My Stable eyecatchers: Six of the best from Newmarket, York & Ascot

Love Dreams, 6th, bet365 Handicap, Newmarket, July 13

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It paid to be drawn high on day one of the July Festival, especially in this event as Justanotherbottle, housed in stall 20, was always going to force the pace on the far rail and Ekhtiyaar found the gaps at the right time to score narrowly from Tommy Taylor who was returning from a break and just got caught out by the climb to the line. The latter’s maiden win came at York last summer and, with improvement still to come, it would be no surprise to see him play a major role back on the Knavesmire in next month’s Sky Bet Dash.

Ultimate Avenue did best of those drawn in single figures and ran a remarkable race to finish third having been all dressed up with nowhere to go with just a furlong and a half to travel. Tried at Group Three level last year, he’s obviously highly thought of and looks well up to winning a nice pot if the tongue-tie continues to do the trick.

Fourth home Golden Appollo is evidently still thriving and ended up flashing home away from the principals but Love Dreams could be the one to add to the My Stable tracker.

He's a big brute of a horse and got a little bit warm beforehand but acted much better than when fractious in the stalls at Sandown the time before and he looks to be getting his act together mentally.

Dropping back to six furlongs suited the son of Dream Ahead, as did the little bit of juice in the ground. He shouldn’t go up in the weights for this and can return to winning ways before long as he’s still maturing. (Matt Brocklebank)

Doswell, 2nd, Weatherbys EBF Stallions Maiden Stakes, Newmarket, July 14

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Doswell has a huge engine and simply must be followed. The massive son of Giant’s Causeway towered over his rivals in the parade ring and got a little bit on edge as he noisily took in the preliminaries.

He did just about everything wrong pre-race, pulling his way to post and then unseating Robert Tart on the first attempt to get him into the stalls. He eventually made his way in and then had to wait for the rest of the field to be housed away, which can’t have helped, so no wonder he missed a beat at the start.

On top of the that, he was drawn widest of all, on a day when it paid to be racing close to the stands rail, and close to the pace. He settled quite well during the race itself and powered up on the outside and really found plenty for pressure when asked.

He just missed out to the beautifully-bred, highly expensive Godolphin runner Being There in a tight finish and all things considered the second was probably slightly unlucky not to make a winning start.

Compensation awaits and the future could be bright. (Matt Brocklebank)

Victory Bond, 7th, 58th John Smith's Cup, York, July 15

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Those who backed Victory Bond in the 58th running of the John Smith’s Cup must have known that the writing was on the wall from a long way out with Pat Cosgrave holding up the favourite in rear from his wide draw only for the front-runners to dawdle along. 

He was beaten under three lengths in seventh but never looked like getting there and never looked entirely happy on the ground. 

The conditions were the fastest that he had encountered in his short career to date and there could be a good deal more progress forthcoming once, if, the heavens open again. 

He remains a lightly raced, talented individual whose best days are in front of him. (Ian Ogg)

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Roulette, 6th, Rossdales EBF Stallions Maiden Fillies' Stakes, Newmarket, July 15

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Poetic Charm was a very impressive winner of the Rossdales EBF Stallions Maiden Fillies' Stakes and it would be no surprise to see her go on to perform with credit at the highest level, like the previous winners of this race. 

There were any number of eyecatchers in behind, including the runner-up, but there could be some mileage in following the fortunes of Roulette. 

Sent off at 33/1, the daughter of Poet’s Voice was doing all of her best work in the closing stages and finished well to claim sixth, some two and three quarter lengths behind the principals, despite racing, arguably, on the wrong side of the track. 

It will be disappointing if she can’t build on the promise of this run and disappointing if this race doesn’t throw up plenty of future winners. (Ian Ogg)

Pipers Note, 3rd, totescoop6 Heritage Handicap, Ascot, July 16

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Pipers Note has been running really consistently since moving to Ruth Carr and he shaped as though he remains in the form of his life at Ascot on Saturday. 

To finish a close third in a handicap as competitive as this may well see him nudge a pound or two further up the weights but he’s only gone up 2lb while in Carr’s care and there could well be more to come yet. 

He fared the best of those that raced prominently on Saturday with only Danzeno and Polybius getting to him late on, but this was over five furlongs and he’s better over six on a faster track. 

A six-time winner at Ripon, he’s finished fourth and fifth in two goes in the Great St Wilfrid, but given the form he’s in he could well better those efforts this year. (Ben Linfoot)

Sir Dancealot, 2nd, bet365 Bunbury Cup, Newmarket, July 16

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There were loads of Stewards’ Cup clues around on Saturday. 

Indeed, the aforementioned Pipers Note could well rock up at Goodwood before trying to land Ripon’s big prize a few weeks later. 

Danzeno, Polybius, Orions Bow, Steady Pace, Edward Lewis, The Wagon Wheel and Buckstay were all in action Saturday and all of them could run in the Stewards’ Cup. 

But I don’t want to back any of them for Goodwood as much as I do Sir Dancealot who is available at a generous 33/1 in places. 

The first thing to acknowledge is he might not get in. 

The weights are out for the Stewards’ Cup and he’s rated 101 as a 3YO which puts him right on the cusp of the likely cut. 

But, if he does get in, he has the same sort of sexy, lightly-raced 3YO profile of the last two winners and he tanked through Saturday’s Bunbury Cup, probably a little too keenly, shaping as if a drop back in trip might do him some good. 

If he does go to Goodwood next month, and if he does get in, he’s going to be at least a couple of pounds well in at the bottom of the weights and quotes of 33/1 would be the stuff of fantasy. (Ben Linfoot)

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