SATURDAY 29TH JUNE

Saturday 29th June – Barristan The Bold can put up a bold show for Dascombe and Turner

NAP – Barristan The Bold 3:10 Chester

Barristan The Bold returned with a couple of promising runs on the back of a gelding operation earlier this year before subsequently disappointing in the Britannia Stakes at the Royal meeting. He was 16/1 for the Britannia and was seemingly well fancied, so the fact he’s turned out again just 8 days later from that performance suggests all is well with him and compensation could await here. He was dropped just a 1lb from that run but he’s still 2lb below his latest winning mark at Chester last year, providing Ascot has not left a mark I would be disappointed if this horse could not be very competitive here.

Hayley Turner is booked to ride who is full of confidence following her win in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot. Tom Dascombe trains and he needs no introduction when running his horses at Chester, a track where he places his horses well.

NB (Next Best) – Glorious Journey 3:15 Newmarket

Glorious Journey is a horse that promised a lot as a two year old, winning both his starts including a group 3 at Saint Cloud. He seemingly got a bit lost in his three year old campaign when set some tough assignments against classic contenders in the early part of the season, however he still showed consistent form including returning to France to bag another group 3 in August. Gelded over the winter he has returned in good form with a promising reappearance to subsequent Wokingham winner Cape Byron at Ascot in the Victoria Cup. Following that he went to Windsor for the listed Weatherbys Hamilton Stakes over 6f (a trip short of his optimum) where he finished a strong finishing second to subsequent Diamond Jubilee runner up Dream of Dreams.

Today, Glorious Journey runs in the Group 3 Criterion Stakes at Newmarket where he returns to 7f and James Doyle rides. His form is stacking up well and he looks ready to run a big race returning to the scene of his debut win. He is rated 5lb inferior to 2016 July cup winner Limato, although Limato has to shoulder a penalty for that success 3 years ago so they are essentially running off levels today. Limato has the back class but he has looked on the downgrade in recent starts so I am hoping Glorious Journey still has scope for progression and can take this onto better targets later this season.

It is not a two horse race by any means, but conditions looks right for Glorious Journey today.