Go into Philarmonic Hall for the Maiden Auction Stakes over six furlongs at Carlisle today. It's the place to be.
Richard Fahey's charge ran encouragingly on debut sixteen days ago. Considerable improvement can be expected but might not be needed to fend off a bunch of cheap purchases, which is what these 'auction' races are all about.
The majority of yearlings are cheap, from the lower basement, so to speak and none of these cost more than eighteen grand. Such as Stoute and Cecil don't frequent them but Richard Hannon does. Fortunately, this track is too far away from his Marlborough base, to bother with a first prize of about �2,000. Windsor stages its obligatory today, pre-Royal Ascot meeting and Darwin Star looks worth a journey to Thames-side, in the Selling Stakes over six furlongs. On my time-handicap, Darwin Star represents a solid betting proposition. I'll play each-way and also accord Dean Ivory's runner my nap.
Azimuth is another cracking bet in the Maiden Stakes over ten furlongs. From the in-form Jeremy Noseda yard and at Warwick, don't miss Hayley Turner-ridden Lochan Mor in the eight-runner, all-aged handicap over seven furlongs. Lochan Mor has been entered here, there and everywhere this past week or so and it's just a question of this well-handicapped four-year-old reproducing anything like his superior mark.
SELECTIONS
RACE 4 (#5) PHILHARMONIC HALL (e.w.)
RACE 27 (#11) DARWIN STAR (nap e.w.)
RACE 36 (#6) AZIMUTH
RACE 41 (#3) LOCH MOR (e.w.)