Juvenile Watch: Saturday tips plus a 20/1 ante-post bet

I’m a big fan of Tales Of The Heart, although I’m not sure she’s blessed with an abundance of natural balance. At Kempton, she won despite not handling the bend and on her past two starts at Newmarket I’m convinced she’s found the course difficult to navigate. 

This track over a straight six furlongs shouldn’t pose her as many problems. She has a nice draw in stall seven alongside the promising pair Definitive and Handcuffed, and I expect Rossa Ryan to keep things simple and ride her prominently to make use of her long stride.  

It is a mild concern that she’s had a busy start to the season – this will be her fourth start inside the last two-months, - but the flipside of that is that she brings plenty of experience into this contest. 

Her second place behind Celandine, on her penultimate start looks like a solid piece of form as that rival finished third on her next start in a Group Three. I’m confident that Ascot will suit her better and that she will take advantage of her greater experience against her market rivals. 

Selection: Tales Of The Heart 

Al Qudra will be popular after his fourth in the Coventry Stakes, although the form of that race has taken some knocks and my suspicion is that it was a below par renewal. 

His dam was a six-furlong performer, too, so he’s far from certain to relish this extra furlong. 

The Andrew Balding-trained New Century was five lengths behind Al Qudra when finishing fourth over 6f on his debut at Lingfield but took a big step forward when an impressive winner over this trip at Doncaster on his second start.  

He travelled sweetly and was strong in the closing stages, despite showing some greenness when drifting marginally off a straight line. 

Given how well he saw out the trip I’m sure this stiffer track will suit him well. I expect him to take another step forward and he can outstay Al Qudra.  

Red Letter, a daughter of Frankel, had made a promising debut when chasing home Lake Victoria over seven furlongs at The Curragh in late June. 

Trained by Ger Lyons for Juddmonte, she took a giant step forward when winning over the same course and distance on Sunday.  

She was smartly away from the stalls and travelled keenly at the head of affairs. Her jockey, Colin Keane, will have never had a moment’s worry and she looked to have the race won from some way out. 

However, it was pleasing to see her find so generously when asked for her finishing effort. I was especially taken with how - despite her significant size - she ran straight to the line despite being positioned away from the rail. She is clearly a well-balanced filly. 

Given her size, I am sure connections will be patient with her. She is very much a filly to be excited for next season, although the Group One Moyglare Stakes over the same course and distance would look like a logical target. 

With regards to next year’s Classics, the fillies, at this stage, appear to have more strength in depth, with Coolmore pair Bedtime Story and Fairy Godmother setting a good standard. 

However, I would think it is unlikely that they would both run in the 1000 Guineas. I was therefore tempted into an each-way play on Red Letter for next year’s second Classic at a best price of 20/1. 

Fairhaven (Willie McCreery)  

Ran better than the bare result on her debut over 6f at The Curragh, where her finishing effort was compromised by racing keenly in the initial stages. 

She was far more professional on her second start when upped to 7f at Leopardstown, settling well despite being posted wide. She found herself repeatedly hampered up the home straight and was never able to find any space to run into until well into the final furlong. She looks to have enough ability to win a regulation fillies’ maiden on her next start. 

Sherlock (Kevin Ryan) 

Did plenty wrong on his debut at Haydock. He drifted to his right leaving the stalls meaning he was without cover in the early stages and this proved costly as he over raced for Kevin Stott. 

He then hung quite badly when negotiating the bend, looking quite awkward as he changed legs twice. 

However, he knuckled down well up the home straight and would have probably hit the frame but for getting badly impeded. He would rate of interest on a straight track or at the very least a track with a more tapered bend.