Weekend Review

I was working at Haydock Park on Saturday and unfortunately the action was cut short following a number of horses slipping on the homebend in the staying three year old handicap and then Tiffany did likewise in the Lancashire Oaks. The Group 2 event was won in convincing fashion by the progressive Queen of The Pride who became the first filly to complete the Lester Piggott/Pinnacle Stakes and Lancashire Oaks double since 2020. The John & Thady Gosden trained runner has improved with each starrt this term and came from off the pace to win going away by three lengths. By Roaring Lion out of the St Leger winner Simple Verse, the four year old is bred to be high-class and she has earned a crack at the highest level. The Yorkshire Oaks next month looks an obvious target and she will have no trouble staying further later in the year. A trip to Longchamp in the Autumn for the Group 1 Prix de Royallieu (1m 6f) could be in the offing - her stable have won it three times.

Uncle Don (7/2) was highlighted as an unraced juvenile to follow in the Royal Ascot Update and it was pleasing to see Richard Fahey's charge get off the mark at the second time of asking at Beverley on Saturday. Runner-up on debut at Ayr, the son of Oasis Dream overcame a wide draw (stall 12) to collect the five furlongs maiden stakes under a cool ride from Oisin Orr. The drop back to the minimum trip held no fears for the Middleham Park owned runner and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him head to Glorious Goodwood later this month / early August. The Listed Roses Stakes at York's Ebor Festival could be on his agenda later this summer.

The Top 40 have endured a sticky spell since Royal Ascot - they are running creditably but not winning which is frustrating. The trend continued with Indelible finishing runner-up in Listed Coral Distaff at Sandown. Ralph Beckett's filly 'won' her side but only finished fourth in the Sandringham Handicap at Ascot last month and once again held every chance here. Despite reversing placings with Ascot conqueror Soprano, the daughter of Shamardal still found outsider Spiritual a length and a quarter too good. Hopefully she will gain compensation in something similar in the coming weeks. Being out of multiple Group 1 winner Midday, she may be worth a try over ten furlongs.