Scots jockey Nicola Currie backed to bag Sandown on George Boughey-trained Navello by Jim Delahunt
SANDOWN stages a card tonight that wouldn’t look out of place on any major Saturday.
And I’m backing Scots pilot Nicola Currie to bag the big two-year-old race at 6.15 on the George Boughey-trained NAVELLO.
Arran-born Currie is a former all-weather champion apprentice, but big-race rides have been hard to come by for a jockey in the all-time female top ten.
This horse could be her passport to the big time.
The jockey has ridden three winners from her last six rides and a double for Navello’s trainer Boughey at Newmarket on Saturday made it four winners from four rides for the trainer at his local track in just eight days.
Boughey, at 29, is just a year older than Currie.
But the pair are clearly on the same wavelength with Navello after the jockey completed a hat-trick on the colt with an impressive six-length win at Chester’s May meeting.
That Lily Agnes romp stamped the son of 2000 Guineas-placed Ivawood as one of the best juveniles seen this season and tonight’s uphill 5f on soft ground shouldn’t pose any problems.
Boughey’s horses are striking at an almost mesmeric 36 per cent this year and his juveniles have been winning so many races that the trainer would have had plenty to choose from for this Listed prize.
Chipotle, Choux and Bond Chairman should ensure a competitive market, but Navello looked just about the finished article at Chester and his match experience can propel Currie closer to a big ride in one of the juvenile races at Royal Ascot.
Jim Goldie sends Euchen Glen to Esher for the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at 7.25, but I’m expecting Ryan Moore to kick off a big-race double here with SANGARIUS.
Sir Michael Stoute’s runner seemed to revel in soft ground at Royal Ascot in 2019 and also ran a blinder when second to Armory at Chester recently.
RANSOM should be at bigger odds for Stoute and Moore in the Whitsun Cup at 8.0.
I’m more than willing to forgive a slow start last time at Kempton, which seemed to rob him of any chance of following up his course-and-distance win there the time before.
BOLLIN JOAN gets the nap vote in Ripon’s 3.05 today and I’m hoping trainer Tim Easterby and jockey David Allan can double up at their local track with FISHABLE in the 1m2f handicap at 3.35.
The four-year-old lost his race in the starting stalls when well fancied at York last time.
But he made up ground to threaten the leaders before the effort took its toll.
Easterby has a whopping 16 runners spread across three meetings today and I don’t think a treble or better would be out of the question.
DAN DE LIGHT can do his bit for the cause as he’s my idea of the winner in Haydock’s 3.55. Duran Fentiman’s mount has won off marks of 57 and 61 on the all-weather, but he had plenty of turf experience last season and soft ground should not be any bother here from a new mark of 68.
Next weekend’s Derby means a low-key Saturday. Chester looks to have the best Flat action — if The Roodee can avoid the current downpours to stage a seven-race card.
BOARDMAN can defy a 10lbs rise in the feature race at 2.40 for the Easterby yard. This rapid improver is fancied to complete a 7f hat-trick before dropping back to 6f for a crack at next month’s Wokingham.
Delahunt's tip of the day
BOLLIN JOAN to win 3.05 Ripon
Tim Easterby’s mare has been running into form and she looks primed to get off the mark for 2021 at a track she excelled at last year.
Bollin Joan won at Ripon off marks of 73 and 76 — and added a third win of 2020 at Catterick off 78.
Two runs this year have seen her drop back from a 2020 peak of 85 to 81 and conditions look perfect, with the experienced David Allan replacing apprentice Ella McCain.
SOGGY Beverley may well have sacrificed Wednesday’s meeting to make sure Saturday’s Hilary Needler card goes ahead and REGAL MIRAGE should be fine in testing conditions at 4.20.
ATASER was a big improver last year and I’d be happy to back him first time out if Terry Kent sends him north for the 3.45.
KEITH DALGLEISH isn’t wasting any time with NINKY NONK and the son of Raven’s Pass can get off the mark at the second attempt in Carlisle’s 1.0 on Friday.
SOAPY’S SISTER won well at Ayr this month and the filly can exploit an opening handicap mark of 74 to complete a stable double at 2.40.
