Spicy Marg a tasty proposition in King George Stakes

Michael Bell’s filly Spicy Marg looked a speed demon when winning on debut over five furlongs at Newmarket and over course and distance here in the British Stallion Studs EBF Alice Keppel Fillies’ Conditions Stakes 12 months ago.

She has only had two starts over the minimum trip since, in the Nunthorpe and Cornwallis last year, as the Fitzroy House handler pushed for a tilt at the 1000 Guineas on her reappearance as a three-year-old.

The daughter of Starspangledbanner, who won the Bosra Sham Stakes on her final start as a juvenile, finished eighth in the Classic before reverting back to six furlongs with great effect, placing third in the Sandy Lane before being beaten only a head by Venetian Sun in the Commonwealth Cup.

You can scratch her Summer Stakes run last time out at York as she clearly is not a fan of the Knavesmire track and Spicy Marg ticks a lot of boxes ahead of her return to five furlongs.

Charlie Appleby can secure his first win in the HKJC World Pool Thoroughbred Stakes with the much fancied Talk Of New York.

The Moulton Paddocks handler has been patient with his Wootton Bassett colt, bypassing a 2000 Guineas bid to take a more gentle route.

After a comfortable win on his only start as a juvenile, Talk Of New York came third in a valuable Listed race in Dubai before successes at Newmarket and in the Heron Stakes at Sandown.

He was last seen mixing it with the best of the Classic generation, finishing a length and three-quarters behind 2000 Guineas superstar Bow Echo in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

While Bow Echo and short-head runner-up Gstaad went for the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, Talk Of New York remains against his own age and he is hard to look past.

Bunyola Bay returns to a mile for his handicap debut for Richard Hannon in the Coral Golden Mile.

The Ghaiyyath colt triumphed in a Doncaster novice to start his three-year-old career before catching the eye with an impressive Irish Stallion Farms EBF Gowran Classic victory over an extended mile and a furlong.

A step up to a mile and a half followed in the Irish Derby where he disappointed, so coming back in trip and with Ryan Moore booked to ride for the first time seems a lot more positive.

Boiling Point can bounce back to form at the track where he won the Festival Stakes in May.

Karl Burke’s five-year-old held off the reopposing Naqeeb, who has form figures of 212 at Goodwood, in that Listed contest over a mile and two furlongs by a short head.

He came third in the Diomed Stakes over an extended mile in June and was fourth behind the impressive Sallaal in the Gala Stakes at Sandown earlier this month when back over 10 furlongs.

Clifford Lee’s mount can relish the trip in between those distances in the Regent Seven Seas Cruises Bentinck Conditions Stakes and his previous winning experience on the Sussex Downs is a huge plus.

Hannon could have a double with Jaijai in the Hawes & Curtis Nursery Handicap.

Having secured his sole win to date by two lengths at this venue in June, the Hello Youmzain colt will have to negotiate an added furlong on his fourth career start but it could be time for him to make that step up.

In the opening Coral Goodwood Handicap, Alan King’s Believitanducan is targeting a four-timer and has William Buick back in the saddle in his bid.

Room Fourteen has been a sensation since stepping up to a mile and a quarter, winning three and earning a runner-up spot in his last four starts, and remains unexposed enough to keep climbing up the ratings. James Fanshawe has also booked Moore for the concluding British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Handicap.

Without Prejudice, who is trained by John and Thady Gosden and owned by Andrew Lloyd-Webber, can follow in the footsteps of half-sister Emily Upjohn with a winning debut in Newmarket’s Zyn Pacesetter Fillies’ Novice Stakes. Robert Havlin is the jockey, just as he was on Emily Upjohn’s first start at Wolverhampton in 2021.

 

TAB is betting on 6 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.

GOODWOOD: Race 1: 14.50 Believitanducan, Race 2: 15.25 TALK OF NEW YORK (NAP), Race 3: 16.00 Bunyola Bay, Race 4: 16.35 Spicy Marg, Race 5: 17.10 Boiling Point, Race 6: 17.45 Jaijai, Race 7: 18.20 Into The Light, Race 8: 18.55 Room Fourteen.

WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1: 15.00 Gilding the Lily, Race 2: 15.35 Lessay, Race 3: 16.10 Carnival Of Light, Race 4: 16.45 Constant Star, Race 5: 17.20 Roc De Fer, Race 6: 17.55 King Of Chaos, Race 7: 18.25 Fancy Dancer.

NEWCASTLE: Race 1: 15.10 Millbuie, Race 2: 15.45 Siouxperb, Race 3: 16.20 Time Turner, Race 4: 16.55 Nana’s Boy George, Race 5: 17.30 Reginald Charles, Race 6: 18.05 Coramento, Race 7: 18.40 No News.

BATH: Race 1: 18.35 Belle Of KT, Race 2: 19.08 Havana Gift, Race 3: 19.43 Some Nightmare, Race 4: 20.18 Elmfield, Race 5: 20.48 Beerwah, Race 6: 21.18 Blue Hero.

MUSSELBURGH: Race 1: 18.45 Sophiesticate, Race 2: 19.15 Gerry’s Darling, Race 3: 19.50 Amantha, Race 4: 20.25 Mighty Magnus, Race 5: 20.55 Sanditon, Race 6: 21.25 Gallus Norman, Race 7: 21.55 Thornaby Pearl.

NEWMARKET: Race 1: 18.50 National Honour, Race 2: 19.25 Without Prejudice, Race 3: 20.00 Spring Bloom, Race 4: 20.32 Exposure, Race 5: 21.02 Dance Time, Race 6: 21.32 Mertoun.

DOUBLE: Believitanducan and Talk Of New York (Goodwood, Races 1 and 2).

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