Maybride was an impressive winner at Newmarket on Thursday

Richard Fahey: Dance Diva has a chance in Fred Darling at Newbury

16:09 · SAT April 21, 2018

Our star columnist Richard Fahey had a cracking Craven Meeting and he has high hopes for Fred Darling hopeful Dance Diva at Newbury. Don't miss his Saturday column.

Forest Ranger seems fine the morning after his Earl Of Sefton win, which is great.

As for future targets, there’s the Huxley Stakes, but I don’t think the owner wants him to go around Chester, so I’ll look abroad for him as well. I’ll definitely put him in the Eclipse as I do think he’ll go a mile-and-a-quarter.

It’s been a fantastic Craven Meeting for us with Maybride winning nicely as well on the Thursday, so we go into the weekend buzzing as it’s so difficult to get winners down here, everybody wants one and we’ve had two, which is a bonus.

Dance Diva runs in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes (Fred Darling) at Newbury (2.35) on Saturday and her form was very good in the early part of last season. She has a few pounds to find with four or five them but she’s very fit and very well and she won’t mind the ground.

This could be her Guineas, she’s wintered extremely well and I’m delighted with her. I’m not sure whether she’s black type and she’ll go on but we’ll get an idea on Saturday where I’m hoping she’ll run a big race.

Nyaleti wins from Dance Diva (r)

I’ve two in the Elite Racing Club Supporting Greatwood Spring Cup Handicap and Third Time Lucky is starting to get down to a decent mark.

The problem with him is he’s all or nothing, he either runs well or runs terrible and we don’t know why. He ran poorly in Ireland but he had a bad draw and he walked home.

I think he might have a good draw this time as he’s bang in the middle and it wouldn’t surprise me if they go up the middle, so if they go a good gallop he’s more than capable off his current mark, so we’ll see.

Gabrial ran a cracker in the Lincoln but he’s just drawn out on a limb in 21 which is probably not ideal for him. Hopefully there’s a bit of pace on that will tow him into the race.

It could be tough for him from there however if the draw is not in his favour.

Winning Trainer Richard Fahey and winning Jockey Tony Hamilton talk after Forest Ranger's win @NewmarketRace - Watch LIVE on @ITV4 pic.twitter.com/nWkmbH3625
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 18, 2018

Over at Thirsk I send a team of eight horses including a couple of juveniles in the Visit The All New RacingUK.com Maiden Stakes at 1.55.

Wasn’texpectingthat is the pick of the two following his Brocklesby third and he could be tough to beat. He’s come on for the run and been working well since so we have high hopes despite a less-than ideal draw.

Connaught Court is a homebred. He’ll probably end up going down the nursery route but he tries hard. He wouldn't be as good as the other fellow, though.

Royal Connoisseur is in good form but the Adie Shaw’s Half Century Handicap looks a bit of a lottery race.

He ran well a couple of times last year and he's not out of things off 68, but you could pick 10 in the race and not come up with the winner.

Kimberella has penalties to give away in the ebfstallions.com Michael Foster Conditions Stakes but he’s an interesting contender stepping up to seven furlongs.

It’s a bit of a fact-finding mission but it’s always looked like seven will suit him so it’s an ideal race to find out around a turn. He is very fit but on ratings he’s a bit to find with a couple of them giving them weight, but I wouldn’t draw a line through him.

Showmethedough would be better for the race in the Watch Racing UK In Stunning HD Handicap at 3.40.

He's been gelded since you last saw him but we're getting him ready for Chester. He was progressive last season and if he doesn’t need the run he could run big, but I expect him to come on for it.

In the same race Requinto Dawn has had a run and he was a bit unlucky at Newcastle, he was better than the official result there. I expect him to come on for that and run well.

Northwest Frontier is drawn 15 in the JW 4x4 Northallerton Handicap at 4.15 and that’s not ideal.

I know it’s a mile-and-a-half but for him it’s not an ideal draw as he’s quite a lazy horse and he needs to get in among them to get involved. Hopefully they’ll go a good gallop and he’ll get slotted in somewhere.

He’s fit and well, though, so we’re happy with him.

Chief Justice goes in the Lyndsey’s 40th Birthday Novice Stakes (5.25) and he’s had a problem coming out of the stalls, I don’t know why because at home he’s a star.

He’s got ability to win a novice, I just hope he behaves and does everything right because if he does he has a big chance.

Prying Pandora is working extremely well ahead of the Ante Post Betting At 118Bet Handicap at Nottingham (7.15).

She’s had a wind operation, she won’t mind the ground as long as it doesn’t dry up too much and I’m very happy with her. There are 16 opponents for her but I can see her going well.