5:50 – Newmarket – CORAL MOBILE THREE CLICKS TO BET HANDICAP (CLASS 3) (3yo 0-95)
3 year old handicaps are notoriously difficult to work out this early in the season with plenty of horses who have yet to show their full potential in opposition. Brass Ring makes his handicap debut this afternoon having won is Maiden on his last start but as often happens in races like this, a case can be made for all five of the runners.
Brass Ring did not run last year and the 3 year old bay colt made his racecourse debut at Nottingham in April over 1 mile 2 furlongs. He was a big eye catcher as he although he missed the break and was a long way behind he stayed on strongly finishing closer than he had been at any time in the race. His pedigree and his performance strongly suggested that he would get distances of 1 mile 4 furlongs plus, sooner rather than later. He was put up in trip to 1 mile 4 furlongs for his second start at Haydock just 7 days after his racecourse debut. Although he was slightly reluctant to go into the stalls and was slowly into his stride, he was held up in touch before making good headway 3 furlongs out. He was ridden 2 furlongs from home and led approaching the final furlong, keeping on well to win by 2 lengths. He looked to have any amount of potential.
He runs over 1 mile 4 furlongs again this afternoon on Good to Firm ground. He won is Maiden at Haydock in the same going, so underfoot conditions will be fine for Brass Ring today.
Robert Havlin rides Brass Ring again this afternoon and has ridden him on both of his previous starts. Robert has had a slow start to the season, but the three rides he has had for John Gosden who trains Brass Ring in the last 14 days have resulted in two second places.
The Gosden yard are starting to come into form with 4 winners in the last two weeks including a Listed winner at Newbury yesterday. Brass Ring was very impressive in the way he won at Haydock last time despite his slow start. He now has more experience behind him having raced twice so should have a better idea of what to expect when the stalls open and can hopefully break better. He is up against some potentially decent opposition today but his connections clearly think he is decent as he has an entry in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. A good run today in a Class 3 Handicap could set up this son of Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Rail Link very nicely for Royal Ascot.