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Richard Fahey column ahead of Forest Ranger's Coral-Eclipse bid
Leading trainer Richard Fahey guide us through his weekend team including Forest Ranger who is on a hat-trick in Saturday's Coral-Eclipse.
Best chances:
1605 Haydock
1810 Nottingham
2030 Equitant
I'm very happy with Forest Ranger heading into Saturday’s Coral-Eclipse. However he runs this weekend is as good as he is, as we couldn’t have him any better at home.
At one stage this looked like being slightly less competitive but now we're taking on QIPCO 2000 Guineas and Investec Derby winners – plus a horse who won the Dante by four-and-a-half lengths.
It’s a big ask and realistically he’s going to have to improve by ten or 12 pounds to win it, but he’s in great nick and the ground won’t bother him.
Forest Ranger is now 2-2 this season, proving himself at the trip to win in strong style at 6-1 for @RichardFahey pic.twitter.com/zrvgKEAeSD
— Chester Racecourse (@ChesterRaces) May 11, 2018
The Coral Charge is the first time we've tried Mr Lupton over five furlongs in pattern company and I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes. He was very impressive over the trip in a York handicap two starts ago and ran well in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot.
He’s struggled a bit stepping out of handicaps over six before but is in great form right now.
I always felt a mile-and-a-half was going to be Society Red’s trip and he’s back over it in the bet365 Old Newton Cup at Haydock.
He’s won at a mile and ten furlongs this season and this is a very warm handicap. He needs to find more but hopefully the step up can help.
We're double-handed in the Cash Out At bet365 Handicap. Exhort is a filly we like a lot and she’s getting it all together now. She improved to win at Ayr last time and will go well again as she’s progressive.
Amazing Michelle also won on her last start – at Chester. We were delighted with her there and there didn’t seem to be any element of a fluke about it. If she turns up in the same form she too has a chance.
Connaught Court has shown nothing at home or in three races to date and I was surprised he was given a rating of 64 by the handicapper. As a result we're dropping him right down in grade for the H.A.C. Technical Gas Services Ltd. Selling Stakes at Leicester and see what happens.
Zap is a funny horse and it’s hard to know what to expect from him right now. The return to seven furlongs in the H.A.C. Group Of Companies Handicap will suit him as he found six at York a tad sharp last time.
Spanish Mane doesn’t show a lot at home and did well to win at Wetherby last time. Maybe that was a bad race but winning can do wonders for horses and he’ll be full of confidence going into the H.A.C. Medical Gas Training & Services Ltd. Handicap.
King Of Tonga makes his debut in the Industrial Racking Supplies Limited EBF Maiden Stakes at Beverley. He'll definitely win a maiden - although I wouldn’t know if it will be this one. He's a typical Dark Angel, quite laid back, and will improve for the experience.
Robeam probably needs to go down the handicap route. He’s had two previous goes in maidens and not shown much but we’ll go again and see what happens.
I’d have preferred a lower draw for Fool For You in the D&P Pallet Distribution Handicap but she’s running well. She’s started to learn how to settle and race properly and is capable of going close.
Terrier Spirit has his first run for us in the D&P Palletways Delivery Confined Novice Stakes. It’s going to be very different ground to when he won on debut at Doncaster and he’s only had one breeze here which we were happy enough with.
Requinto Dawn ran in a very warm race at Chelmsford last time and is back among his own age group for the Extra Places At totesport.com Handicap. I do think this track should suit him but he needs to step up.
Right Action has enjoyed a good season, winning at Doncaster and Catterick, but has gone up in the weights as a result. He’s run well on all-weather surfaces before and while he needs to bounce back to his very best in the Bet In Play At totesport.com Handicap, the step up to a mile will suit.
Geoff Potts has been very disappointing and we can find no reason why. As a result he’s extremely well handicapped and if he was to get it together again he’d be capable of going very close in the Bet At racinguk.com Apprentice Handicap.
We run three in the Racing UK Novice Median Auction Stakes and I’d have to think Eljayeff is my best chance of winning it. He ran well at Ripon last time and the switch back to five furlongs here isn’t going to bother him.
Cognac Blue is a home-bred son of Mayson I have with Jane Newett. He shows a bit and will win races but might need the experience.
Thierry is quite an active horse at home and as a result we’ve not been able to find a great deal out about him. The run should do him the world of good.
I still don’t’ know what trip Dontgiveuponbob wants which usually isn’t a good sign but he’s been running ok and has his chance in the Racing UK Handicap.
Equitant has been disappointing because he’s a horse we like a lot. He’s up in trip for the racinguk.com Handicap and I hope it helps as he’s more than capable of winning this.
I thought Red Balloons ran okay in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot where she showed a lot of speed. She’s got an official rating of 80 and would have an obvious chance in the Go Casino Experience Fillies' Novice Stakes at Nottingham.
Mustaaqeem has been very disappointing. He’s so well handicapped but it’s just not happening for him. We’re dropping down in grade for the Dick Benson Memorial Handicap to see if that sparks a revival.
Ventura Gold has still to conclusively prove he stays ten furlongs. The jury is out a little after his run at Haydock last time but he’d be there or thereabouts in the Genting Casino At The Cornerhouse Handicap if he does.
I thought Chingachgook ran well at Haydock the last day.
The Genting Casino Roulette Classified Stakes is very open and you can always run into an improver in this grade but my fellow will be a nice horse one day.