Newbury focus: Touleen the Shadwell darling for Osborne and Burrows
Shadwell might not be the powerhouse it once was in Sheikh Hamdan’s heyday—but don’t write off the blue and white livery just yet. The streamlined operation is still competing with racing’s elite at the highest level under his daughter’s stewardship, Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum.
A lot of the firepower is coming from Owen Burrows’ Lambourn yard, where the Classic dream is very much alive with TOULEEN. A stocky Shadwell homebred by Lope de Vega whose speedy dam’s side includes a close relation who is a half-sister to 1,000 Guineas heroine Ghanaati.
Touleen heads to Newbury on Saturday for the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Fred Darling Stakes (1.25)—an early-season trial Burrows is using for the 1000 Guineas to keep things simple staying close to home at his local track, swerving other trials at Newmarket just two weeks before the big day.
With Jim Crowley still out injured, the plum ride goes to Saffie Osborne. She has been in to sit on Touleen in her last couple of pieces of work, reporting her in good order, and the yard feel the filly is thriving. The big question is the mile trip at Newmarket, but Touleen settles well in her work at home and switches off giving every hope she’ll stay.
She lost her unbeaten record at two when unable to confirm placings from Leicester in the Rockfel Stakes with the highly-regarded Zanthos, but she reportedly scoped dirty after the race. Connections believe she is best judged on early promise winning at Newbury and Leicester, showing a smart turn off foot to see off her Newmarket conqueror.
Richard Hannon, who has laid out LINWOOD for the Spring Cup Handicap (3.10) on the same card, dropped a strong hint about just how highly he rates his smart handicapper with sidestepped early season entries in the Listed Doncaster Mile and a valuable Musselburgh pot.
A previous course winner, Linwood was desperately unlucky when fifth over course and distance last September having been denied a clear run. Redemption came in style at Newmarket, where he absolutely bolted up by five and a half lengths from Nebras.
Although raised 10lb since, don’t let that put you off here— there could be plenty more to come after a close season gelding operation and the Newmarket runner‑up from that race is now rated 12lb higher, which throws Linwood’s demolition job sharply into focus.
Owned by Jim and Fitri Hay, the signal couldn’t be clearer with Jamie Spencer booked at the five‑day stage. The marmite jockey led home a 1-2 for the owners on one of his first turf rides of the season at the Craven meeting on Tuesday.
O'Brien eyes National return - but Scottish glory comes first
Joseph O’Brien may be dreaming of future Aintree glory with Jordans – third in the Grand National last Saturday - but this weekend, all roads lead to Ayr where KIM ROQUE is fancied to land a first success in the Scottish Grand National (3.35) for his in-form trainer.
The six‑year‑old was last seen at Cheltenham, staying on strongly to finish fourth behind Ask Brewster in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase, and his rating has been left unchanged after his eye-catching Festival sighter over a staying trip.
The drying ground is in his favour and victory would be extra special for connections. Kim Roque is owned by Ronnie Bartlett, the Airdrie‑based potato baron, who has long dreamed of winning Scotland’s biggest jumps race.
Gosdens shuffle the pack with Classic hopes
John and Thady Gosden have been forced into a swift rethink after injury derailed their Classic plans - with Publish sidelined, OXAGON finds himself thrust into the spotlight. The Frankel colt bypasses the Feilden Stakes and is instead rushed straight into the Craven Stakes (3.35) on Thursday, with first time cheek pieces fitted.
He has been noted working well on the Limekilns with Organise — and that looks a rock-solid marker after his workmate announced himself as one to watch with a polished novice win at Yarmouth on Saturday in the Wathnan colours.
Although Oxagon couldn’t match it with the very best juveniles in the Dewhurst, he emerged with credit bang there until fading one out behind the ill-fated Gewan. His final outing of the season can also be safely ignored, undone by desperate ground when pitched against Ballydoyle’s Futurity big three, with Oisin Murphy sensibly nursing him home at Doncaster.
Adding spice to the Classic trial is Roger Varian’s unbeaten AVICENNA, another colt firmly on the radar for this finding out mission to see where they stand. Ray Dawson takes the mount and is already bang in form after firing in a Leicester double. Fresh from a lucrative UAE spell that yielded 41 winners, he returns with confidence sky-high.
Balding stable switcher holds Wokingham hopes
DOUBLE RUSH is napped to a make winning debut for Andrew Balding as the change of scenery sees him line up in rude health for his new yard in Newmarket’s opening 6f Weatherbys Global Stallions App Handicap (1.50) on Wednesday.
The four-year-old looked a sprinter going places last spring for Charlie Hills winning over course and distance at this corresponding meeting and then an unlucky third at York when drawn away from the action on the near side of his group. He has been more than holding his own with some high-fliers at Kingsclere and hopes are high he can develop into a Wokingham contender.
On the gallops: One to watch
The Gosden’s introduce a well-regarded newcomer at Newbury on Saturday in the Too Darn Hot Darley 'Confined' EBF Maiden Stakes (4.20) with Ryan Moore booked for the George Strawbridge-owned WATER TO WINE. The Kingman colt has been showing all the right signs in his work at home.
Ones for the ATR Tracker
WEHEEDD, who was snapped up for a cool 200,000 guineas at Tattersalls Book 1 by Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, has been patiently handled by William Haggas who resisted the urge to rush the Lope de Vega colt at two, instead giving him all the time he needed to strengthen up and mature.
He made a promising debut in a Yarmouth mile novice against five rivals, three of whom were already winners, in receipt of 7lbs running a race full of promise taking minor honours under a hands and heels ride behind Organise. He will improve for the experience and a maiden looks a formality before going on to better things.