Saturday 21st September

This Saturday the main attraction nis a sprint handicap at Ayr, I would however rather focus on a couple of races at Newbury.
In the Legacy Cup Stakes Desert Encounter attempts to win this for the 2nd time in 3 years. He struggled last year on soft but this fast ground is just what he likes. Attempting the hat-trick after an impressive win at Windsor where he had the race run to suit his style of being held up and cooming from the rear with a strong run off a strong pace. He may not get that strong gallop today and he has to concede weight. My preference is for Pondus, an improving type who has finished 2nd to 2 useful horses recently. He looks to need further than 1m 2f, earlier this season he finished  down the field in the King Edward VII at that trip behind the highly progressive Japan. He should be towards the head of affairs so should be well placed to pounce once the race unfolds in what may be a steadily run affair.
The other race that catches my eye is the 2yo Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes. Pierre Lapin looked impressive when winning his one and only race at Haydock 5 months ago. He raced keenly and showed signs of inexperience so he is open to any amount of improvement. Mystery Power won the Superlative Stakes, which looked a below par renewal and the form since suggests it was. He followed that with a disappointing run in the Vintage where he was well beaten by Pinatubo, but so was everything else. He drops down in trip to 6f after being raced solely at 7f. Shadn beat the colts in a Listed race over course and distance and then went on to finish 3rd in the Prestige Stakes, a race that was strongly contested and has since seen the 2nd win a Group 3 plus the winner finishing 2nd in the May Hill. She will need to step up on that to win against these colts. Malotru brings Gimcrack form here, a race that has proven influential in the past.He met trouble during that race and ran on well after getting some daylight near the stands rail to finish 4th. The form looks strong with the winner having won the Champagne Stakes on next run and at around 6/1 he looks decent value.