Arwa should thrive on a step up in trip at Doncaster

Doncaster’s opening Fillies’ Nursery has a habit of throwing up plenty of black-type performers, last year’s winner Nemoralia, fourth in Saturday’s Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock, and I expect Arwa (1.55) to be a group class filly by the end of the season.

The daughter of Holy Roman Emperor has an impressive pedigree and showed plenty of ability landing a Ripon maiden last month under Danny Tudhope. Charlie Hills’ filly is a half-sister to Gold Cup winner Order of St George and should thrive for today’s step up in trip, before likely to ply her trade over middle distances in next season’s three-year-old campaign.

Godolphin boast a terrific record in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes, winning five of the last seven renewals, and are expected to go close with Grecian Light (2.30) under William Buick.

Charlie Appleby’s filly was behind the re-opposing quartet of Kilmah, Urban Fox, Rich Legacy and Tiburtina when last of seven last month in the Prestige Stakes at Goodwood but was never at the races that day and failed to handle the track. The return to a flat, galloping track will suit her no end and she is a confident selection to reward each-way support on Town Moor.

Last year’s St Leger heroine Simple Verse returns to the scene of her greatest success, heading a field of 14 members of the fairer sex for the Group 2 Park Hill Stakes and must go close over the Leger course and distance.

She has disappointed thus far this term but has conditions to suit, however she must concede 12lb to Sir Michael Stoute’s Abingdon (3.05) under Andrea Atzeni.

The progressive filly enhanced her already tall reputation last month at York when bolting-up in the Listed Galtres Stakes, and is a confident selection to claim a fourth success in her last six starts.

Stormy Clouds won the big sales race at York’s Ebor Meeting when beating Mark Johnston’s Rusumaat (3.40) however a better draw can see the colt reverse the form under regular partner Paul Hanagan.

The Arcano colt was drawn on the wrong side last time out on the Knavesmire but has the perfect position in stall eighteen and should make the frame and rewarded connections with a nice pot.

Charlie Hills has won three of the last five renewals of the maiden over the extended mile and it would be no surprise to see his runner Never Surrender (4.50) go close under Jamie Spencer.

The big, scopey colt made a promising debut at Newbury and was well-supported in the market to build on that last month at Salisbury. He ran well enough in ground much softer than ideal and should have more to offer stepping up in trip and the return to a sounder surface.

Jim Crowley takes his pursuit of the Flat jockeys’ title to Epsom, where the ½ favourite with BetVictor to be crowned Champion Jockey has an excellent book of five rides and should land the opener aboard Godolphin’s Maldonado (2.05).

The son of freshman sire Rio de La Plata has been a runner-up on his last two starts in maidens at Newmarket at Beverley; with the latter best ignored when failing to stay last time out over a mile.

He sets a fair standard and should give trainer Charlie Appleby just his second Epsom winner all season.

Mystique Heights (6.40) was far from impressive last time out at Bath, but still got the job done under Luke Morris at Bath and should be able to follow-up and claim a third success from his last four starts at Chelmsford. Sir Mark Prescott’s gelding has improved with every start and looks well-ahead of his current mark of 65.

Morris must go close aboard Luca Cumani’s Farandine with the Rock of Gibraltar filly respected on her seasonal debut, but with race fitness on her side preference lies instead with Sir Michael Stoute’s Honorina (7.10) under regular partner Oisin Murphy.

The selection shed the maiden tag at the fourth time of asking last time out at Kempton Park and must go close on her handicap debut from an opening mark of 78.

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