The right start for Don’t Touch

I ended up thankful for Medburn Dream at Lingfield last Saturday evening, though The Tin Man managed to ‘top and tail’ Royal Ascot following the nap Ribchester’s victory on the opening day. The two I’d take from the meeting are both trained by Jeremy Nioseda  –  Abe Lincoln and Sixties Groove.

Although they race just about everywhere on Saturday, my main betting interests will be at Newcastle and I shall stay with Mick Channon’s MOONRAKER in the opening six-furlong handicap. He is becoming a little expensive to follow but he was stuck out wide at Newmarket last time and did not run too badly under the circumstances. He will certainly be an each-way price.

Given that he was only just over two lengths behind The Tin Man in the Champions Sprint at Ascot last autumn, Richard Fahey’s DON’T TOUCH should win the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes although, as my old mum would no doubt have remarked: ‘Too obvious, boy’. I can’t let that put me off but if there is a danger to Don’t Touch it may well be his stable-companion Kimberella.

I’m not wild about the Northumberland Plate itself, where Seamour should make the frame again, but the much-improved LONDON PRIZE has a good chance in the consolation race, even if the penalty rules out a major bet.

Fahey’s PADDY POWER was backed before the Sprint Cup consolation at Musselburgh but reared and unseated Sammy Jo Bell at the start. He looks the one for the five-furlong handicap at York confined to jump jockeys and I hope his high draw does not count against him.

Graham Lee teams up with Mick Channon when Moonraker contest the opener at Newcastle and travels down to Windsor to partner the inconsistent LINCOLN for him in the valuable six-furlong handicap on Sunday. Lincoln finished in eye-catching style when third at the York Dante meeting.

Back to Saturday and Godolphin may well win the Group 3 Criterion Stakes at Newmarket with HOME OF THE BRAVE, who likes time between his races and comes on here after winning the same Leicester race as last year.