Radio
Url copied to clipboard.
Richard Fahey equalled the British record for the number of Flat winners in a calender year in 2016 and, although his string made a slower than normal start to the current campain, he is now firing in the winners with typical consistency. None have come bigger than Ribchester's success in Wednesday's Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, though, and - allied with the victory of Don't Touch in the listed Cathedral Stakes at Salisbury on Sunday - the last seven days have certainly provided cause for celebration at the trainer's Musley Bank yard. Nevertheless, he will be keen to kick on in his bid to better last year's record total and - with 17 entries across a seven race card at Carlisle on Wednesday - Fahey looks set to be busier than ever this week. Good Time Ahead (also entered at Leicester on Tuesday) and Sunnua look his best two chances of a winner on the card, the former of particular interest after an eye-catching debut at Hamilton last month. Fahey also looks set to be well-represented in the first ever Northumberland Plate to be run on the all-weather at Newcastle on Saturday and, although the betting suggests 2014 hero Angel Gabrial and Gabrial The Hero are his leading hopes, Gabrial's King might offer more value off a mark 1 lb lower than when seventh (only beaten four lengths) 12 months ago.
28 winners represented a career-best tally for the Anthony Honeyball yard last season, but the start the trainer has made to the 2016/17 campaign suggests that total could well be in danger this time round. Indeed, Honeyball can boast an impressive 28% strike rate (five winners from 18 runners) at this early stage of proceedings and - with a win and two seconds from her last three starts - Fountains Blossom has proved a real standard-bearer for the Dorset handler. A winner at Worcester last month, she ran as well as ever on her most recent outing at Uttoxeter, left in front when the leaders capitulated on the final circuit and forced into delivering her effort earlier than ideal. She has a choice of engagements at Southwell on Monday and, although she will be facing better company than she has done of late, Fountains Blossom can't be discounted in her current mood. Horace Hazel has looked in the handicapper's grip since scoring over hurdles at Fontwell in April, but looks set to make his chasing debut at Worcester on Wednesday. He should prove competitive if taking to the larger obstacles, while Marguerite St Just went close between the flags last month and, having shown only a modest level of the form on Flat, she could yet prove capable of better if making her debut over hurdles on the same card.
Chris Wall has only sent out 10 runners from his Newmarket base in the month of June to date, but the five winners to have come out of that group suggests the trainer has his string in fine form at present and there could be plenty of good days still to come with recent Windsor winner Oasis Spear. He had shaped with promise on his return from eight months off the track at Ascot in April and made the most of a good opportunity last time. A member of Timeform's Horses-to-Follow on the Flat this season, he should stay 1½m on breeding (dam a sister to Motivator and Macarthur) and, although he has gone up 5 lb in the weights for that Windsor success, it would be a surprise if he didn't prove better than a mark of 88. Sahara could only manage fourth behind her stablemate that day, but endured a troubled passage through the race and would have finished closer with a clear run. She could bid to make amends over the same C&D on Monday and looks one to note. That comment also applies to North Creek, who recorded back-to-back wins on the all-weather during the winter and was beaten just a short-head in his hat-trick bid at Lingfield in April. He could have his second outing on turf at Newmarket on Thursday and remains open to more improvement after just six starts in his short career to date.
.jpg&w=300)
.png&w=300)
