Catching Pigeons: Gossip and tips from the gallops


Get all the gallops gossip and weekend selections from the major training centres ahead of what could be a big weekend for Sir Michael Stoute.

Catching Pigeons: Strongest fancies

2.30 Goodwood

4.50 York

6.15 Haydock


Ian Williams enjoyed a great day when landing the Chester Cup for Marwan Koukash a couple of weeks ago, and they can team up for another course win courtesy of Heart And Soul in the RAS Ltd Handicap on the Roodee on Saturday.

Arguably the most unexposed in this field, the son of Makfi ran a very sound race on his first outing since his arrival from France behind Chief Ironside over 10 furlongs on the first day of the May meeting here 17 days ago.

Judged on that performance, he will be suited by the more demanding test of stamina, and he will improve plenty for the experience.

Sabador ran a cracker to finish fourth in the Victoria Cup two weeks ago, and he can step up on the performance in the Caldwell Construction Handicap. Ed Walker has his team in great nick and with just six outings behind him, the selection can be expected to continue the improvement he showed last season.

Crack On Crack On can maintain his 100 per cent record for the season in the Amix Silver Bowl Handicap at Haydock.

A promising sort without setting any real rivers alight as a two-year-old, he made great strides during the darker months and was consequently strongly fancied on his comeback effort at Lingfield a couple of weeks ago.

His supporters must have seen their money heading into the sunset when he turned for home with a mountainous task in front of him, but he soon started to pick up and fairly flew home to grab the race in the dying strides.

Connections report he has come on plenty for that race and are more than hopeful he can hold his own at this higher level, especially if the forecast rain takes the sting out of the ground.

Heartache was one of the very best juvenile sprinters last season and she can show she has gone the right way during the winter in the Group Two Armstrong Aggregates Sandy Lane Stakes.

Her two best performances came at this level when she won both the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot and the Flying Childers at Doncaster and she could well develop into a top sprinter this term.

Her preparation this spring has gone very well and she should be sharp enough to do herself justice.

Dancing Star, the winner of the 2016 Stewards' Cup, reproduced something like her best form on her return to action on this course a couple of weeks ago, and she merits serious consideration in the British Stallion Studs Cecil Frail Stakes.

Andrew Balding had his problems with the daughter of Aqlaam last season, but the Kingsclere team are hopeful they are now firmly behind her, and she should be sharper for that comeback effort.

Karawaan can see off Master Singer in the concluding Armstrong Family Support The ABF Handicap.

He was a touch disappointing on his Newcastle comeback but has looked the part following that return and can strike for Sir Michael Stoute on what could be a fantastic day for the in-form trainer.

Clive Cox, trainer of Crack On Crack On and Heartache, also has a sound each-way chance with Grand Koonta in the Netbet Sport Handicap at Goodwood.

Cox found a great opening for a smart two-year-old from last season in a handicap at the York May meeting and he is up to the same trick with this son of Dark Angel, who tackled some pattern race performers with credit during his first season.

He does not look too badly handicapped on his best form, and his trainer's decision to resist the temptation of the Listed Carnarvon Stakes in favour of a top-grade handicap can be rewarded.

Autocratic has been working very well and should kick the day off on the right note for Stoute in the Listed Festival Stakes.

The return to a mile and a quarter should suit the son of Dubawi, who did not appear to stay the extra two furlongs in demanding ground at Newbury last time. Connections believe he really comes into his own at this stage of the season - he won a Group Thee at Sandown 12 months ago - and race conditions mean he escapes a penalty for that win here.

Mirage Dancer won't be much of a price in the Netbet Android Download The App Tapster Stakes but there's a chance Dannyday could be underestimated on his return from 700 days off in the Netbet Boost Classic Handicap.

He's done loads of work in the build-up to this belated return and looked particularly sprightly working on the round gallop on the Al Bahathri in the week. There are more races to be win with this strong stayer.

Mirage Dancer (right)
Mirage Dancer (far right)

The yard could also be celebrating another victory in York's Infinity Tyres Irish Champions Weekend EBF Fillies' Handicap.

Stoute has won the past two runnings and the big filly Desert Diamond looks desperately well-treated off an initial mark of 83.

Julius Limbani looks worth an each-interest in the Yorkshire Regiment British Novice Median Auction Stakes on the Knavesmire.

There is no more upwardly mobile young trainers in and around the Lambourn Valley than Archie Watson and he can be relied upon to produce two-year-olds fit and ready to do themselves justice on their first racecourse appearances.

This son of Anodin is reported to be going well and should make his presence felt in what looks a decent race.

Sunday's Classic card at the Curragh hasn't attracted a mass amount of British interest but Defoe looks a good bet to defeat Cliffs Of Moher in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. He avoided a clash with Poet's Voice at Sandown in midweek and has been showing the sort of signs at home to strongly suggest he's ready to open his Group One account.

Watson could well run another interesting juvenile, Arden Warrior, in Monday's Windsor Royal Run Novelty Card Auction Stakes. He has been moving nicely as well and is one to note for this and future engagements.

Others of note early next week include Stoute's Kingman colt Alnasherat, who has looked very sharp in his prep work. The British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes at Leicester on Tuesday looks an ideal first port of call.

M C Muldoon is going very well under Jack Mitchell on the Al Bahathri in Newmarket and Peter Chapple-Hyam will be disappointed if this well-regarded son of Mastercraftsman doesn't maintain his unbeaten record in the gloom of the mintbet.com Home Of Refreshing Odds Confined Novice Stakes at 9.10 on Wednesday evening at Ripon.

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