FAST-IMPROVING sprinter Double Up can make it three from three for the year in the Home Of Racing Handicap on Newmarket’s July Course.
A quality field has assembled for the five-furlong feature, with plenty of familiar names from the sprinting ranks set to do battle, including the likes of Discussiontofollow, Noble Storm, Humidor and Top Boy.
Double Up does not have the same experience as some of his opponents, but on the other side of the coin he is not as exposed and his impressive recent displays suggest he is a horse to keep on side.
Roger Varian’s four-year-old ran a number of good races last season, but looked to have taken his game to another level when bolting up on his return to action on the Rowley Mile in the middle of May. A 10lb hike and more testing conditions were not enough to stop him following up in a better race at Nottingham a couple of weeks later and he now has a rating pushing 100.
Double Up needs to step forward again to defy his new mark, but there is every chance he will back on a fast surface and the booking of Ryan Moore is another big plus.
Gifted Master will surely get back on the winning trail in the Betfred “Fun And Friendly” Novice Stakes at Newcastle.
Hugo Palmer’s youngster looked a seriously high-class two-year-old when making a winning debut at Newmarket in April and ran well considering he refused to settle when fourth on his second start at Ascot. He was similarly keen and slightly wayward on his return to Headquarters last month, so it says plenty about his ability that he managed to get within three-quarters of a length of subsequent Woodcote and Coventry Stakes winner Buratino.
A reproduction of that run should see him home in front in the opener at Gosforth Park.
Following consecutive placed efforts, Pyjama Party can make it third time lucky in the Horse Comes First Maiden Stakes at Nottingham.
The son of Rip Van Winkle was odds-on at Hamilton last time following a promising debut third at Windsor and while she came up short, filling the runner-up spot, both the winner and the third have won since to give the form some credence.
Assault On Rome can provide Mark Johnston with another Hamilton winner in the EBF Stallions Captain J.C. Stewart Fillies’ Handicap.
IRISH NEWS YANKEE
Nap: Double Up (4.20pm, Newmarket)
Double: Gifted Master (2.10pm, Newcastle)
Treble: Pyjama Party (2.20pm, Nottingham)
Yankee: Assault On Rome (7.40pm, Hamilton)
