After both of my selections placed last week, I’m hoping for more profit this week with my two selections, including an each-way pick for the Northumberland Plate, as well as a confident fancy in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh.
3:15 Newcastle – EAST INDIA DOCK (6/1 generally)
We haven’t seen a four year old win the Northumberland Plate since Caravan Of Hope won back in 2020, but I think the younger horses have a great chance this year, notably with EAST INDIA DOCK. James Owen’s dual purpose horse has been in the form of his life over both codes this year, and I think his class can see him come out on top in here.
His two runs this year have seen him put in career-best efforts on the flat, with a game victory in the Chester Cup, before finishing within two lengths of the winner in the Ascot Stakes earlier this month. Both of those efforts put him firmly in the mix in this, and providing he translates his turf form on the all-weather, he should go extremely close in here.
At the odds, I’d be willing to back him each-way, just in case he finds a couple too good here. That being said, he fits plenty of the trends for recent winners of the race, and I’d be disappointed if he wasn’t thereabouts at the finish.
3:30 Curragh – KALPANA (15/8 generally)
The only Group 1 on the card this Saturday comes from the Curragh in Ireland, and on paper, it shapes up as a two-horse race between Epsom Oaks runner-up Whirl and Andrew Balding’s KALPANA. For me, it’s the latter who will take all the beating.
The 4-year-old star filly at Kingsclere, Kalpana is shaping up as a leading contender for this year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe — and interestingly, last year’s Arc winner Bluestocking took this very race 12 months ago. Kalpana signed off last season in style with victory in the Group 1 Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot, and she made a solid return this year when finishing third in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last month. That run will have blown away the cobwebs, and she comes into this race clear on ratings.
She does have to concede 12lbs to Whirl, but she has the class to handle that, and she looks the one to beat. It’s also worth noting that older horses have won seven of the last eight renewals of this race — a stat that boosts confidence in Kalpana, who I believe will win this en route to a big autumn campaign, with the Arc firmly in sight.
SATURDAY SELECTIONS
3:15 Newcastle – EAST INDIA DOCK (6/1 generally)
3:30 Curragh – KALPANA (15/8 generally)
*Odds correct at time of posting – 2:44pm Thursday 26th June
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Please note that although Tom has uploaded the tips, he is not our Racing Club Insider – the insider will remain anonymous!
