FILTER BY

It’s crystal clear – Stoute all the way

May 19th, 2018 | Ian Carnaby's Racing News

A bonus last week arrived with Intisaab’s SP of 11/4. I thought he was something to bet on in the Class 2 conditions event at Haydock but imagined he’d start favourite. In fact the bookmakers were more interested in Dancing Star reappearing after a long absence and they were nearly right because she ran a fine race in defeat. It will be interesting see where Andrew Balding places her.

I have been at York for three days and things went well with Afaak winning the Hambleton Handicap quite impressively. He may be a shade above handicap class. I knew Baron Bolt was handicapped to the hilt at Newbury on Friday but he nearly made it in the six-furlong handicap, just going under to the remarkably resilient Ice Age.

Saturday will be quiet for me and I doubt that we will get much of a price about CRYSTAL OCEAN in the old Aston Park Stakes. He did very well to get there over ten furlongs on his reappearance and this trip will suit him much better. He looks Sir Michael Stoute’s main middle-distance protagonist this summer.

Stable-companion CRYSTAL HOPE ran out an impressive three-lengths’ winner of the fillies’ event the same day and now looks very useful indeed with the runner-up winning the Musidora. She can go in again on this Newbury card.

Aidan O’Brien really means business in the Group 1 Lockinge and I think he probably has the beating of Addeybb one way or another. This is a race to watch and enjoy but, if pressed, I’d day Rhododendron’s Classic form will gain the day. The value will be non-existent, however.