Nashwa makes the trip north for the 1m2f Group 3 Jenningsbet In Shiremoor Hoppings Fillies' Stakes (6:35) at Newcastle on Friday and will be hoping to make amends for her disappointing reappearance fourth in the Prix Corrida.
Last year's Group 1 Prix de Diane and Nassau Stakes winner will be tackling the all-weather for the first time and is unsurprisingly very short in the market (4/7) after her exploits in 2022. A possible longer-priced alternative would be Hughie Morrison's One For Bobby, who was well-beaten by Nashwa in the Nassau Stakes last year. However, she looked a different filly on her stable debut at Nottingham in May and seemed to relish the front-running tactics when winning the Listed Nottinghamshire Oaks Stakes by a length from Pink Carnation. Morrison would have had to find a heap of improvement to reverse the near-nine-length deficit based on their Nassau meeting, but she should be closer if allowed to dictate affairs from the front and can offer some each-way value.
Roger Varian's Al Husn was a solid second behind the impressive Via Sistina in the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket over Guineas weekend and showed her ground versatility when winning the Rothesay Stakes on good at Ayr subsequently. Via Sistina currently heads the market for Saturday's Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh and a victory in the race would certainly give the Dahlia form a substantial boost.
The 5f Class 2 Gosforth Park Cup Handicap (6:00) is always a competitive affair and the maximum field of fourteen line up. Hollie Doyle will be looking to continue a fine run of form with victory aboard current favourite Badri, a three-time course and distance winner, but the strike rate of trainer Ruth Carr (0-21 in last 14 days) would give rise to concern.
In comparison, Julie Camacho is operating at a 30% strike rate (3-10) over the last fortnight and her contender Makanah finished third in the race last year. Winner of the Flying Scotsman Conditions Race at Musselburgh on his final start last campaign, Makanah is seen to best effect over five furlongs and was not disgraced when a close fifth in the 6f Churchill Tyres Handicap at York when last seen.
Chelsea Square can get off the mark in the 7f Class 5 JenningsBet In Delves Novice Stakes (7:45) for trainer Ralph Beckett. A promising second at Newbury on debut, the gelding was never travelling on his second start at Chepstow and the vet reported he bled from the nose post-race.
Course specialist Elzaal may be overpriced (general 10/1) in the 5f Class 5 Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap (5:30). The five-time course and distance winner has been given a break since an out-of-character tenth of ten in these conditions in early May and with the Paul Midgley-trained five-year-old tending to run well fresh a big effort would not surprise.
Point Louise has a hood applied for the first time in the 1m2f Class 6 Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Amateur Jockeys' Handicap (4:55) after a very disappointing reappearance where she pulled far too hard. The mare is a two-time winner on the all-weather and would be interesting if settling better this time around under experienced amateur Serena Brotherton.
RACE 1 – POINT LOUISE
RACE 2 – ELZAAL
RACE 3 – MAKANAH
RACE 4 – ONE FOR BOBBY
RACE 5 – SWISS ACE
RACE 6 – CHELSEA SQUARE
RACE 7 – GLOBAL TYCOON
RACE 8 – BOMB SQUAD
