Jane Mangan’s William Hill Blog: Rain could be a Diamond

Newbury, Saturday

The Listed Haras De Bouquetout Fillies’ Trial Stakes (5.15pm) is a quality race for which I like the look of Diamond Rain. She put in a really impressive debut performance at Ascot, where she beat a well-touted Gosden filly. She has all the right entries, in terms of Group Ones, and she’s out of an Oaks winner by Sharmadal. I’ve a funny feeling she has all the credentials to take a lot of beating here.

The best race anywhere this weekend is, of course, the Lockinge (3.35pm) and it looks like it’s going to be a vintage renewal after attracting 11 declarations. Much of the attention will go towards Inspiral, Big Rock and Charyn, but I actually like the look of Royal Scotsman. He has top class form as a three-year-old and was arguably unlucky not to win the Guineas at Newmarket. He pulls hard, but if Jamie Spencer can get him to drop the bridle and follow the pace, I think he could run a very good race on his seasonal debut. He’s now equipped with a tongue strap and I think he will outrun his odds.

Naas, Sunday

Over at Naas on Sunday, the 2.50pm, the Fillies Sprint, for the last two years has produced the Albany Stakes winner at Ascot; Porta Fortuna last year and, in 2022, Meditate. It takes a very smart filly to win this race and two weeks ago I was at the Curragh to see Barnavara put in a really impressive debut performance to beat her rivals by four lengths. She was highly regarded coming into the race and connections didn’t seem all too surprised by how well she did. I think she could develop into a very nice type this year.

The Sole Power Sprint (2.20pm) is an interesting race because I like the three-year-old against the field. Betsen remains a maiden after three runs but his last run at Navan against Givemethebeatboys was eye-catching because he travelled the best, hit the front and just got chinned on the line. I think Ronan Whelan will be playing a very late game, and if he can hold on and follow the pace for as long as possible, I think he could land on the line and break his maiden tag in the best possible fashion.

In the Owenstown Stud Stakes (3.20pm) it’s Yosemite Valley for me. I was at the Curragh when he beat Jumbly last time in the Gladness Stakes and I thought that was a significant step up on what we saw from him as a three-year-old. His trainer, Donnacha O’Brien, was mentioning the possibility of him running at Group One level this season and, if he’s to do that, he really should be winning a Listed race like this and I think they’ve found a very good pitch for him here. Ground and trip should cause no issues and I think he looks like the most solid horse of the day at Naas.