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Rest of Newbury preview

More from Newbury today, courtesy of Willaim Kedjanyi, @keejavOV

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Al Rayyan Stakes (Registered As The Aston Park) (Listed) (Class 1) (4YO plus) (2.00)
There have been a few disappointing efforts in the career of Telescope but none of them include his Hardwicke win, his King George second, Juddmonte International third or Breeders’ Cup fourth, and Sir Michael Stoute’s charge, fresh from his reappearance second in the Jockey Club Stakes, can improve to take the win here.

Telescope travelled beautifully into the Jockey Club Stakes at Newbury and produced a sharp burst that looked to have things put to bed, but fitness soon told having gone clear with two furlongs to go and he was nailed by the progressive second step. Like many of his stablemates, he should come on from his first outing significantly and he sets a very high standard.

Should be dip below that period, he faces no end of horses waiting to take advantage, including the exciting Elite Army, a deeply impressive winner of the King Edward Handicap last year when everything that could go wrong did go wrong for him. The form of that race has been well represented since and he should prove a good deal better than his rating of 104. The extremely consistent Greatwood, coming from the red hot John Gosden yard, deserves respect but all three of his wins came on good to soft or worse while his UK form does leave him short. Scotland, who made eyecatching late progress in the John Porter, can take a hand, and if Windshear is over a hard race at Chester when he disappointed in the Ormonde Stakes, then he should be in and around the frame. Dubay’s UAE form needs improving on but his fifth in the Dubai Gold Cup wasn’t a bad effort at all. Albeit he may still need improvement.

Advice: 2 pts win Telescope (8/11 general)

Toronado Carnarvon Stakes (Listed) (Class 1) (3YO only) (2.35)

Quite a few options here but if Adaay improved for his comeback, a good third to Limato after nine months off, then he can surely go close here. Joint favourite for the Coventry after beating the solid 2 year old Mind of Madness in style (having previously made a hugely encouraging debut here) he disappointed at Ascot and here in a Listed event (although in hindsight he was never going to get on terms with Limato, and second placed Cotai Glory did with the Molecomb next time out). The form of his reappearance has been boosted by Tendu and Strath Burn’s good runs at York, and he can make a bold bid here.
Deeply impressive handicap winners Waady - for everyone’s favourite red-hot yard of the moment – and Salt Island look to be the major threats while the unbeaten Elysian Flyer also made the shortlist. Value seekers are pointed in the direction of Batiha Alga, whose Norfolk win didn’t stand up for the rest of the year, although it was an impressive performance that promised much for the rest of the year. He lost his action both times last year afterwards, but if running his race today, has to be considered better than a 20/1 shot here even giving away a large amount of weight.

Advice: 1 pt win Adaay (6/1 general)

Al Zubarah London Gold Cup (Open Handicap) (Class 2) (3YO only) (3.10) - Dissolution was the first off the bridle didn’t look the most tractable ride when coming from the back to land a well contested Newmarket handicap on his return, but the visor that was present for his only two year old win returns and the bunched nature of that finish means that he’s only gone up 2lbs. With runners from his stable – as said before – coming on significantly for their returns this year, more improvement can be expected and maybe a more strongly run race here could also help matters for a stable that does target this race. There are any amount of contenders – as one expects for such a contest, with Time Test taking the eye after a light 2 year old campaign and Space Age falling into the same category, but the claims of Plymouth Sound look to have been ignored. He made a perfect trial for this when grabbing third near the finish in the Esher Cup on his seasonal return and off the same handicap mark, deserves another chance with that under his belt over a trip that should well suit.

Advice: 1 pt win Dissolution (9/2 general), 1 pt each-way Plymouth Sound (14/1 Ladbrokes)

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