Accademia has the answers at Newbury
Accademia looks well placed to complete her hat-trick for Ed Walker in the Gracelands Handicap at Newbury on Wednesday.
Having shown some potential in three juvenile outings in novice company, the three-year-old blew away the cobwebs on her reappearance at Lingfield in late May and that put her spot-on for her next start at Doncaster, where she opened her account with a bit to spare.
She stepped up to 1600m for the first time over this course and distance a fortnight later and defied a 7lb rise in the weights with a last-gasp win, lunging late under Kieran Shoemark to beat Luminare by a head.
That form looks strong, with the third (Lightning Glory), fourth (Areti) and fifth (Berlinetta) all winning since, and while Accademia is up another 6lb ahead of her latest assignment, there is still scope for improvement.
The Clive Cox-trained Bold Shout should take some stopping in the BetVictor Handicap.
The son of Starman ran well in defeat on his first two starts and after being gelded in the meantime, he made it third time lucky in impressive fashion at Salisbury two weeks ago.
He enters the handicap sphere off what looks a very workable opening mark of 70 and is a confident selection for a yard in fine form.
Royale Union is not one of Karl Burke’s brighter lights, but she has shown enough to suggest a race like the Berber Leather Maiden Stakes at Catterick should be within her compass.
The three-year-old blew the start and was never able to get involved as a result on her Southwell debut, but subsequent placed efforts at Redcar and Ripon suggest she should be winning races in the near future.
She is only rated 68 on the back of those three efforts, but this is not a race that will take a huge amount of winning.
Our Absent Friends bids for his third win of the summer at the North Yorkshire circuit in the Oops A Daisy Handicap.
Tristan Davidson’s charge won here last month and little over a week ago, most recently bolting up by four lengths.
His form can be a little in and out, but he clearly likes this track and should follow up under a 4lb penalty if he is in the same mood.
It will be a surprise if Al Wathba does not break his duck at the third attempt in the Unibet/British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes at Kempton.
Having finished second to the subsequent Vintage runner-up and Acomb Stakes winner Haffner on his debut at Newmarket, Charlie Appleby’s youngster was unsurprisingly long odds-on for his second attempt at Leicester, but was beaten fair and square by Eve Johnson Houghton’s Jimtrott.
He may have just bumped into a useful sort there though and can reward those who keep the faith.
Hamad Al Jehani had a winner and two seconds at York last week and it will be interesting to see what his Star Mirage can do back on the all-weather in the Try Unibet’s New Smartview Racecards Fillies’ Handicap.
Second here on her introduction last September, the daughter of American sire Street Sense subsequently showed decent form on the dirt at Meydan.
She was last of 14 on her return from a lengthy absence on the turf at Goodwood four weeks ago, but should strip fitter for the run and may be more at home on an artificial surface. – Press Release
TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings on Wednesday. Here are the tips.
WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1: 15.00 Bridget’s Baby, Race 2: 15.30 Lovely Dark Angel, Race 3: 16.00 Diamondinthedark, Race 4: 16.30 Letmebetheboss, Race 5: 17.00 Spaceage Love Song, Race 6: 17.35 On Key.
CATTERICK: Race 1: 15.15 Shaniko, Race 2: 15.45 Royale Union, Race 3: 16.15 Run This Way, Race 4: 16.45 Animato, Race 5: 17.15 Our Absent Friends, Race 6: 17.52 I Can Boogy.
NEWBURY: Race 1: 17.10 Regal Tiger, Race 2: 17.45 Yabreen, Race 3: 18.20 Darjeel, Race 4: 18.55 Somers Isles, Race 5: 19.30 ACCADEMIA (NAP), Race 6: 20.00 Bold Shout, Race 7: 20.30 Empirical.
KEMPTON: Race 1: 19.20 Al Wathba, Race 2: 19.51 Kaindy, Race 3: 20.21 Star Mirage, Race 4: 20.51 Ladykirk, Race 5: 21.21 Aigeas, Race 6: 21.51 Madjid.
DOUBLE: Accademia and Bold Shout (Newbury, Races 5 and 6).