The Listed Heron Stakes highlights Thursday’s racing and is an evening treat for fans. Some highly reputable types fill the lineup and we have previewed the runners and riders below, bet365, who are offering £50 In Free Bets to new customers, when you bet £10.
Akhu Najla (Roger Varian, David Egan) 9/4
Cost a whopping 2.7 million guineas as a yearling, so on a continual mission to repay even a fraction of that fee. Is a Kingman half-brother to 2000 Guineas winner Galileo Gold and though beaten on debut last season, was only beaten a neck. May also have been unlucky not to win, but put that right on his return, scorching home at Yarmouth by 6½ lengths. Looked to pack a frightful punch without being put into top gear that day and firmly in the reckoning.
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Encourageable (James Horton, P.J McDonald) 12/1
Identical form figures to the above, despite having gone through the ring three times for pennies compared to Roger Varian’s charge. Runner-up to a horse now unbeaten in two starts on his debut at Doncaster and used that experience to good effect at Wolverhampton. Won by 1¼ lengths over 7f. Not certain to appreciate step up to 1m on breeding and others have more substance, but could not have done much more in races he has contested.
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Harrow (Andrew Balding, David Probert) 20/1
A three-time winner as a two-year-old, racking up a hat-trick after being beaten on his first three starts. Landed a profitable York nursery before Doncaster’s £200,000 two-year-old conditions stakes in a competitive field. Struggled with the step up Group 3 company next time and has not shown as well this season. Runner-up in two conditions events before last of six in Listed Dee Stakes at Chester. Return to 1m is a plus, but he has a bit to prove.
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My Prospero (William Haggas, Tom Marquand) 10/3
Half-brother to My Oberon and My Astra, both black type performers, though by a slightly speedier sire than either of those in Iffraaj. Third on debut last season to a fairly handy operator and preferred the quicker surface when making a winning return at Newbury. Runner-up was surprisingly beaten at odds-on next time out and this colt did not look the most straightforward in victory, but could easily have learned a lot from that. Yard is absolutely flying too, with a 47% strike rate in the last two weeks.
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Oneforthegutter (Ian Williams, William Buick) 25/1
Will be making his reappearance where after four runs as a juvenile. Won the first of those in a Haydock maiden before keeping good company for the rest of the season. Was only beaten a head in Deauville Group 3, which represents his peak, but well beaten next time in the Group 2 Royal Lodge at Newmarket. Needs to show 1m is what he wants and others have more potential.
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Reach For The Moon (John & Thady Gosden, Frankie Dettori) 6/5
Runs in the Queen’s silks. Surprisingly pulled out of the Derby, supposedly for fitness reasons, but apparently fit enough two weeks earlier here. Connections may believe he would not stay and 1m still represents a step up in trip from anything he faced at two. Beat Harrow four lengths when pair met at Newbury last season, then hosed up in Sandown Group 3. Turned over at 8/13 in Doncaster’s Group 2 Champagne Stakes and so while highly thought of, he may want further and could be vulnerable at short odds again.
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Verdict
There have to be doubts about Reach For The Moon’s fitness after he was ruled out of the Derby, yet turns out two weeks earlier here. The Gosdens may believe he only wants 1m, but having been turned over at odds-on last time out at two, he may well be vulnerable as a favourite on his reappearance. AKHU NAJLA has a lot to prove to live up to his price tag, but he looked to possess serious power when winning at Yarmouth recently and gets the vote. My Propsero is seen as the main danger, as he could easily have learned plenty from winning at Newbury last time and his trainer is in incomparable form.
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