Kevin Stott’s Blog: Embracing winning chances at Newbury

It was great to get another winner in at Yarmouth on Tuesday – Tarbaan for Amy Murphy, who won by an impressive three and a quarter lengths.

I’ve got a busy book of rides at Newbury on Saturday, and I’m hoping there’ll be a winner or two amongst them as well.

Newbury, Saturday

Get Shirty is first in the Autumn Cup (2.05pm). He’s enjoyed having some cut in the ground in the past, which he hasn’t had for a while now and – given his last win was on soft at Haydock – the rain we have had lately is a massive plus for him. He’s a much improved horse since joining David O’Meara and, while he hasn’t been right at the top of his form lately, he has slipped down to a handy mark which, we’re hoping, he can win from.

Roman Emperor is next in the Group 2 Mill Reef (3.15pm). He’s only had one start previously, when he ran for third place at Newbury. He was a real eye-catcher that day and looked great in the paddock. He’s been gelded since, and I don’t think this is the most competitive renewal of the Mill Reef ever, so I hope that he can outrun his odds of 50/1. Yes, he’ll have to improve, but I can see no reason why he won’t do just that.

Dooley is next in the seven-furlong novice (3.50pm). This will be his first run and he’s a Magna Grecia colt who’s been declared with Blinkers on. He’s from a family who tend to stay quite well, so this seven-furlong race will be a starting point for him and he’ll go over further in time. This ground is going to be testing for two-year-olds, so it’ll be interesting to see how they all get on here.

Then I’ve got Embrace in the seven-furlong handicap (4.25pm). She’s a filly who loves the mud and her chances have increased plenty thanks to this rain. She’s been aimed high in her career so far, with a good run for fourth in the Group 3 Fred Darling and finishing midfield in the Group 1 1000 Guineas. She was pretty disapointing in her last start at Salisbury, but that race was quite a stretch of her stamina over 1m2f and she just didn’t quite stay. Back down to seven furlongs here, and back in a handicap, she should have a real chance.

Finally, I’m riding Bodorgan in the mile handicap (5.00pm). He’s been running well this year but is still lightly raced, so his third behind Kathab last time was very positive. His only win to date came on good-to-soft and, while this will be his only run on soft ground yet, we’ve no reason to believe he won’t handle the conditions. It’ll be interesting to see how he goes. He hasn’t been beaten far in any of his runs this year, so he remains competitive. Let’s hope for the best.