George Baker cooks up Stewards' Cup plan followomg Humidor win

A review of Thursday's action at Newmarket, where Humidor returned to winning ways.

George Baker is hoping Humidor may have done enough to earn himself a place in the Stewards' Cup after recording a narrow victory in the Home Of Racing Handicap at Newmarket's July Course.

After enduring a troubled passage on his last outing in the Epsom 'Dash' earlier this month, the evergreen eight-year-old gained compensation when getting the better of a tight finish to the five-furlong handicap.

Kept front rank throughout by James Doyle, the 9/1 winner stuck his neck out when it mattered most to hold off the fast-finishing Kingsgate Choice by a head, with favourite Double Up a further neck away in third.

Baker said: "The last time James Doyle rode Humidor was the void race he finished first in (at Epsom), so it was payback all round. It was lovely to have him back on board.

"He is a quirky old sprinter who has been good for us and hopefully he might just squeeze into the Stewards' Cup."

A trip back to Headquarters to contest the July Stakes could be on the agenda for the Ed Walker-trained Experto Crede after he made his debut a winning one in the Countryside Alliance Maiden Stakes.

Having travelled kindly close to the rear of the field early on the well-supported 7/2 shot picked up well when hitting the rising ground to see off the strong-travelling Show Legend by a length and a quarter.

Assistant trainer Jack Steels said: "As he was from the breeze-up sales he was more forward than the most of the other two-year-olds.

"We have always liked him and Antonio Fresu said that he did it nicely. Ed said that as he won nicely he would think about coming back here for the July Stakes."

Mark Johnston continued his red-hot run of form after saddling a double which started with the emphatic success Martiniquaise in the Countryside Alliance Handicap Stakes.

Relishing the step up to a mile and a half, the 15/8 favourite quickened well off a steady pace, which she helped set with Avocadeau, before striding on to score by nine lengths in the hands of Jim Crowley.

Johnston's son and assistant Charlie said: "That was very impressive, although I don't think there was a lot of strength and depth to it but you can only beat what is in front of you.

"On pedigree she shouldn't stay, but physically she looks every inch a middle-distance filly. Her true test will come when we go up in grade."

Johnston and Crowley completed their brace when Denzille Lane (7/1) obliged for the first time since losing his maiden tag at Southwell more than a year ago in the Racing UK Day Pass Now Available Handicap.

Although drifting into the centre of the course having raced up the stands side rail for much of the seven-furlong contest he had enough in hand to see off favourite Baltic Brave by a length and a quarter.

Charlie Johnston said: "I said to Jim beforehand that he is well handicapped on his two-year old form and the race panned out perfectly for him.

"He was drawn in one and the quickest way home was to go up the stands rail. He did wander late on, but Jim said it was because he was looking for a bit of company."

Musaaid (8/1) left behind the performance of his debut run after posting a battling victory from the front in the discovernewmarket.co.uk Maiden Stakes.

Having finished well down the field at Newbury, the Roger Varian-trained three-year-old put in an improved display in the seven-furlong contest after pulling out more to hold off short-priced favourite Holland Park by a length and a quarter.

Varian said: "He is a beautiful horse, but he has taken time to come to himself, as you can see by the size of him.

"At Newbury it was his first day at school and the ground was bit too firm. He was not really at the races that day, but we have had two months since then and he has sharpened up.

"There are no immediate plans. We will just take it step by step."

Great Park (100/30) pulled out all the stops to get his head in front for the first time this season in the Newmarket Nights Handicap.

Racing prominently throughout the mile event, the Martyn Meade-trained runner showed he had come on for his seasonal return when out-gunning Dagher by a neck.

Much of the pre-race focus centred around odds-on favourite Cilento, but he folded tamely when asked the question before finishing fourth.

Meade said: "Fergus (Sweeney) said to try him over a bit further, as you can see he finished strongly. He is a bit out of his comfort zone over a mile and everything indicates he wants a bit further."

Paul Hanagan teamed up with his old boss Richard Fahey to strike with Bimbo (8/1) in the concluding TurfTV Fillies' Handicap Stakes.

Despite being out of sorts for much of the early part of the season, the Iffraaj filly returned to the level of form that saw her finish second on her comeback at Doncaster after easing to a two-and-three-quarter-length success over six furlongs.

Hanagan said: "Richard always thought a lot of her, but she needs things to fall right. She gave me a really good feel today and I struggled to pull her up."

Martiniquaise proved to be in a different league to her rivals in the Countryside Alliance Handicap.

Relishing the step up to a mile and a half, the 15/8 favourite quickened well off a steady pace, which she helped set with last-time-out winner Avocadeau, to add to her maiden win at Southwell back in March.

Although the gaps came at the right time for both My Guardian Angel and Thecornishcowboy, neither had any answer to the Mark Johnston-trained runner as she hit overdrive at the furlong pole before striding on to score by nine lengths.

Johnston's son and assistant Charlie said: "That was very impressive, although I don't think there was a lot of strength and depth to it but you can only beat what is in front of you.

"On pedigree she shouldn't stay, but physically she looks every inch a middle-distance filly. Her true test will come when we go up in grade."

Denzille Lane bounced back to form to end a lean spell when staying on strongest in the Racing UK Day Pass Now Available Handicap.

Despite not having won since his maiden victory at Southwell over a year ago, the three-year-old proved his ability remained intact when striking in the seven-furlong event.

Although drifting into the centre of the course having raced up the stands side for much of the contest, the 7/1 winner had enough in hand to see off favourite Baltic Brave by a length and a quarter. The victory completed a quickfire double for Johnston and Crowley.

Charlie Johnston said: "I said to Jim beforehand that he is well handicapped on his two-year-old form and the race panned out perfectly for him.

"He was drawn in one and the quickest way home was to go up the stands' rail. He did wander late on, but Jim said it was because he was looking for a bit of company."

Musaaid left behind the performance of his debut run in posting a battling victory from the front to take the discovernewmarket.co.uk Maiden Stakes.

Having finished well down the field on his first outing 68 days ago at Newbury, the Roger Varian-trained three-year-old put in an improved display to make all in the seven-furlong contest.

Short-priced favourite Holland Park moved up menacingly as he looked to lay it down to the leader approaching the final quarter-mile, but he failed to find a way past with the 8/1 chance resolutely rallying to score by a length and a quarter.

Varian said: "He is a beautiful horse, but he has taken time to come to himself as you can see by the size of him.

"At Newbury it was his first day at school and the ground was bit too firm. He was not really at the races that day, but we have had two months since then and he has sharpened up.

"There are no immediate plans. We will just take it step by step."