Richard Fahey column including Dance Diva and Requinto Dawn

Horse Racing

Sat July 29, 2017 · 7y ago

Richard Fahey looks ahead to another busy Saturday and guides us through his best chances including Requinto Dawn at York.

Dance Diva has won her three starts to date. We’re very happy with her and how she’s progressing. She needs to step up again in the Princess Margaret Juddmonte Stakes at Ascot but it’s the right race for her and where she needs to go.

She’s a very good-moving filly and I’m a fraction worried about the soft ground - I hope she copes with it.

We’re double-handed in the Porsche Handicap. Cullingworth has been running well without winning and hasn’t got much in hand of the assessor. However, he’s racing better nowadays, more professionally, and it will be interesting to see how he goes on the soft ground. We think he’ll love it.

Rashford’s Double was towards the top of my list of horses to follow this season but it hasn’t quite worked out for him yet. He has been gelded and bounced back to run a better race at Hamilton last time when he didn’t get home over the trip. I hope he can step up again dropped back to a mile here.

We run three in the Gigaset International Stakes including previous winner Heaven’s Guest. He’s had a wind operation and I’m concerned he might just need this but seven furlongs at Ascot on soft ground is where he wants to be.

Stamp Hill has been an extremely disappointing horse. We’re putting blinkers on him here but he’s a hard one to assess as at home he does nothing wrong and is an absolute star. He hasn’t quite delivered on the track though. He won’t mind the ground here and on a very good day would have an each-way chance - despite it being a warm race - as he has no weight on his back.

Withernsea is another who will love the ground. The more rain the better for him and he comes into it off the back of a respectable run in the Bunbury Cup.

The problem with horses like Farlow is they are very nearly retired before the handicapper starts to give them a chance. He’s beginning to get one now though. It was a funny race he ran in at Doncaster last time as it turned into a bit of a mad dash for the line and I’d forget that and we’re happy with him at home. The Longines Handicap for lady amateur riders could just suit him on this soft ground – but only if he fancies it.

Right Touch has been a hard horse to place and is as high as he’d want to be in the handicap. He heads to the Win 100k For Free At sportinglife.com/pick7 Now Handicap at York and we’re very happy with him. He won’t mind the recent rain.

We also run Starlight Romance who has had a good season to date. Inevitably that means the handicapper has had his say and she needs to find a bit more but she has run well at this track before which is always a plus.

George Bowen never had a chance from his draw at the Curragh last time and I thought he ran a great race in the circumstances. He goes to the Sky Bet Dash in good form but will need to be at his very best in a competitive heat.

Norman Steel bought Barefoot Baby at Goresbridge – the sale he got Barefoot Lady at – so that’s where the name came from. She’s a filly who tries very hard at home and is very honest but will improve for the run in the Get The Sky Bet Advantage Novice Median Auction Stakes.

Push N’Pull is quite laidback and needs racing. We’re taking him here and hope he’s going to wake up and improve on his debut run.

Angel Gabrial ran better at Beverley last time which was great to see. I’m sure it will have done his confidence the world of good. He’s down in grade for the Sky Bet Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap and I’d love to see him get his head in front again.

Requinto Dawn ran in the Weatherbys Super Sprint last week and was disappointing but came up on the slower side of the track and was never involved. We were very happy with him going into it and it will be interesting to see how he goes in the Sky Bet Supporting Yorkshire Air Ambulance Nursery.

Marie Of Lyon is a filly we like. She hasn’t set the world alight yet this season but has run alright in her two starts. I think there’s more to come and it would be no surprise to see her run a big race in the Adnams Ghost Ship Fillies' Handicap at Newmarket.

Private Matter will love the ground in the Adnams Sole Star Handicap. He has been running okay this season but all his best form at two was on a slow surface which he gets here.

The Feathered Nest has been a beaten favourite a couple of times of late but has no weight here. We’ve stuck cheekpieces on for the first time and if she handles the ground she could go well.

Miss Puddles was a fraction disappointing on debut at Ripon. She’s better than that and has a a great draw for the Stella Artois Novice Median Auction Stakes at Chester. It will be interesting to see what happens.

Dan Troop is a progressive sort and we think the track will suit him in the Sebastian Artois Apprentice Handicap. He won’t mind the juice in the ground, has a good draw and everything in his favour. He should go well.

Lady In Question has been disappointing. We don’t know what her best trip is which is always a bad sign. We’re happy with her, she’s in good order and I’d love to see her run well for her owner.

Ballesteros has a horrendous draw in 13 for the Chalice Handicap. He is undoubtedly well handicapped but will need all the luck from out there.

Powerallied is doing nothing wrong at the moment and is running well. I’d have preferred a lower slot than nine for him too but ground and track are ideal.

Monaco Rose was disappointing the other day at Ayr but they went no gallop and I’d forgive her the run. Any rain ahead of the Stella Artois 4% Handicap should suit her and she could easily bounce back to form – although we are coming back quickly from the last race.

Theos Lolly is stepping up in trip. He’s a versatile horse who ran well last time and if he stays he isn’t without a chance here.

El Chapo is quite a laidback horse who will improve with racing. He’s sure to do a job somewhere down the line and let’s hope it’s in the Collingwood Insurance Company Novice Auction Stakes at Newcastle.

La Plusbelle was very disappointing on her first run at Ripon �� we were expecting more from her there. We’ll see what happens here but I hope she’ll run better.

Inaam has had a good season and I’ve been trying to get him in a better race with a lower weight to carry. We’ve managed that in the Collingwood Learner Driver Insurance 'Beeswing' Handicap. He goes well here and could go close again if everything falls right.

Boundsy has been aimed at the Collingwood Fleet Insurance Handicap for some time – there’s good money on offer and he’s been running well. If he handles the all-weather he’ll go close.

Island Flame had a good season last term, winning three, and it has taken a while for the handicapper to relent. He’s started now though and on a going day he wouldn’t be without a chance in the Collingwood Young Driver Insurance Silk Series Lady Riders' Handicap.