Neil Morrice has a look at a few horses who could impress in the coming weeks, including Sir Albert and more!
SIR ALBERT – trainer, Andrew Balding
SIR ALBERT attracted support on debut at Chepstow last week in the race won by Italica. While it didn’t look the hottest of contests the No Nay Never colt didn’t enjoy the clearest of passages and was doing all his best work at the finish. He will be much more the finished article next time.
MR CHAPLIN – trainer, Ralph Beckett
In his Class2 at Goodwood MR CHAPLIN was the horse to take off it after enduring a nightmare passage in the final furlong and a half. He was denied a gap on three or four occasions, with his jockey being forced to ease down and finish with a full horse underneath him.
VELVET WHISPER – trainer, Ed Bethell
On her first outing of 2025 at Leicester VELVET WHISPER was unable to pick up the pace, appearing to find the 1200 metres too sharp. She still looked green, and her rider had to switch his mount after the birds had flown. When the penny dropped the filly arrived on the bridle to move into fourth when defeat had already been accepted. Not surprisingly the run caught the eye of the Stewards, but her jockey’s explanation was accepted. Velvet Whisper will now be given a mark, and will be very interesting if stepped up to 1400 metres.
ROSALLION – trainer, Richard Hannon
Although he was the first of the principals to come under a ride, ROSALLION was clawing back the deficit on Lead Artist and Dancing Gemini in the final yards of this Group 1 Lockinge Stakes. Unlike the pair that beat him this was a first run of the season for last year’s Irish 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes winner, who will come on considerably for the outing and can take his revenge in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot.
PINA SONATA – trainer, James Fanshawe
Mary Slack looks to have an exciting prospect on her hands in Pinatubo filly PINA SONATA who streaked home in the novice at Leicester yesterday. Though keen in the early stages, the very well supported favourite always looked comfortable racing close to the lead and powered clear with the ten runners spread out the length of Oadby. Her trainer is not averse to the idea of letting his winner stretch out to a mile and a quarter, as she is out of a mare by Galileo.
