Fortune can favour Lucky Bridle

Australia is the favourite for todays Irish Derby at the Curragh. Picture: Getty

PIQUE Sous may not have been quite ready for the John Smith’s Northumberland Plate but Lucky Bridle can prove an able deputy for Willie Mullins in the handicap feature at Newcastle.

The five-year-old has had a very limited career for a horse of his age so far and he arrived at Mullins’ yard via a spell with Christophe Ferland in France.

During his time at that yard, Lucky Bridle showed some potential in winning twice and being placed in a couple of Listed heats as well as showing up well against a Group One-placed rival.

His profile certainly caught Mullins’ eye and he was snapped up by Andrea and Graham Wylie last May, eventually winning one of his three hurdles starts last term. Lucky Bridle also showed up well when only narrowly beaten on a Flat outing last month, finding it all happening a bit quick before staying on with purpose to be beaten just half a length over 10 furlongs. The trip was surely too short that day and given he is a hurdles winner, this two-mile trip should not really pose too much of an issue. Mullins has snapped up the services of Paul Hanagan for the ‘Pitmen’s Derby’ and a midfield draw should be ideal as you certainly will not be at a perceived disadvantage.

Saayerr was a late defector from the Wokingham at Royal Ascot but should be worth the wait in the Betfred TV Chipchase Stakes. This does not appear to be the strongest renewal of the Group Three and William Haggas’ charge has upwards of 3lb in hand of all his rivals on his official rating – a fact which is especially eyecatching as he is actually getting weight from all but one of his rivals. Saayerr’s fourth place when conceding weight to Shifting Power in European Free Handicap reads particularly well given that one’s subsequent Classic exploits and Haggas seems to have found an ideal opportunity.

Indignant outpointed a much better fancied stablemate at Salisbury on her most recent outing and is worth a shout in the bet365 Criterion Stakes at Newmarket. She was sent off an 18-1 shot in a classy Listed event over six furlongs, showing plenty of heart to repel evens favourite and fellow Richard Hannon inmate Professor by a neck.That horse gave the form a massive boost when running a cracker to finish second in the Wokingham under a big weight and while Indignant is stepping back up to seven furlongs, she has shown ability over the trip before has a nice pull in the weights under the race conditions. Any rain before the off would be a minor negative but Indignant should not be too far away as long as the ground stays on the quicker side.

Custom Cut can enjoy his day in the sun in Windsor’s unibet.co.uk Midsummer Stakes. The five-year-old has been thoroughly consistent in both Listed and Pattern company, winning a Group Three event at the Curragh last April when trained by George Kent.

All eyes will be on Australia in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and it will be a major surprise if he cannot repeat his Epsom heroics at the Curragh. A fine third in what was clearly a fantastic renewal of the 2000 Guineas, Aidan O’Brien’s charge excelled over the 12 furlongs on the Downs, holding off the game Kingston Hill by just over a length. That one reopposes again but unless there is an absolute deluge, it is hard to see Kingston Hill reversing the form with a horse Aidan O’Brien has widely lauded as the best he has trained.

TODAY

Chester

2:10 Steve Prescott

2:45 B Fifty Two

3:20 Basil Berry

3:55 Between Wickets

4:30 English Summer

5:05 Tango Sky

5:40 Teak

Doncaster

5:25 Bright Applause

5:55 Makhfar

6:30 Loom Of Life

7:05 Green Monkey

7:40 Kingscroft

8:15 High On Life

8:45 Snow Dancer

Lingfield

5:50 Surrey Pink

6:20 Picansort

6:55 Dorraar

7:25 Mr Win

8:00 Stand Guard

8:30 Passionate Affair

9:00 Mountain River

Newcastle

1:35 Short N Sweet

2:05 Pipers Note

2:40 Saayerr

3:15 Foxtrot Romeo

3:50 Lucky Bridle

4:25 Licence To Till

5:00 Amood

Newmarket

1:45 Holland Park

2:20 Zeb Un Nisa

2:55 Battalion

3:30 Indignant

4:05 Swift Campaign

4:40 Seagull (nap)

5:15 Zain Eagle

5:45 Starlight Serenade

Windsor

1:55 Doctor Kehoe

2:30 Inis Airc

3:05 Al Saham

3:40 Custom Cut

4:10 Goldream

4:45 Royal Connection

5:20 Assertive Agent

TOMORROW

Salisbury

2:10 Bellajeu

2:40 Cruise Tothelimit

3:10 Astronereus

3:40 Pervy Alleline

4:15 Opera Buff

4:45 Silent Bullet

5:15 Dylan’s Centenary

Uttoxeter

2:20 No Substitute

2:50 Graphical

3:20 Sweet Deal

3:50 Storm Survivor (nap)

4:25 Minella Reception

4:55 Noble Friend

5:25 Groomed

5:55 Who Am I

Windsor

2:00 Principle Equation

2:30 Al Senad

3:00 Dangerous Moonlite

3:30 Torchlighter

4:05 Homage

4:35 The Third Man

5:05 Warrigal