Wednesday 18th April -

The Flat arrives with a vengeance today, a solid card at Newmarket, competitive affairs at Beverley all supplemented by some decent jumps action from Cheltenham. It looks, on paper, to be a terrific day, and even the evening meetings at Kempton and Dundalk look interesting.
It's the Nell Gwyn Stakes today, a group 3 event for the 3 year old fillies and effectively a 1000 Guineas trial. I don't believe anything in this race today to be capable of winning the 1000 Guineas. A quick look down the market though.
PIMPERNEL - Al Zarooni / Dettori
A very good looking filly, I didn't see this one as Group class, and she may well have put me aside with her 2nd to Wading in the Group 2 Rockfel stakes but form has been far from encouraging out of that race so far. I think she could well have gotten closer to stablemate Gamilati in Dubai but the ride from the usually brilliant Barzalona was questionable.
RUSSELIANA - Stoute / Moore
2nd to Gamilati in the Cherry Hinton is her best form on offer but she negated that somewhat with a stinker in, officially, lower class on the next run.
STARSCOPE - Gosden / Buick
A comfortable C&D winner on debut late last year, a lot to find on official numbers but some decent judges think a fair bit of this filly. Bold statement by connections to throw her in here and the market represents that. She will have to step up but this isn't the strongest race if I am honest.
REGAL REALM - Noseda / Fortune
Began career with a lot of promise but became expensive to follow, landed a group 3 contest but was outclassed later in the year. Noseda's horses aren't in great nick at the moment and I'd have this one at your own risk.
SUNDAY TIMES - Chapple-Hyam / Quealley
Runner up in Group 1 Cheveley Park stakes, but well down when fancied for the Rockfel, I'm not sure there is much coincidence that her 2 poor runs have come within a week/fortnight of a very good run. She'd certainly make the shortlist for this for me.
LILY'S ANGEL - Fahey / Hanaghan
A very game, likeable filly. She never gives a bad run, apart from maybe her last one last year, when lets face it she had a busy schedule, especially compared to a lot of these. If I didn't like the Godolphin pair she'd make my three.
MINIDRESS - Al Zarooni / Barzalona
This one is the winner for me, every Godolphin horse is entered on it's own merits, there are no tactics no orders. The bookmakers/punters insist on making the Frankie selection shorter odds so the value always lies within the other coloured hats. Cracking debut effort, ran a bit green on step up in class but got close to some decent sorts. This is certainly winable and the jockey loves the Rowley Mile. And she's by Street Cry!!!
As for the rest I wouldn't ignore the Channon trio, his horses are running well at the moment and the top one NAYARRA won a decent prize in Italy, but she has to give away weight for that. but MUUAMARA like STARSCOPE is very much an unknown quantity.

So the Nell Gwyn for me is
1 - MINIDRESS
2 - SUNDAY TIMES
3 - PIMPERNEL

right onto todays selections

TREBLE

CHINA ONE 2050 DUN NAP
DARK CASTLE 2105 KEM NB
VIOLENT VELOCITY 1410 BEV

LUCKY 15

MAYBEME 1555 BEV
YAA SALAM 1720 NEW
CHORAL SOCIETY 1920 DUN
ROCCO BREEZE 2035 KEM

BEVERLEY

1340 CEILING KITTY
1410 VIOLENT VELOCITY
1445 INCHY COO
1520 BABY STRANGE
1555 MAYBEME
1630 GABRIALS STAR
1705 SUNNYSIDE UP
1740 GOOD MORNING STAR

NEWMARKET

1350 PERIPHERY
1425 BAILEYS JUBILEE
1500 TIDENTIME
1535 WEST LEAKE DIMAN
1610 MINIDRESS
1645 PEMBREY
1720 YAA SALAM
1755 HEYWARD GIRL

CHELTENHAM

1400 JIMBILL
1435 DEFINATE DAWN
1510 FIULIN
1545 DIVERS
1620 PSI
1655 DUKE OF LUCCA
1730 AMTIRED


DUNDALK

1750 ZARIYNA
1820 OPA LOCA
1850 DOMINO QUEEN
1920 CHORAL SOCIETY
1950 DIYALA
2020 WORD FOR WORD
2050 CHINA ONE
2115 NORTHGATE

KEMPTON

1805 DOWNTON ABBEY
1835 RUSSIAN BULLET
1905 MOLLY JONES
1935 PALAZZO BIANCO
2005 GALLANTRY
2035 ROCCO BREEZE
2105 DARK CASTLE

Good Luck and Happy Punting