See The Fire can put it up to both Inspiral and Nashwa in the Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes (15h40) at Newmarket on Saturday afternoon.
The Group 1 feature sees a field of six fillies and mares race over the Rowley mile on track conditions described as soft.
Inspiral is on course for Saturday’s Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes (Pic – Racing TV)
The Gosden yard have been under a cloud in recent weeks recording only one winner from their last 23 runners and it may pay to side with the Oisin Murphy ridden three-year-old from the very much in-form Andrew Balding stable.
See The Fire beat the boys at York in the Gr3 Strensall Stakes at the end of August, and this filly by Sea The Stars looks very progressive.
Murphy was aboard fellow three-year-old Tamfana when successful in a Sandown fillies Group 3 last time out but stays loyal to the Balding filly.
Irish champion jockey Colin Keane has been booked to replace Murphy aboard the David Menuisier trained three-year-old, and they look the biggest threat to the selection.
The Ralph Beckett yard is in great form at present and their Frankel colt Cape Breton looks the one to be with in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back EBF Maiden Stakes (16h50).
He was fourth in a class 2 maiden on soft ground at Ascot last month. Slow away and green on his debut, he should have learnt plenty for that run and is the one to be with here.
In Berkshire, trainer William Haggas could have a good afternoon, and the heavy ground is certain to suit his veteran Hamish in the BetMGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes (15h25) at Ascot.
A real mudlark, the popular nine-year-old is a course and distance winner along with his stable companion Al Aasy and the Karl Burke trained Al Qareem. These three runners head the market in a field of eight and should all be involved. Hamish is narrowly preferred due to the track conditions.
Earlier on the card, Hamish’s rider Cieren Fallon rides another Haggas trained runner, the filly Relief Rally in the listed BetMGM Rous Stakes (14h50).
The three-year-old ran on strongly to finish a close second over the minimum trip at Newbury in heavy going last month. She looks well in here on the ratings and should be hard to beat if reproducing that form.
