spirit which was very satisfying. Onto a busy weekend of action with an exciting trio of two-year-olds as the headline acts.

⭐️ STARSPORTS.BET RACING MARKETS ⭐️ 

---

FRIDAY

NEWMARKET

ORANGE SKY – 1.15pm Newmarket

She takes a big step up in grade, but with the ground looking likely to change at some point, there weren’t many suitable fillies’ handicaps for her on the turf. There were a couple of options on the all-weather, but she deserves her chance in this Listed company. She comes from a stakes-performing family and although she’ll be a big price, I think she can run well. The stronger the tempo, the better it will suit her.

AWAKEN – 2.25pm Newmarket

She was disappointing at Salisbury in the Dick Poole. She was drawn in 12 on what was almost un-raceable ground – I slightly wish we hadn’t run her there, but luckily it seems to have left no marks on her. She came out of the race in great shape and has shown encouraging work since. She’s a filly that’s been crying out for the step up in trip to seven furlongs. I hope the extra furlong will allow her to travel with a bit more ease. They’re likely to go a decent gallop with a strong pace forecast in the race and I’m more than happy to give her a chance here. This’ll be the stiffest test she’ll have faced so far, so we’ll get a really good guide as to where we are with her and we’re looking forward to seeing how she gets on.

POWDER MONKEY – 4.10pm Newmarket

He is a nice colt from the breeze-ups who has been showing plenty at home. He’s done some good bits of work with winners and looks capable of running well in what is a strong-looking Newmarket maiden.

CLASSIC ENCOUNTER – 4.45pm Newmarket

He has some solid form here at Newmarket and I think the track suits him. The last time he ran here it was a small field, and the loose horse didn’t help matters. The intermediate trip of nine furlongs should be ideal, and he takes a big drop in grade having contested a 0–105 at York last time. Off his current mark he looks like value, and I think he can outrun his odds.

BRASIL POWER – 4.45pm Newmarket

He needs to raise his game but is a capable horse on his day. He’ll need things to drop right for him in a competitive handicap.

---

SATURDAY

RIPON

HERE FOREVER – 1.40pm Ripon

He was poorly positioned last time at Thirsk, drawn low when the race developed up the stands’ side. He shaped a good deal better than the bare result suggests, and he’s been working well since. He’s more than capable of winning a maiden, and this looks a good opportunity.

---

SATURDAY

NEWMARKET

BOW ECHO – 1.50pm Newmarket

He heads here after a good win at Haydock last time out. His work has been good since, and he’s never really been one to take that much to get to race fitness, so we’ve just been ticking him over since. The one piece of work he did was on the Rowley Mile and it was as impressive a bit of work as we’ve seen from one of our two-year-olds. It was nice to get some match practice, and he couldn’t be in much better shape coming into his first Group 2 contest. He’s the type of horse that if he can take this step up in grade, then the natural next step will be to work back from the 2000 Guineas next year. We’ll likely keep him off the track for the rest of the season after this. He’s our best chance of the weekend.

HILITANY – 3.00pm Newmarket

He has nearly landed a perfect three from three so far in his career, and he really stepped his form up when winning at Windsor under a penalty earlier this month. The initial plan was to work back from the Mill Reef, but with the timeframe we thought the ground would be better for him at Newmarket, and I think that’s the way it’s panning out with a clear forecast. He’s a good-moving horse who’ll be seen to best effect on decent ground. He’s stepping up from a novice win under a penalty to Group 1 company, but in a year where it looks quite an open race, we’re more than willing to take our chance. He likes to be on the front end and Newmarket favours those who like to go forward. He comes here in the best shape we could have him so I’m looking forward to seeing him step up in grade.

---

SATURDAY

SOUTHWELL

MEGAPHONE – 7.00pm Southwell

He never got into the race in the Racing League last time, finding himself on the back foot early. He’s in a much better place now and drops back to a trip that I think suits him well. Hopefully this can be a chance for him to bounce back and show his best.

---

SUNDAY

NEWCASTLE

BOTH OF US – 3.20pm Newcastle

He was an impressive winner at Southwell this week and looks ahead of his mark. He heads to Newcastle for a valuable handicap, and with Billy Loughnane on board I’d be hopeful he can go very close again.

NORTH VIEW – 3.55pm Newcastle

He tries ten furlongs for the first time. Things didn’t work out for him at Newbury last time when the ground turned against him, but he’s long threatened to be a well-handicapped horse. Hopefully, the step up in trip can help him travel into the race more comfortably.

FOURONEOHFEVER – 4.30pm Newcastle

He wasn’t seen to best effect on Oaks Day at Epsom and has had a break with an autumn campaign in mind. His recent work has been very good and he’s a horse who could be starting to look well handicapped off 88. This looks the right sort of race to get him going again before we look at a race on the turf.

OLIVER SHOW – 6.45pm Newcastle

He ran a big race at Doncaster when dropped back to six and a half furlongs on soft ground. He’s a course-and-distance winner at Newcastle, and with cheekpieces back on he looks capable of being very competitive here.

⭐️ STARSPORTS.BET RACING MARKETS ⭐️ 

---

STAR PROMOTIONS