Fran Berry column: Desert Skyline has big chance


Fran Berry expects a positive showing from Desert Skyline on Saturday - find out his thoughts on all of his rides.

It’s good to reflect on a couple of winners last week to kick things off and Maid To Remember did well to get the job done narrowly first time out at Nottingham.

We got a bit further back than ideal really but responded well when I asked her and was really getting going at the line.

It was an extremely nice start for her and she’s bred to be smart so could certainly be a filly to follow.

I was delighted to ride a winner for Sir Michael Stoute and the Rothschild family on the same card and Nathan Mayer could have a bit more to offer. He also only really got on top late on and looks to have started out in handicaps on a workable sort of rating.

Ascot on Saturday was a bit of a washout for me personally and Carntop was a bit frustrating. He was too bad to be true again and it was a repeat of his poor Newmarket run at the end of last season.

He was just too keen and nothing has come to light physically but obviously he has a bit to prove now having looked really good at times earlier on in his career.

Western Duke is worth a mention after finishing third at Windsor before the meeting was abandoned on Monday evening.

He’s taken a couple of runs to come right and to find his grade but ran really well against two smart-looking horses in John Gosden’s Crowned Eagle and Secret Advisor from Charlie Appleby’s yard.

There will be other days for him, I’m sure.

Circulation was a bit unlucky in defeat at Salisbury on Thursday afternoon. I was checked and forced to switch just when she was getting rolling and she’s quite a big filly so that loss of momentum may have cost me.

She ran on well and obviously being a half-sister to Twice Over there could be plenty of improvement in her as she matures. 

I’m really looking forward to getting to York for some good rides on Friday and especially now the ground looks like it might be drying out a little.

I start off with Sibilance for Ralph and this Listed race has been the plan since the last day, where she was very good in winning quite easily at Kempton.

She extended really nicely there and this will be her first run on grass and just her third outing overall. She’s taking on horses with similar profiles so there’s a few unbeaten records on the line but she’s a filly we really like and I expect her to go well if we get a nice bit of ground. 

Soldier In Action is relatively exposed and his form is basically one good run, followed by one bad. He’s had a run back on the Flat with Mark Johnston after going hurdling with Nicky Henderson so I’m hoping this will be a good day for him!

I actually rode him at Newbury last year so I’ve sat on him before and he could be a bit of each-way value if he’s on a going day. That’s not certain, but he’s capable of going well under top weight.

The stable will be celebrating after winning the Dante on Thursday with Permian and that gave a nice boost to the Cracksman form.

The Derby trials all seem to be throwing up many possible scenarios at Epsom and the more you look at it the more I’m expecting it might be a maximum field come the first Saturday in June.

Unless you get Churchill lining up then there’s not a great deal to scare anything away and Permian definitely deserves a shot at it now.

Back to York and Brimham Rocks is an interesting runner in the mile and a half handicap.

He was a big, immature two-year-old last year and very green but made a good start to the season at Wolverhampton when winning. It was only a small field but he did it well and going back on turf on a galloping track like York should play to his strengths.

There are several others lurking in there but I’d like to think there’s still a bit of room for improvement from his revised rating. 

Things have worked out well for me with my rides at Newmarket on Saturday with a busy day ahead including several exciting chances, starting with Desert Skyline for David Elsworth.

I recall giving him a good mention last season and he’s a horse I’ve been looking forward to having back in action for a while now.

It was no surprise when he won so well at Newmarket in October and there was no fluke about it at all. He’s a lovely type of horse with plenty of scope and I’d imagine he can only improve this season.

From a mark of 94 it’s not going to be simple by any means, though it looks a decent starting point for him and hopefully he’s a horse you’ll more about as the season goes on.

I’m then on Beat The Bank for Andrew Balding, whose horses are in great form. He looks an exciting ride to pick up.

I was impressed with him when he won at Dundalk and he was well bought by Andrew and his new connections. There should be more to come and it makes sense going back to Newmarket after he won there at the Craven meeting.

Di Fede ran a nice race first time out at Salisbury and can put the experience to good use in the novice event. She was quite green and taken off her feet slightly but it was an encouraging effort and stepping up to six furlongs will be ideal. You never quite know what you’re taking on in these races, especially as we approach Royal Ascot, but I like her.

Ice Lord needs to come back to form but has come down the weights a bit and could be thereabouts if putting his best foot forward, and the same applies to Michael Wigham’s Foxy Forever, whose best form appears to be on Polytrack.

I wouldn’t completely rule him out and Really Super is interesting in the fillies’ maiden.

She’s up in trip here which should suit as she’s a big filly.

It was another quite nice run against the colts at Newbury on her return and she came home very well. Back against fillies, you’d have to think she could be a leading player.


Like what you've read?

Next Off

Sporting Life
My Stable
Follow and track your favourite Horses, Jockeys and Trainers. Never miss a race with automated alerts.
Access to exclusive features all for FREE - No monthly subscription fee
Click HERE for more information

Most Followed

MOST READ RACING

We are committed to Safer Gambling and have a number of self-help tools to help you manage your gambling. We also work with a number of independent charitable organisations who can offer help and answers any questions you may have.
Gamble Aware LogoGamble Helpline LogoGamstop LogoGordon Moody LogoSafer Gambling Standard LogoGamban Logo18+ LogoTake Time To Think Logo