Fran Berry column reflecting on Magic Circle's latest success

After taking a crashing fall at Chepstow earlier in the week it was fantastic to get back up off the canvas to ride Magic Circle to victory in the Henry II at Sandown on Thursday evening.

He was ultra-impressive and has improved again which is a magnificent training performance from Ian Williams just 13 days on from winning the Chester Cup first time out for the season.

He didn't travel particularly well at Chester and it was a similar story on Thursday but he just gets better and better the more he warms up in a race. To put so much distance between himself and his rivals was such a big thrill and there's no reason now why he won't be in the mix for all the best staying contests.

The Ascot Gold Cup is definitely a realistic target for him now but obviously that'll be left to Dr Marwan, Ian Williams and his team. We'll be happy to take on anything in that sort of form though.

The rain might have helped him this week as it had been on the firmer side but we know good ground is no barrier to him and over a longer trip in something like the Gold Cup that'd be fine I'd have thought.

The million pound bonus has to come under consideration but the vibe from connections is that they're working back from the Melbourne Cup and he's at least qualified for that now.

It's a very exciting situation and to win the race at Sandown was brilliant in its own right - the race obviously has a lot of history to it and has been won by some superb horses, including Big Orange last year before he went on to win at Ascot.

I was also among the winners at Leicester on Monday with Light Of Joy who is a well-bred filly. She's probably going to remain quite well handicapped and could go on to better things now she's won.

It wasn't too far off a double for David Lanigan with Narodowa running a close third at 25/1 - she's in again next week and it wouldn't be a surprise to see her win races this season, especially when back up to a mile.

The fall earlier in the week left me a little bit sore and with a bruised foot but after some good physio I'm happy to be looking forward to a busy weekend with rides at Goodwood, Salisbury and then over at the Curragh on Sunday.

I start in the afternoon at Goodwood and Uele River is likely to be a big price in the Netbet Mobile Bet10Get10 Festival Stakes. I'd say she's probably best watched despite winning a Listed race in France last year, with Henry Candy going on record saying some of his horses haven't quite been firing. She's actually in foal and that could help her run above market expectations.

Duke Of Bronte will be an outsider in the Netbet Android Download The App Tapster Stakes too but there's not much depth to the race and if Mirage Dancer runs below form then it's quite open. This isn't a bad horse at all and he's got some good form, winning at Chelmsford off 93 in the spring.

It's a quick trip to Salisbury after that and Irene's Prince has a chance in the Tabby Grove Birthday EBF Novice Stakes. He put in quite an eyecatching run first time out at Bath when fourth. He was quite green and outpaced early on but could improve a lot for the experience. Being a son of Mayson he won't mind if there's a spot more rain around.

Harry Beau has top weight in the Avaya And Comec Handicap after going up 5lb following his Chepstow win from the front. That rise in the ratings looks quite harsh to me for such an exposed horse but it was his first win and he might be able to kick on. Stall 13 wouldn't be ideal for most but he likes a bit of daylight so a wide draw may suit than it normally would.

Rose Hip is one of Henry Candy's and makes her debut in the Cisco & Comec Maiden Stakes. I sat on her on Friday morning up at the yard and I was pleased with her. It was only light exercise but she gave me a nice feel. It'll be her first day away and could be green in quite a large field but I expect her to show up well.

She's quite a big scopy filly and has maybe just been a bit backward which is why we haven't seen her until now as a three-year-old.

Ian Williams' Monjeni returns from a layoff in the Comec Voice & Data Handicap and could be a really interesting one. He's not raced since he was third to Theydon Grey in a good race at York last September but he was quite progressive.

He's a really well-bred horse, was really consistent for Ian last year and may just have a little bit more improvement in him from a mark of 80. The yard can obviously get horses ready after a break and I'm looking forward to riding him for the first time.

Place Des Vosges ran well at Lingfield on her second to last start and doesn't look too badly treated on her handicap debut in the Scansource Handicap. I thought she'd run well at Salisbury got badly bogged down in the nearly unraceable ground. She should show up a lot better and looks well capable of winning but it's clearly a trappy contest so I couldn't be overly positive.

Jack Reagan is my final ride on Saturday in the Comec 25th Anniversary Classified Stakes. He regressed following quite a promising start last year but did show a little bit more life at Goodwood on his first run for Ian. We'll see if he can eke out a little bit of improvement but a watching brief looks the right call for now.

I'm really looking forward to getting home on Sunday and picking up some live chances, as well as catching up with everyone over at the Curragh.

I rode a winner for Jopseh O'Brien earlier in the year and it's great to be on Irish Minister for him in the Group Three Gallinule Stakes, but the horse clearly has to step up a fair chunk. Moving to a mile and a quarter may help but it'll need to if he's to be seriously competitive.

Roconga has an each-way chance in the K Club Handicap. He's quite unexposed on the Flat and is only 1lb higher than when winning at Cork last year. He ran quite well over fences at Punchestown just the other week and could go well in what is obviously a tough race to win.

The Curragh "Where Champions Are Made" Handicap is another competitive, premiere handicap but Western Boy can hopefully get involved in the finish. I rode him when just beaten into third at Naas in November and he's a few pounds lower in the weights now. He can put in the odd bad run back at the Curragh he looks to have a live chance, providing he's on one of his better days. Pat Fahy is a pretty shrewd operator anyway and I expect he'll have him primed for this.

As for the weekend Classics in Ireland, Elarqam has an obvious form chance from his Newmarket run. I'd never rule out any of Aidan's and U S Navy Flag's two-year-old form is top-notch. It'll be interesting to see how the race develops tactically but Elarqam should be hard to beat.

The Irish 1,000 Guineas on Sunday does look quite open and I've got to mention Chiara Luna who was really well-regarded last year and could come on a ton for her comeback run in the trial. She just got a little bit too far back that day but it was encouraging and Dermot Weld is a real master with such lightly-raced horses. She wouldn't be here if he didn't think she could go close.

Clemmie is the one people might be overlooking because of jockey bookings but she's got fantastic form and may prove to be the best of them by the end of the year.

Related links

• Latest Sky Bet odds and offers
• Free horse racing betting tips
• Latest racecards and video form
• Today's fast results
• Today's full results
• Non-runners
• Going updates
• Latest Naps Table
• ABC Guide