Sporting Life
Third Time Lucky (far side) winning the 2015 Cambridgeshire
Third Time Lucky (far side) winning the 2015 Cambridgeshire

Richard Fahey column on his Saturday runners

Horse Racing
Sun May 06, 2018 · 7y ago

Our star columnist Richard Fahey takes us through his team for Saturday including a horse returning to the scene of his greatest triumph.

Leading Saturday chances

11
14
Third Time Lucky14
Age: 6|  Weight: 8-8| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR:  93| CD
11/1

2
2
Indomeneo35
Age: 3|  Weight: 9-6| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR:  84| C
16/1

7
5
Chingachgook35
Age: 3|  Weight: 8-8| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR:  76
10/1

Third Time Lucky returns to the scene of his greatest triumph in the Spring Lodge Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

Nine furlongs here is absolutely ideal for him, as he showed when winning the Cambridgeshire, and the handicapper is starting to give him a chance. He seems in good form at home and while he is very in and out, on a going day he’d have a big chance. He didn’t run badly at Newbury last time.

Crotchet has been working really well at home this spring. The Hot Streak Handicap looks a very competitive affair but the way our filly has been going we’re happy to start out here and work our way forward.

Crownthorpe is a horse we’ve always liked and he’s progressing on the track now. Trip, course and ground will all suit in the QIPCO Racing Welfare Handicap and it’s just a question of whether he’s improving fast enough to win a handicap on Guineas day at Newmarket.

The Commission Free Racing At Matchbook Handicap is a valuable pot at Goodwood and Right Action arrives there in the form of his life. We’re coming back quite quickly from Catterick with him and I’m just a bit worried about that. Everything else looks perfect.

We also run Gallipoli and I really wouldn’t want to split my pair, on what we see at home there’s nothing between them. This fellow was unlucky at Lingfield on All-Weather Final Day when he was slowly away. If he’d jumped on terms I think he’d have nearly won. If he handles the track he has a good chance from a favourable draw.

Indomeneo was very disappointing at Musselburgh first time out and we don’t know why. He was working fine before that race – and fine after it. Perhaps he’s paying the price for winning four times last season but he steps up in trip for the totesport.com 20 Free Bets Handicap at Wetherby and if he improves for it – as I think he might – he can go well.

Withernsea is starting to creep down the handicap and he runs in the totesport.com Hunt Cup Handicap. He needs a bit of luck in a big field like this.

Withernsea - starting to creep down the handicap

I really don’t know what to say about George Bowen ahead of the crownhotel-bawtry.com Handicap at Doncaster other than he does his own thing. On a going day he’d have a real chance.

Private Matter ran terribly at Doncaster first time back and for no apparent reason. I was hoping he’d find his way again this season. He was a good two-year-old and they can bounce back at four after a difficult second season but he needs to show more here.

We’re a little behind in terms of sorting out our two-year-olds this season after such a wet spring – we haven’t been able to get much work into them on grass.

Cosmic Law and Ninetythreetwenty both make their debut in the China Rose Of Bawtry Novice Stakes. I like them and they should win their maidens – but whether it’s first time up is a different matter.

They have worked in separate groups on the turf once and shaped well and are nice horses who are ready to start out.

Chingachgook ran well on his reappearance at Musselburgh, finishing second. He didn’t have a great draw there and got shuffled further back than we wanted. He has a good, solid chance in the Fine And Country Handicap.

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