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Catching Pigeons: Gossip and tips from the gallops
Soliloquy is fancied to provide Charlie Appleby with Classic success on Sunday - we round up all the gossip and tips from the major trainer centres.
Catching Pigeons: Weekend fancies
2.05 Goodwood - Saturday
6.20 Doncaster - Saturday
2.55 Newmarket - Sunday
3.35 Newmarket - Sunday
Gustav Klimt may not look the greatest value to give Aidan O'Brien his third 2000 Guineas in four years, but he is the subject of some impressive work reports and looks the pick of the bunch for the QIPCO-sponsored first Classic at Newmarket on Saturday.
Not for the first time, the Coolmore team have taken a while to come to hand during what has been a very peculiar spring, but Gustav was able to win the trial at Leopardstown in great style, despite sidestepping the rest of the season after impressing in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket in July.
Although this will be his first attempt at a mile, connections seem to think it is his ideal trip, and they have him well primed and ready to tackle a classy home team, headed perhaps by Expert Eye, who should step up considerably on his comeback effort at Newbury.
Clive Cox's team are housed in one of the highest spots in the Lambourn Valley, and some of his horses have taken a while to come to terms with the cold spring.
Chagatai was one exception, however, and he is fancied to follow up his comeback win at Kempton in the Hot Streak Handicap.
A smart if somewhat wayward two-year-old last season, he was gelded after his campaign was cut short and he still looks on a good mark, now he appears to be back on the straight and narrow. The Beechdown team are now blossoming with the warmer weather, and Cox looks a trainer to follow from here on in.
Earlier on the Classic card, Sharja Bridge is seemingly well forward ahead of his return to action in the Spring Lodge Stakes Handicap, while stablemate Defoe shouldn't be missed in the Group Two Dunaden Jockey Club Stakes.
The grey has done well since winning the John Porter at Newbury last month and can take the next step along the road towards the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot.
Stable companion Sam Gold also deserves respect in the QIPCO Racing Welfare Handicap, but marginal preference is for Symbolization who should relish the step up to a mile after coming out second best behind Purser at the Craven Meeting.
Mori did not quite live up to expectations as a three-year-old, but she has undergone surgery on her breathing and is fancied to make her mark in the Listed Matchbook Daisy Warwick Stakes at Goodwood.
Her preparation on the Limekilns this spring has gone as well as expected given the torrid weather conditions, and her work looks a rung or two above what she was capable of for most of last season.
Division one of the Better Odds With Matchbook "Confined" Novice Stakes looks a competitive heat but Qaroun is well set to put up a bold show on his return to action.
Sir Michael Stoute's runners are just clicking into top gear and while this Dark Angel colt is bound to improve for the first run since the middle of August, he's shaping well in his prep work and could be up to defying weight all round.
Groveman was a promising juvenile to lose strategic parts of his anatomy after his first campaign and he looks sure to go well on his comeback in the Matchbook Casino Handicap.
His work was of a high quality last summer, but things fell apart a little after his first outing and he looks worth persevering with. He appears nicely weighted on his home ability here and should go well at a decent price. Whatever he achieves here, he is worth noting.
Henry Candy sends an interesting squad to the Sussex course and expects a good run from Queen Of Time in the Listed Matchbook Free Conqueror Stakes. She developed into a very useful filly in the first half of last season, but has not been seen since finishing second at the Sandown Eclipse meeting last July.
Paco's Angel, who finished behind her that day, is entitled to come out on top this time around, but the Candy team have run into form and Queen Of Time is preferred despite her lack of a recent run.
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Masaarr can recoup Wolverhampton losses in the Fine And Country Handicap at Doncaster.
There were some glum faces at the Roger Varian institute when this three-year-old was beaten on that comeback effort, but he was not fit enough and he will be much sharper this time. He looks reasonably weighted and star apprentice David Egan takes off a handy 3lb.
Humbert and Original Choice will both have their supporters in Wetherby's totesport.com Hunt Cup Handicap but it could be worth waiting for the second division of the totesport Download The App Novice Stakes, in which Alwaysandforever appeals.
The Teofilo filly found only Riddlesdale winner Coronet too good first time out and won by 14 lengths under Ryan Moore in a two-runner race at Brighton in September. She's wintered well and should make up into a smart four-year-old.
On the subject of Coronet, Frankie Dettori has been spotted riding her on Water Hall this week and she's apparently making good progress towards a comeback in the Middleton Stakes at York later in the month.
Soliloquy may enjoy the drying ground a little better than Dan's Dream and looks to have a great chance of winning the QIPCO 1000 Guineas for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby at Newmarket on Sunday.
A slightly disappointing second on her debut as a juvenile at the July course here in August, she made no mistake on her only other outing as a two-year-old at Ascot.
However, she looked a much improved performer when she put her rivals to bed very impressively in the Nell Gwyn Stakes at the Craven meeting here last month.
Given her first win came over this trip, the step up to a mile poses no problems and connections have been delighted with her progress since that success.
It could be fantastic day for Appleby who has started the campaign in blistering form, with Wuheida looking a different class to her opposition in the Charm Spirit Dahlia Stakes.
The trainer was thrilled to bits to win another Breeders' Cup race with this one-time Oaks fancy and keeping her in training at four should prove a highly fruitful move if all goes to plan.
Magical Memory bounced back from a poor effort in the Middle East to run a sound race behind Brando in a good quality Abernant Stakes here last month, and should go well on his return to this level in the Longholes.com Handicap.
He has tackled Group company for the most part since his famous win in the Stewards' Cup, but has sunk a little in the ratings recently and looks worth a try in a handicap again. He has worked with plenty of zest since his latest effort.
He's Amazing, a stablemate of Chatagai, showed promise as a juvenile and produced a solid effort when chasing home Raymond Tusk on his reappearance at the Newbury April meeting.
He has come on for the run and should go well in the QIPCO Supports British Racing Handicap. The step up to ten furlongs from a mile is expected to suit.