Denton Hall News

Troubador faces tough challenge to give weight away at Newmarket

TRAINER Michael Dods says Troubador has been a victim of his own success last season as he attempts to give weight away down at Newmarket tomorrow.

The grey three-year-old won four times last season before winding up with an honourable second to Summer Sands in the Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy.

He runs in the Stetchworth and Middle Park Studs Ltd Handicap over six furlongs, with in-form Paul Mulrennan in the saddle, but has to give at least five pounds away to his rivals.

Here's the rest of the weekend preview: 

"A busy weekend ahead, with four runners on Saturday and five more on Sunday. Most of the ammunition is being fired at York but we’re also pitching at races at Newmarket and Ascot.

BRYANWOOD is our first of the weekend runners in the Skybet First Race Special Every Saturday Novice Median Auction Stakes at York. He's a two-year-old making his debut with Callum Rodriguez taking the ride. He's a nice big horse and he'll probably get a mile in time. We want him to have a nice education, which he'll get at York, and he'll be a nice horse in time.

TROUBADOR goes next in the Stetchworth and Middle Park Studs Ltd Handicap over six furlongs at Newmarket with Paul Mulrennan in the saddle. He's run three times this season and after being second at Pontefract on good ground, he got bogged down on ground that was too soft for him at Newmarket. The problem he's got is that he had such a good season last year. That means he's giving a lot of weight away to good horses which obviously makes life difficult for him. That said, he's a good horse and he's well in himself.

We're back at York next with PROUD ARCHI and Connor Beasley joining up for the Sky Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap. He was unlucky last time at Thirsk when he got boxed in and came home well. This will be more competitive and the favourite looks like an improver but our horse is in good form and the ground will suit him.

AMPLIFICATION runs in the same race, with Rob Hornby in the plate. He seems well and, hopefully, he'll run well.

COMMANCHE FALLS and BRUNCH kick us off on Sunday by both running in the Win Today on ITV 7 Handicap at York. They're both nice horses but they're drawn 13 and 14 respectively which makes life difficult over seven furlongs. Connor Beasley won on Commanche Falls last time at Thirsk and he's back in the saddle. He won over six furlongs but we thought we'd like a look at him over seven.

Callum Rodriguez is aboard BRUNCH. The pair won well on the all-weather at Newcastle first time up this season before being fourth at Haydock last time. He's done well but the draw is again a challenge.

We all know that GET KNOTTED loves York and he's back on the Knavesmire in the Sky Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap over seven furlongs. He was drawn wide at York last week and ran too keenly. He's coming to form but he's drawn wide again and that will make life difficult for Callum Rodriguez.

DANIELSFLYER goes in the same race with Connor Beasley riding. The ground should suit him because he likes a bit of cut. He's another drawn wide but the trip suits him and, hopefully, he'll run well.

Finally, we have CAMACHO CHIEF running in the Sky Bet Extended Dash Handicap, also at York. He's a better horse over five furlongs and we'd rather have run him over the minimum trip at Ascot but the forecast looked like it would be too quick for him. The obvious alternative was to run over six furlongs at York. He's in good form, having won over five at Doncaster last time. He'll get a bit of cut in the ground, and should run well under Callum Rodriguez, but the preference would have been Ascot.