TONY CALVIN: SATURDAY’s ITV course details – and early lines on the Temple Stakes and Irish 2,000 Guineas

3.30pm Haydock – Staying loyal to First Instinct, especially as she has drifted to 25s, somewhat surprisingly

We only lost three at the overnight stage here – Washington Heights, Azure Angel and Miss Attitude – and at one point I thought First Instinct was going to be another.

She was confirmed some time after William Haggas made his other Saturday entries. 

I am not sure why, but it was good to see…

What I said about her on Tuesday holds true here, so I’ll repeat it:

“I was reasonably encouraged by her return in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket, behind all-the-way winner Night Raider, as she was disadvantaged by her track position there and I imagine the ground was plenty lively enough for her, too.

“And hopefully that was a planned stepping stone to this meeting once again.

“The betting suggests it was as she went off a weak 25s chance, and an even weaker 44.88 at Betfair SP.

“Having won at this track as a 2yo, she finished an excellent short-head and ¾ length third to Symbol Of Honour and Arabian Dusk in the 6f Sandy Lane here last season (against much higher-rated opposition) – Timeform called it good to firm there, to be fair – and then she improved to beat Shagraan in a Group 3 over 5f at Newbury on officially good to soft ground in September.

“Timeform called it soft that day though and, although clearly ground versatile, it sounds like connections feel she is best with a bit of dig, so the weather can do what it likes. Certainly the Newbury win was her best performance form-wise and on the clock, and I’d like soft ground for her again ideally. over this trip.

“You can forgive her run in the Abbaye on her final start in 2025 as she had no chance from the widest stall in 18, though she actually ran well enough in the circumstances.

“It is interesting that they are keeping a Group 3-winning filly in training at four, so connections clearly think there is improvement in there.”

She has actually drifted to 25s in six places as at 12.30pm on Thursday, which has rather surprised me, so I have gone in again, win-only.

That 25s didn’t last unfortunately and she now is best at 18s (in three places as at 1.30pm), which I think is acceptable, too.

The opposition? Let’s Getreadytorumble at 10/1

As I also mentioned in my Tuesday ante-post column, I fully respect the claims of 10/1 chance Getreadytorumble. I have had a small go at him too, and hopefully being drawn low is the place to be (he is in one, and First Instinct is in three).

It is difficult to believe he went off 10/3 for a 4-runner Brighton maiden last June – I think I may have attended that meeting, but maybe it was later in the month – and after winning there he went through the levels, and ended up with an excellent length third to Shagraan and Beautiful Diamond in Listed company at Ascot.

He possibly looked an unlucky loser when third to the weekend winner Mission Central on his return at Naas last month, meeting all sorts of trouble before getting going all too late, and the expected easier ground here ( it could well dry to good/good to soft by race-time – but it looked plenty testing enough on Thursday) is another plus for him.

I am happy to go in two-handed here at the current odds of 25s and 10s, for all it is a very open race, which is why it is 6s the field at best prices.

3.40pm Curragh – Will the 1/2 favourite regress at the Curragh? It’s possible

You’d have thought that Gstaad would have had to have gone significantly backwards since his Guineas second to be losing this, as a best-priced quote of [1/2] underlines (general 4/9 chance).

He may have got his arse handed to him at Newmarket by Bow Echo but the winner could be exceptional and it was 8 lengths back to the third, Distant Storm.

A revised mark of 120 for Gstaad – and 126 for Bow Echo – shows you how highly the UK handicappers rated that Classic.

Of course, it could be a case of a different day, a different course, different ground and a different result – and, for all we know, Gstaad could have been fully revved up for Newmarket.

Distant Storm, ridden by Bow Echo’s jockey Billy Loughnane as William Buick is suspended, is his main rival on all known 2yo and 3yo form, and his stable is in better form than they were at the start of the month, while the first-time cheekpieces on the horse are an interesting addition as Charlie Appleby is always to be respected in this area.

And, let’s face it, Distant Storm has a lot of ground to make up on the favourite from Newmarket, so they are definitely worth a whirl for the [9/2] second favourite.

I wouldn’t be inclined to chase a bet here, as you are basically banking on Gstaad regressing badly here, or one of his nine rivals improving markedly, if you want to take him on.

Or a combination of both.

History tells us the former is a possible scenario, as Magna Grecia only finished fifth in this race after winning the Guineas by 2 ½ lengths back in 2019, but I’d be inclined to leave this race alone myself.

There are plenty of credible each-way alternatives to the favourite – but perhaps too many.

Distant Storm is an obvious each-way play at [9/2], though.

ITV COURSE DETAILS FOR SATURDAY

GOODWOOD (two-day meeting starting on Friday)

GOING: Good to soft

Going Stick: 6.1, Thursday 9.15am

Soil Moisture 49.7%

Rails: Top and Bottom Bends and the Straight to the 2f marker are dolled out by 3 yards

Stalls: Straight – Stands Side 7f & 1m – Centre 1m3f & 1m4f – Outside Rest – Inside

Thursday course update: 3.4mm rain Friday – Monday 17.4mm rain Monday night into Tuesday 1.3mm Tuesday night A damp overcast day yesterday. Looking dry, sunny and warm. Outside chance of a shower on Friday evening.

Watering: 8mm on the Straight on Friday

Yr.no latest (6.42am Thursday): Hot, warm and sunny (up to 25 degrees)

HAYDOCK (three-day meeting starting on Thursday)

GOING: Soft

Heavy in places at 6f start and winning post (Inside track)

Going Stick: 4.8, Thursday 7.40am

4.8 average: back straight 5.2

Rails: All races will be run on the Outside course.

Stalls: 5f, 6f & 1m2f: Centre 1m & 2m: Inside

Thursday course update: 4mm into Wednesday. 1mm this morning. Generally overcast and dry. Max temp 21°C on Thursday

Yr.no latest (6.42am Thursday):  Dry and warm (19-22 degrees)

YORK 

GOING: Good, good to soft in places

Whole course verti drained

Going Stick: 6.1, 8.30am

Moisture Meter reading 44%

Rails: Rail from 9f to the entrance to the Home Straight is 10m out.

Stalls: 5f and 6f – Centre; Remainder – Inside Rail.

Thursday course update: 0.4mm rain in light drizzle early Thursday morning, then dry but mostly cloudy and milder to 3.45pm. Recent rainfall of 14mm rain Tuesday, making 17.2mm since the Dante Meeting. Met Office Forecast; Friday – Dry and warm with hazy sunshine throughout the day and light winds, 26degrees. Saturday – dry, warm and sunny with a light westerly breeze, 23 degrees Live links to the Met Office and our Weather Station are available at www.yorkracecourse.co.uk Home Page, click through for full Going report.

Yr.no latest (6.42am Thursday): 1,5mm Thursday then generally dry and warm, with the odd light shower, if anything (21-24 degrees)

CURRAGH

21 May 8.15am – Following a dry day & 2mm overnight, The Curragh is good to yielding. Mainly dry forecast with temperatures to rise

Yr.no latest (6.42am Thursday): overcast and light showers (17-19 degrees)

BALLOTED OUT (get your ante-post money back on these)

2.20pm Haydock: Law Court, Aqua Bear, Cool Molly, Suddenly I See, The Resdev Scholar, Luzon Heights, Delinquent, Mayaada

FIRST-TIME HEADGEAR