Aldaary can come Good at Newbury

Aldaary appears to have a fine opportunity of opening his account for the season in the Dubai Duty Free Cup Stakes at Newbury.

The five-year-old looked set for a big 2022 when winning a Haydock Listed race with ease on his reappearance, but he was then off the track for 420 days before returning to action at Newmarket in July.

He looked a bit rusty in finishing fourth as favourite, but his supporters’ faith was not diminished and he was sent off the market leader once again on his next start in the Summer Mile at Ascot.

However, he bumped into an on-form Master Of The Seas, beaten four lengths by a horse who subsequently went on to Grade One victory in Canada last weekend, with the form further bolstered by the fourth and fifth, Angel Bleu and Mighty Ulysses, striking at Group Two and Three level respectively.

Aldaary failed to land a blow on his latest spin in the Sussex Stakes, but this contest clearly does not contain a horse of Paddington’s calibre and William Haggas’ decision to drop to Listed company at a track with crucial ease in the ground can reap rich rewards.

Defiance can add his name to the roll of honour in the Haynes, Hanson & Clark Novice Stakes.

Some racing greats have won this mile contest in the past and while recent victors have not matched the exploits of Derby winners Henbit and Shergar or multiple Group One winner Nayef, it remains a decent juvenile test.

Roger Varian’s Defiance showed a likeable attitude when winning on debut over a mile at Sandown last month, getting a bump early but sticking to his task well to prevail by a short head – experience that should stand him in good stead here.

Serene Seraph has sidestepped Saturday’s Mill Reef for the Dubai Duty Free Full Of Surprises British EBF Fillies’ Conditions Stakes and the hint should be taken.

Queen Me switches down in class for one of two Listed events at Ayr, the Arran Scottish Sprint EBF Fillies’ Stakes.

Kevin Ryan’s filly finished second in the Lowther and third in a Group Three at this meeting last year, prompting connections to pitch her into the 1000 Guineas on her return, with a mile on deep ground well beyond her staying capabilities.

Dropped back to six furlongs for the Commonwealth Cup, Queen Me ran well for a three-length sixth before a 63-day break ahead of returning in the Nunthorpe.

While she came home 11th at York, she was beaten less than five lengths in what was a red-hot renewal. A repeat of that is likely to be good enough.

The British EBF Stallions Harry Rosebery Stakes looks a competitive affair but Purosangue is taken to finally get a black-type victory.

A narrow second to Big Evs on soft ground in the Molecomb, he found Inquisitively a shade too good on much quicker ground at York, but softer ground at Ayr is a plus.

Primeval can make it three from three in Kempton’s Unibet Support Safe Gambling Fillies’ Handicap.

A Lope De Vega half-sister to Time Test and Tempus, she impressed on debut at Doncaster in July but had to work harder than expected to follow up under a penalty at Windsor.

The short-head verdict does not really do justice to her superiority as nothing really went in her favour, with an opening mark of 80 appearing quite lenient on the face of it.

Top tips for today’s UK meetings

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.

AYR: Race 1: 14.15 Lunar Streets, Race 2: 14.45 Media Shooter, Race 3: 15.15 Purosangue, Race 4: 15.50 Queen Me, Race 5: 16.25 Yaaser, Race 6: 17.00 Time To Rumble, Race 7: 17.35 Carlton, Race 8: 18.10 Lochnaver.

NEWBURY: Race 1: 14.50 Movie Maker, Race 2: 15.25 Serene Seraph, Race 3: 16.00 Fusterlandia, Race 4: 16.35 Defiance, Race 5: 17.10 ALDAARY (NAP), Race 6: 17.45 Esmeray, Race 7: 18.20 Dubai Souq.

NEWTON ABBOT: Race 1: 15.00 Outlaw Peter, Race 2: 15.35 Ben Lilly, Race 3: 16.10 Upbeat Betty, Race 4: 16.45 Janeslittlevoice, Race 5: 17.20 Wonderful Eagle, Race 6: 17.55 Good Impression.

KEMPTON: Race 1: 17.40 Dark Viper, Race 2: 18.15 Eulace Peacock, Race 3: 18.45 Summer Of Love, Race 4: 19.15 Tsunami Spirit, Race 5: 19.45 Primeval, Race 6: 20.15 Jack Sparowe, Race 7: 20.45 Trusty Scout, Race 8: 21.15 Bungle Bay.

ALL TO COME: Aldaary (Newbury, Race 5) and Primeval (Kempton, Race 5).

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