Plenty of Listed and Group action is available in the UK and Ireland on Saturday, including three races from Newmarket (July).
In the 6f Listed Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies' Stakes (12:40), What A Question steps in Listed company after her impressive debut victory at Goodwood. She made all in the hands of James Doyle and picked up smartly at the two-furlong marker drawing clear to win by four-and-three-quarter lengths. The Lope De Vega filly looks very capable of winning this with further improvement to come over longer distances later in the season.
Godolphin's Star Of Mystery ran into a good winner in Carla's Way on debut and soon made amends for the defeat by posting an eleven-length success at Haydock Park next-time-out. The well-bred daughter of Kodiac has plenty of ability but has raced keenly on both starts and may not get away with expending unnecessary energy in a field of talented fillies.
William Haggas' Indispensable has made gradual progress with each of her three starts and broke her maiden at the third time of asking with a comfortable win at Ripon when ahead of Ziggy's Queen. She finished behind La Guarida and Soprano respectively on her first two runs, who both produced credible efforts at Royal Ascot and perhaps is better than the bare form suggests.
WIN: WHAT A QUESTION
The promising New London has a tongue-tie applied for the first time in the 1m4f Listed Fred Archer Stakes (1:15) on his seasonal reappearance. A comfortable winner of the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood last year, he ended the campaign with a good second in the St Leger behind Eldar Eldarov and has been given wind surgery over the winter break. The drop back to twelve furlongs will pose no issue on his return to action and it's not hard to see why he heads the betting for a stable who has been in remarkable form in recent weeks.
Al Aasy performs best over twelve furlongs and a line can be put through his two runs over shorter towards the end of last season. He returned after a lengthy break with a comfortable win in the Listed Buckhound Stakes at Ascot back in May 2022 so clearly goes well fresh and with an excellent strike rate over this trip (4-7), a bold bid could be on the cards.
WIN: AL AASY
In the 7f Group 3 Criterion Stakes (1:50), Aldaary is stepping into Group company for the first time after a comfortable success in the Listed Spring Trophy Stakes on his seasonal reappearance. He secured two big Ascot handicaps over seven furlongs and a mile at the end of last season and does not look out of place at this level, although a softer surface may see him to better effect.
Charlie Hills' Pogo won this contest twelve months ago and enjoyed an excellent 2022 campaign with multiple victories over this distance including the Group 2 Challenge Stakes on the Rowley Mile. He has not looked the same horse this year and has been well-beaten in all three starts. Although a return to this trip could suit him, he's probably too short at 10/3.
Jumby could be the one to side with at the current prices (currently available at 5/1) and Eve Johnston-Houghton's runner looked as good as ever when a ready winner of the 7f Group 3 John of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock Park. He beat The Astrologist by one-and-a-half lengths, who then produced a big effort to finish fifth in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. He can be inconsistent, but a combination of good ground and this trip should see a bold bid.
WIN: JUMBY
