By Anita Chambers, PA
Staya is the form pick as she makes a swift return to action in the Listed Dragon Stakes at Sandown.
George Scott's charge was obviously going to be a smart juvenile prospect having cost 375,000 guineas at the spring breeze-up sales and she made an instant impact at Yarmouth in May when cantering to a two-length verdict over a subsequent winner. Connections were suitably impressed and opted for a quick jump in calibre to tackle the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, with Staya running well to be a close-up fifth. Beaten less than two lengths, Staya perhaps was marginally disadvantaged by a low draw but nevertheless looked a classy filly in defeat behind True Love. She is the top-rated runner on 97, with her 5lb fillies' allowance adding to her claims.
Windlord also ran at Ascot, but he came home a well-beaten sixth of seven runners in the St James's Palace Stakes after setting the early pace in a race won by fellow Juddmonte runner Field Of Gold. Andrew Balding's charge has adopted front-running tactics on his other two outings this term, when finishing a close-up second in the Sandown Classic Trial back in April, before again trailing home behind Field Of Gold in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. Upped in trip to 10 furlongs but dropped to Listed class for the Davies Insurance Solutions Gala Stakes, Windlord gets 10lb from his older rivals here which certainly gives him the whip hand back at something more like his ideal distance.
Al Nayyir is another who moves back in grade for the Coral Marathon, having found Gold Cup hero Trawlerman too good in the Henry II Stakes last time. Having disappointed a bit on his penultimate start in the Dubai Gold Cup, Al Nayyir came home a near 10-length third after William Buick delivered a front-running masterclass on the winner, setting a steady pace before winding it up on the run for home. Al Nayyir did not have the necessary turn of foot to challenge having raced in last, but there is no Trawlerman to contend with here and he can be expected to keep closer order this time. Mdawi makes plenty of appeal off a mark of 74 in the Mercure Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa Blackburn Handicap at Haydock. He made it third time lucky for Charlie Johnston when scoring in a Southwell novice back in January and is bred to make up into a fair type at three, with his dam Peeping Fawn only hitting her stride in her Classic year. While Mdawi would be long odds to match her four Group One strikes, the son of Wootton Bassett is good enough for this.
TAB is betting on 6 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.
DONCASTER: Race 1: 14.43 Hostelry, Race 2: 15.15 Mon Na Slieve, Race 3: 15.50 Chico Magnifica, Race 4: 16.25 Elsass, Race 5: 17.00 Tiva, Race 6: 17.35 Original Thinker, Race 7: 18.10 Roundhay Park.
SANDOWN: Race 1: 14.50 Atlantis Blue, Race 2: 15.25 Publish, Race 3: 16.00 STAYA (NAP), Race 4: 16.35 Getreadytorumble, Race 5: 17.10 Windlord, Race 6: 17.45 Al Nayyir, Race 7: 18.20 Triple Gee.
NEWTON ABBOT: Race 1: 14.58 Linden Lane, Race 2: 15.33 Stinginhisstep, Race 3: 16.08 Our Pink Lady, Race 4: 16.43 Feel The Pinch, Race 5: 17.18 Max Of Stars, Race 6: 17.53 Backinaction.
HAYDOCK: Race 1: 18.30 U Turn, Race 2: 19.05 Mdawi, Race 3: 19.40 Romantic Spirit, Race 4: 20.15 Celestra, Race 5: 20.50 Grey Jaguar, Race 6: 21.25 Altmore.
BEVERLEY: Race 1: 18.42 Golden Palace, Race 2: 19.15 Emeralds Pride, Race 3: 19.50 Toy Soldier, Race 4: 20.25 Perfidia, Race 5: 21.00 Triple Force, Race 6: 21.35 Beltane.
BANGOR: Race 1: 18.56 Tango Theatre, Race 2: 19.30 Herja, Race 3: 20.05 Barranco, Race 4: 20.40 Lipa K, Race 5: 21.15 Land Girl's Luck, Race 6: 21.50 Elusive Power.
ALL TO COME: Staya and Windlord (Sandown, Races 3 and 5).
For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab.co.za