Tafahom will be hard to beat in the Maiden Stakes over a mile of 'firm' Nottingham today if able to replicate a recent time-handicap mark in a similar race at Haydock under Dane O'Neill.
On official BHA ratings Tasahom is 5lbs inferior to John Gosden-trained Markstein but the TH doesn't concur and this is a chance to get a decent-priced winner. Barry Hills trains.
The indefatigable 78-year-old is supervising a near forty-horse string for Hamdan Al Maktoum and seems to be looking forward with relish to the Royal Ascot meeting; just like old time, eh?
Barry is a legend, whereas so Charles hasn't 'cut it' so to speak (22 winners over a period of seven months with a 150-plus string tells its own story!) 'the old man' is yet again proving patience and class, not to mention tremendous knowledge and colossal experience, are the key to obtaining reward training thoroughbreds.
Sahaafy is set for the 'Britannia' next week, Markaz 'pencilled in' and others ready to fire but more immediately Tafahom needs to make it fifth time lucky under Paul Hanagan; from stall one they can hit the gate and sort out the wheat from the chaff. It's simple, jockeys need to keep it that way, when instructed!
If all eight run Tafahom is a tremendous each-way proposition; worth playing into a double with Gold Sands, one of ten 'decs' for the Maiden Stakes over ten furlongs of 'good to firm' Newbury where another seven-race programme runs in tandem with Colwick Park. Two smashing, galloping, tracks.
Ryan Moore and Richard Hannon team up with once-raced Papa Luigi in the opening Maiden Stakes over an extended six furlongs; massively-fancied, don't oppose unless you know something no one else knows!
SELECTIONS
2.30 Tafahom (e.w)
2.20 Papa Luigi
2.50 Gold Sands (e.w);