15:00 Bombay Sapphire Molecomb Stakes
This is a two-year-old Group 3, and it's a five furlong dash.
Wesley Ward saddles the short priced favourite Happy Like A Fool, and he is no stranger to success in the UK with his two-year-olds. Happy Like A Fool was the odds on favourite in the Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) at Royal Ascot, and I would imagine Ward will be hoping that the ground dries out as much as possible so it doesn't of his exciting filly. She was beaten fair and square at Ascot and I an keen to take her on with the softer underfoot conditions.
The horse I really like the look of, and think there could be plenty of improvement to come, is the Roger Varian trained To Wafij. She was beaten over a length by Havana Gold last time out but looked at home in the softer conditions at Lingfield prior to that, and this Kodiac colt has an action that suggests she would prefer some give in the ground. She has only has the three races to date, and I hoping there is plenty more to come from her as she looks a good each way bet at 10/1.
15:35 Qatar Sussex Stakes
This is always one of the favourite races of the week for me, and we have a real cracker of a race on our hands today with two of the most exciting horses so far this season.
The Aiden O'Brien trained Churchill won two Group one races as a two-year-old, before sweeping aside the opposition in both the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas. He was a very short priced favourite at Royal Ascot in the St James Palace Stakes, but never really seemed right on the day and was soundly beaten into fourth place. It may have been a case of one run too many in a short space of time for the three-year-old, however, he remains high class and will be getting a crucial seven pounds allowance for the older horses in this race.
Ribchester was a brilliant winner of the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on soft ground before going on to be equally impressive in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. He has proven himself to be an outstanding performer and looks comfortable on a variety of surfaces. It will be fascinating to see how the race pans out, with both Lancaster Bomber and Toscanini entered as pace makers.
It is tough to see any of the remainder of the field getting too close to the two at the head of the market, and I fancy Churchill to confirm himself as the brilliant three-year-old colt this year and take this just from Ribchester.
Today's selections
15:00 - To Wafij - 1 point each way @ 11/1
15:35 - Churchill - 3 points @ 7/4
Many thanks let’s hope for a boom or two