By Molly Hunter
Al Aasy can continue a successful season in the BetVictor Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury.
William Haggas’ Sea The Stars gelding is a consistent performer and started his season at the Berkshire track, finishing second when beaten a length in the Steventon Stakes.
Next time out he lined up in the Group Three Glorious Stakes at Goodwood, stepping up in trip to a mile and a half and prevailing by a length from Relentless Voyager.
He now moves up in trip to just over a mile and five furlongs, a distance he has been successful over before earlier in his career in the Bahrain Trophy.
His course form is beyond doubt, with five runs at Newbury resulting in three wins, and in a small field of five he looks the obvious candidate under Jim Crowley.
On the same card Ed Walker and Wathnan Racing’s English Oak appeals in the BetVictor Hungerford Stakes.
The four-year-old has been on the up all season, winning the Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot before stepping into Group company at Goodwood to finish fourth in the Lennox Stakes.
The latter run was at Group Two level, the same grade the colt now reappears in when looking to hold the best chance in a field of seven at Newbury.
At Ripon in the William Hill Ripon Hornblower EBF Novice Stakes it is Simon and Ed Crisford’s Soldier’s Heart who can come out on top.
The Havana Grey colt was second on debut to subsequent Coventry fifth and Listed winner Al Quadra, with Stonehenge Stakes winner New Century behind them in fourth.
Soldier’s Heart went on to win a Goodwood maiden over five furlongs, after which he returned to the same course and distance to contest the Molecomb Stakes at Group Three level.
There, he was not disgraced when finishing in the middle of the pack and in less demanding company this time he looks set to shine again.
The William Hill Great St Wilfrid, Ripon’s feature race of the whole season, can go to the David Evans-trained Radio Goo Goo.
While she has found winning harder this season than last when she was prolific, notching up five wins from six outings, she has still recorded another two victories.
She signalled she was not far away from winning again when second in the Racing League last week and should run her race.
At Newmarket’s July course Wheels Of Fire can get off the mark in the Jenningsbet Britain’s Biggest Independent Bookmaker EBF Novice Stakes over six furlongs.
Fourth on debut at Windsor despite suffering interference, the colt was then only narrowly beaten when third in a Goodwood maiden at the end of last month.
That run pointed to plenty of promise and the time looks nigh for him to get a win on his record for owners Al Shaqab.
Saturday racing tips
BATH: 5.40 Ladypacksapunch, 6.12 Diomed Duke, 6.42 Treacherous, 7.12 Vaunted, 7.42 Caribbean Wind, 8.12 Olympic Quest.
CURRAGH: 1.45 Treasure Isle, 2.15 Thunderbear, 2.50 Gannas, 3.25 Shimmy Jimmy, 4.00 Continuous, 4.35 Grosvenor Square, 5.10 Shaaden, 5.45 James Henry.
DONCASTER: 1.57 Persian Phoenix, 2.32 Crystal Mariner, 3.07 Thapa Vc, 3.42 Prairie Falcon, 4.16 Chancellor, 4.50 Almaty Star, 5.25 Jesmond Dawn.
MARKET RASEN: 4.10 Idylle Sauvage, 4.45 Global Esteem, 5.20 Getaway Jewel, 5.50 The Gypsy Davey, 6.20 Royal Pretender, 6.50 Mackie Dee, 7.20 Fast Deal, 7.50 Greatness Awaits.
NEWBURY: 1.50 AL AASY (NAP), 2.25 Mc Loven, 3.00 Lethal Levi, 3.35 English Oak, 4.05 Aftermath, 4.40 Hutchence, 5.15 Markoon.
NEWMARKET: 2.05 Eminency, 2.40 Wheels Of Fire, 3.15 Wathbah, 3.45 Vera Verto, 4.20 One Cool Dreamer, 4.55 Adelabella.
PERTH: 3.55 Fairmac, 4.30 United Front, 5.05 Dripsey Moon, 5.35 Honneur d’Ajonc, 6.05 Macavity, 6.35 Cuban Cigar, 7.05 Bullion Boss, 7.35 Shadowfax Of Rohan.
RIPON: 1.35 Hyperchromatic, 2.10 Soldier’s Heart, 2.45 Ray Vonn, 3.20 Radio Goo Goo, 3.50 On The River, 4.24 Little Ted, 4.59 Fun Loving.
TRAMORE: 5.00 Riviera Queen, 5.30 Kalkanli, 6.00 Best Law, 6.30 Thefullbackline, 7.00 Stariam, 7.30 Mt Leinster, 8.00 Macinamillion.
DOUBLE: Al Aasy and Soldier’s Heart