By Ashley Iveson
Adaay In Devon can get back on the winning trail in the BetMGM: It’s Showtime Scurry Stakes at Sandown.
Rod Millman’s filly has been a superb servant to her connections, with 14 career starts so far yielding six victories and four runner-up finishes.
A Listed triumph at Bath in April suggested she had improved over the winter and she has since run two fine races in defeat, finishing best of the rest behind Jasour in a Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot before placing third behind another exciting colt in Elite Status in Newbury’s Carnarvon Stakes.
On those two pieces of form, Adaay In Devon sets the standard as she looks to double her Listed tally and a drop back in distance from six to a stiff five furlongs is viewed as a positive move for a filly who likes to get on with her job.
Star Style may be able to make the most of having her sights lowered in the Win Up To £2M With Golden Goals Handicap.
The daughter of Zoustar made a huge impression on her racecourse debut at Newbury in April, winning with such authority that connections boldly decided to bid for Classic glory in the 1000 Guineas.
After taking a keen hold and cutting out the early running on the Rowley Mile, Star Style predictably faltered and in the end trailed home last but one.
Richard Hannon has given his filly plenty of time to recover from those exertions and while the form of her introductory win has not worked out as well as hoped, there is scope for progress off her initial handicap mark of 86.
Crystal Flyer holds obvious claims in the opening Download The BetMGM App Handicap.
Following two placed efforts, Tom Ward’s filly made it third time lucky in some style in a valuable novice event at Goodwood last month, winning by a length and a quarter without being fully extended.
With the runner-up Candle Of Dubai having gone one better since, the form looks sound and Crystal Flyer can continue her upward trajectory with another win in Esher.
Salt Bay is of interest in the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Grand Cup at York.
Ralph Beckett’s charge may have only managed one win from eight career starts, but he has run a number of sound races in defeat, including a career-best effort when beaten a neck into third place by high-class mud lover Hamish in the John Porter at Newbury in April.
While Hamish went on to finish a one-length second to Luxembourg in the Coronation Cup at Epsom, Salt Bay has since disappointed on his return to Newbury for the Group Three Aston Park Stakes, where drying conditions perhaps went against him.
The four-year-old is the highest-rated runner in this Listed field and any rain that falls on the Knavesmire will aid his cause.
The £100,000 Churchill Tyres Supporting Macmillan Sprint Handicap looks as competitive as ever, with the vote going to the Richard Fahey-trained Garfield Shadow.
The three-year-old took his career record to three from three when springing a surprise at Chester’s May meeting and travelled like the best horse in the race on his latest outing at Newmarket before looking to struggle with the Newmarket dip.
Running off the same mark of 90 on this more level surface, a bold bid is anticipated.
Andromedas Kingdom looks well placed to complete a course and distance hat-trick in the Olivia’s Boutique Keynsham Handicap at Bath, while having found only the exciting Milford too strong on his debut, Death Or Glory can go one better in the Juddmonte EBF Restricted Novice Stakes at Chester.
Saturday racing tips
BATH: 1.45 Kiss My Face, 2.20 Blue Point Express, 2.55 Balmoral Lady, 3.30 Media Guest, 4.05 Tidal Storm, 4.40 Keen Interest, 5.15 Andromedas Kingdom.
CHESTER: 1.35 Death Or Glory, 2.10 Copper Knight, 2.45 Gaassee, 3.20 Blue Prince, 3.55 Rich Belief, 4.30 Mythical Phoenix, 5.04 Time Tells All, 5.35 Oman.
DOWNPATRICK: 1.05 Long Gone, 1.40 Tell Us This, 2.15 Cullenwaine, 2.50 Aliunde, 3.25 Benny Silver, 4.00 Intersky Sunset, 4.35 Welsh Saint, 5.10 Beaufort Scale.
HEXHAM: 4.17 Byron Hill, 4.52 Jet Patrol, 5.27 Macavity, 6.00 If You Let Me, 6.30 Well Educated, 7.00 Swallows Song.
LEICESTER: 5.17 Celeborn, 5.48 Fearless Freddy, 6.18 Siempre Arturo, 6.53 Camacho Man, 7.25 Mutamanni, 8.00 Yellow Pages, 8.30 Kodebreaker, 9.00 Hurricane Power.
SANDOWN: 1.30 Crystal Flyer, 2.05 Dancing Magic, 2.40 ADAAY IN DEVON (NAP), 3.15 Star Style, 3.50 Atlantic Convoy, 4.25 Lokana, 5.00 Dancing In Paris.
UTTOXETER: 5.07 Hard As Nails, 5.40 Valsad, 6.10 Western Glen, 6.40 Our Zebo, 7.10 Killybegs Jet Lady, 7.45 Malpas, 8.15 My Monty, 8.45 That’ll Do Moss.
YORK: 1.50 Arrange, 2.25 Yanifer, 3.00 Salt Bay, 3.35 Garfield Shadow, 4.10 Epicurian Lad, 4.45 Boy Douglas, 5.20 Tiriac.
DOUBLE: Crystal Flyer and Adaay In Devon