Freddie Tylicki, who enjoyed a return to the York winners’ enclosure this week after spending half of last year on the sidelines with a major shoulder injury, can continue his winning run at Thirsk tomorrow.
The Malton jockey teams up with Extraterrestrial in the second division of the Marion Gibson Brown Memorial Handicap and can steer the gelding, a former winner of the Thirsk Hunt Cup, to victory.
Tylicki, who was crowned champion apprentice in 2009, found his first full term as a senior jockey marred by a fall at Musselburgh last June, which left him facing six and a half months on the sidelines.
He has returned this term seemingly as good as ever, as he proved on Wednesday when he scored on Common Touch wearing the colours of York racecourse chairman Nicholas Wrigley, who has the gelding in training with Richard Fahey.
Extraterrestrial may not be the force of old, but he ran a fair sixth at Doncaster on his reappearance and the seven-year-old, on whom Tylicki won a Newbury Spring Cup a couple of seasons ago, should make a bold bid in this one mile event.
In the opening leg of the same race, make a note of David O’Meara’s Kensei. Strongly supported when making his seasonal debut at Redcar three weeks ago, Kensei could finish only fourth to Aquarian Spirit. Capable of better, compensation may be on the cards.
Beat The Bell is napped to clinch the Green Health Farm Handicap for David Barron, who trains at nearby Maunby.
The six-year-old finished a good third on her reappearance at Beverley and an excellent second at Epsom next time before finishing unplaced at Chester from a bad draw. That performance can be easily forgiven and this speedy six-year-old is taken to bounce back with her first win of the campaign.
The promising Unex Picasso (2.40) and the speedy Rash Judgement (3.50) are also worthy of attention, as is Haajes (5.00), trained by in-form Paul Midgley.
A dual winner last season, Haajes has had two runs so far this time around and should now be coming to hand. This five furlongs is his best distance.
At Newbury, the outstanding highlight of the day takes place in the £175,000 JLT Lockinge Stakes, which features Richard Hannon-trained stablemates Canford Cliffs and Dick Turpin, and also the Henry Cecil-trained Twice Over, who is, perhaps, even better over a fraction further.
Preference in what promises to be a fascinating and highly informative contest, is for Canford Cliffs, the best miler of his generation last season, whose wins included the Irish 2,000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes.
While Dick Turpin has the benefit of a previous winning run this season, Canford Cliffs has the edge on class and he is fancied to prove it under Richard Hughes.
Polly’s Mark, narrowly beaten by Gertrude Bell at Goodwood a fortnight ago, deserves to go one better in the JLT Aston Park Stakes, while the high-class Mac’s Power (2.35) and the well-regarded Midsummer Sun (5.30), who disappointed on his debut last month but is surely capable of much better, are also worth noting on an excellent Newbury programme.
Racing selections
York (today)
1.30 Miss Work Of Art, 2.00 Deauville Flyer, 2.30 Askar Tau, 3.00 Theysekens’ Theory, 3.35 Thirteen Shivers, 4.10 Irish Heartbeat (NAP), 4.45 Pandoro de Lago.
Today’s other meetings
Aintree, Hamilton, Newbury, Newcastle and Newmarket.
Thirsk (tomorrow)
1.35 Kensei, 2.05 Lexington Spirit, 2.40 Unex Picasso, 3.15 Extraterrestrial, 3.50 Rash Judgement, 4.25 Beat The Bell (NAP), 5.00 Haajes, 5.35 Trading.
Newbury (tomorrow)
1.25 Fiorente, 2.00 Polly’s Mark, 2.35 Mac’s Power, 3.10 Dominant, 3.45 Canford Cliffs, 4.20 Manaaber, 4.55 Shahzan, 5.30 Midsummer Sun.
Tomorrow’s other meetings
Bangor, Newmarket, Doncaster and Uttoxeter.
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