Saturday Review

Charlie Appleby and Godolphin won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket for a second time in three years as the unbeaten Notable Speech proved too strong for his rivals on his first start on turf. The son of Dubawi, a three times winner on the all-weather at Kempton beforehand, didn't make his racecourse debut until the 27th January and has come a long way in a short space of time. A two lengths winner of a a conditons stakes (formerly the Easter Stakes) at the Sunbury track in early April on his previous start, he showed his trademark turn of foot to quickly settle the issue on the Rowley Mile. Challenging on the outside, William Buick's mount readily brushed aside previous Group 1 winner Rosallion to win by a length and a half. A top-class colt, he will be kept to a mile with either the Irish 2000 Guineas or St James's Palace Stakes at the Curragh and Royal Ascot respectively expected to be next on his agenda. Speaking to Charlie Appleby in early March for Ahead On The Flat, he was very impressed with the colt after his win in the Kentucky Derby Trial at Kempton in February and he has continued to progress since.

Notable Speech's win was a form boost to Top 40 entry Valvano who chased him home at Kempton last month with Ralph Beckett's colt set to contest the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York on Thursday week. There were no shortage of disappointments in the 2000 Guineas, most notably the previously unbeaten City of Troy. Last year's leading juvenile was in trouble some way from the finish with his performance mirroring stablemate Auguste Rodin twelve months earlier. Touted as a potential Triple Crown contender, this was too bad to be true with the Epsom Derby likely to be next on his agenda. The Karl Burke trained Night Raider also performed well below par racing much too keenly early on and dropping away tamely when the taps were turned on. The son of Dark Angel was in trouble by halfway and needs to learn to settle if he is to fulfil his undoubted potential. Don't be surprised if he reverts to sprint trips and heads for something like the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock (25th May). The Clipper Logistics owned colt isn't entered in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot but could be supplemented if showing his true colours next time.

It was a very successful day for the Talking Trainers section in AOTF at HQ on Saturday with Unequal Love (4/1), Desert Cop (22/1), Liberty Lane (9/1) and Notable Speech (16/1) all scoring. The first named produced a smart performance to win the Listed Kilvington Stakes over six furlongs. The Cheveley Park Stud owned filly was progressive last term winning on four occasions and she looked even better on her reappearance here. Held up by Tom Marquand, the daughter of Dutch Art showed a good turn of foot to beat old rival Funny Story by a length and William Haggas indicated the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh (25th May) is likely to be her next target. 

The Punchestown Festival came to a close on Saturday with Willie Mullins claiming two more Grade 1 winners courtesy of mares/fillies Lossiemouth and Kargesse. The head of Closutton sent out 10 winners from 100 runners over the five days with 8 Grade 1 winners in total. Kargesse (9/4) produced a terrific performance to win the Grade 1 4yo hurdle given the fact the Jeu St Eloi filly had performed at Cheltenham and Aintree earlier this spring. Held up by Paul Townend, the ex-French filly came home strongly to win going away by a length and a half. It was her third run in Grade 1 company within 50 days. Her overall record at the highest level since arriving in Ireland is 1221 and she has proved a great selection for the French Revolution section in One Jump Ahead.

With the 2023/2024 National Hunt season now completed in both Britain and Ireland, I will be publishing the end of season statistics from One Jump Ahead, in terms of winners / runners in the various sections, in the next few days.