Sunday racing tips
DONCASTER: 2.10 Priscilla’s Wish, 2.40 Cold Stare, 3.10 Stenmark, 3.40 Oxford Comma, 4.10 Society Lion, 4.40 Eagle Landed, 5.10 Soul Singer, 5.40 Musical Diva.
DOWNPATRICK: 2.00 Ollie La Ba Ba, 2.32 Sirekoff, 3.02 Tideways Hero, 3.32 Media Naranja, 4.05 Only A Dollar, 4.35 Rightfolksplease, 5.05 Si Se Puede.
GOWRAN PARK: 2.15 The Parthenon, 2.45 Tanazadia, 3.16 Indigo Five, 3.51 Pink Socks, 4.21 Tachos, 4.51 Siege Of Troy, 5.21 Trustyourinstinct.
SALISBURY: 2.25 Never Mind Me, 2.55 Snuggle, 3.25 Beach Point, 4.00 New Charter, 4.30 Ejaabiyah, 5.00 Chips And Rice, 5.30 Taritino.
THIRSK: 3.45 Alice Fairfax, 4.15 Piz Nair, 4.45 Mereside Diva, 5.15 Hampden, 5.45 FAIR WIND (NAP), 6.15 Dark Jedi, 6.45 Secret Command.
DOUBLE: New Charter and Fair Wind
Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair
Fair Wind looked a horse to follow when scoring at Goodwood last month and can go in again in the Sky Bet Request A Bet Handicap at Thirsk.
Pat Dobbs settled the four-year-old towards the rear of a competitive field but he was always sitting comfortably and gradually eased his mount into a challenging position.
When asked to quicken at the furlong pole, Fair Wind burst through a gap in a taking manner and quickly established a decisive lead.
Owen Burrows’ charge did not do a whole lot once in front and the eventual winning margin was only a neck, but the feeling is that he has more to offer if needed.
Regardless of that view, runner-up Dream Composer has since franked the form by landing the Dash at Epsom on Derby day and Fair Wind is fancied to overcome a 6lb rise up the ratings.
Piz Nair does not appear to be the most straightforward of rides but the talent is clearly there and he can hopefully come good in the Sky Bet Build A Bet Handicap.
He hung left-handed under pressure when second at Lingfield recently but almost certainly caught a tartar that day in Arisaig.
If Callum Shepherd can keep the well-bred son of Bated Breath on an even keel this time, seven furlongs at Thirsk seems an ideal scenario.
Mereside Diva was another to run into an impressive scorer when second of 18 behind Feel The Need at York last time out and she could be worth sticking with in the Sky Bet For The Fans Fillies’ Handicap.
David and Nicola Barron’s four-year-old had previously kept on well to prevail at Haydock and is just a very likeable type.
Nothing went right for New Charter when she was a beaten favourite at Epsom but she is backed to recoup those losses in the Byerley Stud Peter & Virginia Walwyn Memorial British EBF Novice Stakes.
Richard Hannon’s filly hails from the same family as Oaks heroine Time Charter and made a very promising start to her career when second to the highly-rated Mountain Breeze at Newmarket.
It was disappointing to see New Charter then finish only seventh behind Teej A, but she was hampered at the start and two furlongs out that day, while connections also felt the easy surface went against her.
Ejaabiyah is another well-bred runner who stands out in the Darley EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes for Roger Varian and James Doyle.
She is by Frankel and out of a Grade One-winning mare in Australia, so it was hardly a surprise when she bolted up by six lengths at Kempton in November on her sole juvenile start.
Godolphin’s Diamond Rain proved too good in a Newbury Listed contest on her return to action last month, but this should be well within her compass before stepping back up in class.
Oxford Comma gets the nod in Doncaster’s Summer Saturday Series “Confined” Novice Stakes after showing plenty of promise in two runs to date.
The Nathaniel filly was a nice third at Newmarket in early November and kicked off her three-year-old campaign with a convincing victory over stablemate Galaxy Princess at Salisbury.
Ralph Beckett is very well stocked in this department and Oxford Comma can enhance her claims for a step up in class.
