Racing
Saturday Weekend Watch: Four to note
Saturday Weekend Watch: Four to note
With some cracking coming up this weekend, I have highlighted four horses you might want to consider, including a very interesting contender in York’s Bronte Cup.
COPPULL – Sandy Lane Stakes (14.58 Haydock)
The Clive Cox-trained COPPULL can go well in the Sandy Lane. A winner of three of his six starts, I liked his seasonal reappearance success at Ascot in the Commonwealth Cup Trial and more is surely to come.
His win in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood last July has worked out well (best Puerto Rico) and this course should play to his strengths. His handler knows how to win this, having taken the 2017 renewal with Harry Angel, so he is the standout choice for me this weekend.
ASFOORA – Temple Stakes (15.30 Haydock)
ASFOORA has multiple Group 1 wins under her belt and should be all-the-better from her comeback run at Newmarket. Last year’s Nunthorpe winner gets on really well with Oisin Murphy and will get her favoured ground this weekend.
I’m slightly surprised she’s not shorter in the market, so given she’s proven at a higher level, and beaten a few of these along the way, I can see her making a serious impact with fitness on her side. This top-class sprinter makes plenty of appeal.
MONTASSIB – Greenland Stakes (15.05 Curragh)
If MONTASSIB is allowed to take this chance then I think he’s definitely one to consider. He’s a Group 1 winner and another that will love the ground.
He was a big eye-catcher on his return at Doncaster, where he stayed on strongly to finish fourth when in the clear having been forced to wait for room.
His trainer is already having an excellent season and I can see this eight-year-old having a big part to play in the outcome if given the green light.
LAVA STREAM – Bronte Cup (15.15 York)
LAVA STREAM is given a strong mention in the Bronte Cup.
She has been lightly-raced since completing a hat-trick of wins in June 2024 and ran really well at Nottingham on her return from a huge absence. That outing ought to have been needed.
She wasn’t beaten far when sixth in the Yorkshire Oaks at this venue when last seen before her latest return and it was worth remembering how close she went at Royal Ascot that same year when a neck-second in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes before finishing ninth in the Irish Oaks.
Returning to handicap company for the first time since scoring on handicap debut, David O’Meara’s charge can hopefully make her class count.
