Newbury takes centre stage in the UK, with the Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes the standout event on their bumper eight race card.
The Curragh will be on the spotlight over in Ireland as Aidan O’Brien’s Snowfall bids to win the Juddmonte Irish Oaks.
Read on as we look at some of the top races scheduled to take place this weekend and pick out a few horses to follow.
Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes – Newbury
Impressive Royal Ascot winner Chipotle is all the rage in the betting for the Weatherbys Super Sprint, and Eve Johnson Houghton’s two-year-old will be tough to beat.
Chipotle has won three out of four this season, including a stylish victory in the Windsor Castle Stakes on his most recent outing.
However, with more than 20 runners set to line up at Newbury, the horse looks far too short in the betting market.
Richard Hannon’s Gubbass appears to have been laid out for the race following a successful debut at Leicester in April and holds a solid each-way chance.
Bahrain Turf Series Handicap – Newbury
Third on his seasonal reappearance at Newmarket in May, Zeeband followed up with an impressive success in the Northumberland Vase at Newcastle last month.
The four-year-old moved onto the heels of the leaders under jockey Andrea Atzeni, before forging clear to win easily by two and a half lengths.
The first-time visor appeared to help Zeeband settle a little better, while the horse had no problem handing the two-mile trip.
Zeeband appears to be a typical improver from the Roger Varian yard and he can take this prize on his way to much better things.
Hackwood Stakes – Newbury
Tabdeed looks primed to run a big race as he bids for a second successive victory in the Hackwood Stakes over six furlongs.
The Owen Burrows-trained six-year-old ran an excellent race in the Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle recently and he should be fully tuned up this weekend.
Jockey David Probert admitted after the race that he would have finished closer with a clearer run, and the horse has impressed on the gallops since then.
Jim Crowley takes over in the saddle at Newbury and the combination look a good bet to return to the winners’ enclosure.
Juddmonte Irish Oaks – Curragh
Aidan O’Brien’s Snowfall is set to face seven rivals as she bids for a Classic double in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh.
Snowfall had a low-key two-year-old campaign, winning just one of her seven starts, but she has improved massively this season.
The filly romped home in the Musidora Stakes at York before following up with a hugely impressive success in the Cazoo Oaks at Epsom.
Snowfall finished 16 lengths clear of her rivals on that occasion and another wide margin victory is on the cards this weekend.
Juddmonte Farms Expert Eye Irish EBF Maiden – Curragh
O’Brien will fancy his chances of winning the opening seven-furlong maiden race with promising juvenile Shark Bay.
The horse narrowly finished third over the same course and distance at the end of June and is expected to take a big leap forward this time around.
Shark Bay was behind Atomic Jones and Point Gellibrand on his debut, and both those horses are highly thought of by their connections.
O’Brien’s horses generally improve for their first run and Shark Bay looks a banker bet to get the stable off to a good start on Irish Oaks day.
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Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.
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