Nick Luck’s blog: O’Brien’s filly can strike in Sun Chariot

There’s some more great action in front of the ITV cameras on Saturday with the Group 1 Sun Chariot at Newmarket the highlight.

Check out Nick Luck’s thoughts below.

Newmarket

MS GANDHI (12/1) might be the answer to a tricky TV opener at Newmarket on Saturday (1.45pm). She needs to improve a little, but the drop back to 10 furlongs will suit judging by the way she travelled on her last start at Doncaster. The winner that day has gone in again since and three of this filly’s close relatives made up into useful stakes performers with form on softish ground.

STUBBLE FIELD is a sporting selection in the valuable auction race (2.20pm) at 11/1. She ran a mighty race at huge odds on her debut at Ascot, going down by only a narrow margin to a horse that received good notices from Maureen Haggas after the race. More significantly, the fourth and fifth (well behind) have won since, while the selection is able to race off a featherweight under the race conditions.

MOTHER EARTH is the call at 3/1 in the Sun Chariot (2.55pm). You’ll know by now my regard for Snow Lantern, and there have been valid excuses for her last two runs, but the bald facts are that the Aidan O’Brien filly will arguably prefer the ground, is in better form and only has half a length to make up on the Falmouth run when she didn’t get the rub of the green.

Ascot

MINZAAL is taken to defy his long absence in the Rous at Ascot (2.05pm) at 8/1. This horse was devastating with a little cut in the ground in last year’s Gimcrack, before looking as though a stiff six just stretched him in the Middle Park. A drop to five furlongs should suit well for this comeback and he is officially rated the best in this race and receives the penalties from those at the head of the market.

TITLE can lower the colours of the smart Hukum in the Cumberland Lodge (2.40pm). This looked a promising three-year-old when third to Alenquer at Royal Ascot, but he took it to a whole new level on his first start since a gelding operation at Doncaster last time, clearing away from three smart rivals, all of whom have gone on to post career best runs subsequently. He looks on a roll and should love the softening ground at 7/2.

VADREAM looks a reasonable each-way bet at 10/1 in the Bengough Stakes (3.15pm). She’s not really had the rub of the green this season but has run well consistently in defeat all year and this stiff track, easy ground and a guaranteed searching pace could bring about the best in her. 

ACCIDENTAL AGENT is going to be sent off a huge price again in the seven-furlong handicap (3.50pm), but I will be backing him each-way at 25/1. Everybody has seen this movie, but he’s got loads of ability intact on this season’s evidence, has track, ground and almost certainly the draw in his favour and is 1-1 under Georgia Dobie. They are almost certain to go fast here and should be falling away nicely for the selection to grab a piece of the action.

Redcar

ATOMISE (16/1) is a bit of a lurker in the William Hill Two Year Old Trophy at Redcar (3.35pm). Most of the principals are really exposed now and it’s a big ask for them to step up again after busy seasons. There are plenty exposed as pretty limited, too, but that doesn’t apply to Atomise, who looked really promising on debut under a considerate ride and is bred to be useful at least. She slides in here off a low weight and will benefit from a more forgiving surface.