Catching Pigeons

Our Catching Pigeons column is back with the gossip from Newmarket this week and a few tips from the gallops.

Given too much to do last time out off a slow early pace, there are unlikely to be any issues with the early gallop in this burn-up and in any case the application of a pair of blinkers is expected to sharpen him up in the first half of the race. Trainer Ed Vaughan can scarcely contain himself at the prospect of nicking one of the season's big handicap pots such as this and the booking of Ryan Moore tells its own story. He surely must go close. Moore can't get down to Salisbury, but he has done some of the prep work ahead of Festival Theatre's racecourse debut at the track in the evening. He is better prepared than plenty of Stoute newcomers and should go close in the Bathwick Tyres EBF Maiden. Jeremy Noseda has only one runner on the day at Chester, but Excuse To Linger carries stable confidence in the Cruise Nightclub Apprentice Handicap after a fine piece of work last weekend. He hung left down the undulations at Brighton last time, but that shouldn't be such an issue around the tight left-hand turns of the Roodeye. At Ascot, the Ed Dunlop-trained Jabhaat continues to work very nicely and should take the Norman Court Fillies' Handicap, while Charles 'Charlie' Hills has enjoyed a good run of form in the last 48 hours and fancies Ogbourne Downs to keep up the good work in the Tara and Pippa Handicap. Owned by Swindon lorry magnate Ken Knox, an old golfing pal of Charlie's Dad, Barry, and none other than Nicky Henderson, he is named after a favourite golf course and looks ready for this move up in class after his win last time. He did well to prevail that day and connections reckon he will both progress further and appreciate this step up in trip. As for the big race at Newmarket, the Pigeon can offer little that you wouldn't already be aware of about the big players in the Darley July Cup, but Clive Cox was adamant that Lethal Force had improved before Royal Ascot and he is just as adamant that he has improved again since.