Hollie Doyle is gearing up for a packed Saturday at the races, and she shares all the details in her latest exclusive blog post. My trainer, Archie Watson, has dispatched two promising youngsters from his Lambourn yard down to Thirsk for Saturday’s meetings, and I’ll be making the journey to North Yorkshire to take the reins on both of them.
Before Merlier attempts to add a third successive win, our two‑year‑old filly NIEWIADOMA – a beautiful daughter of Cotai Glory – is set to make her long‑awaited debut in the British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes over 1 mile 3 furlongs. I have ridden her several times in work leading up to this first day at school and I could not be more delighted with what I have seen. She was purchased as a £40,000 yearling, possesses a natural turn of foot and carries a bright, eager disposition. Assessing her five opponents is a little tricky, as each of them is also making their first appearance on a racecourse.
One of the rivals is Karl Burke’s daughter of Blue Point, Bai Tong, who fetched a relatively steep price of 125,000 guineas at auction. All of them are greenhorns, which adds an extra layer of intrigue to the contest. MERLIER has shown steady improvement on the all‑weather surface, so I am looking forward to getting back in the saddle for the Stirrup Bar For Deli‑Style Dining Packages Handicap over 5 furlongs and 7 yards.
He captured a five‑furlong maiden at Newcastle for jockey Luke Morris and then followed it up under a penalty at Wolverhampton, earning an opening rating of 85 – a figure that feels appropriate given his recent performances. Today on Sky Sports Racing: Zavateri and Albert Einstein will clash in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury.
Newbury preview: Zavateri tipped to deliver a winning performance in the Greenham Stakes this Saturday. Today on Sky Sports Racing: The Spring Trials weekend gets underway at Newbury.
Newmarket update: Oxagon secures the Craven Stakes for the in‑form Gosden stable. Newmarket update: Azleet, after a 50‑1 upset in the Nell Gwyn Stakes, is now being mentioned as a contender for the 1000 Guineas. Hollie Doyle blog: I hope to gather more insight on Derby hopeful Wareeth in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket.
Never miss a story – get the latest racing news, interviews and features straight to your phone. Find out more. Riding in a handicap for the first time is a whole different kettle of fish. The horse I’ll be riding is stepping up against proven sprinters and has never contested a turf race before.
The ground is expected to be good, which should suit him, and I’m pleased with the middle draw from stall five. Having been eased to a career‑low rating, I anticipate WARM SPELL to be competitive in the Division One of the Join Racing TV Today Handicap over 3 miles and 58 yards. He has produced respectable runs in defeat for trainer Mark Loughnane after being highly tried for his previous trainer, Roger Varian. My husband, Tom Marquand, rode him in a Listed race won by the top‑class performer Dancing Gemini when the gelding was a two‑year‑old.
Placed efforts at higher ratings over seven furlongs at Sandown and Kempton Park last autumn give him a solid basis to be in the mix for this seasonal debut over his preferred distance. A close second on his return to action last year shows he can travel well when fresh. Veteran northern trainer Wilf Storey was one of my staunchest supporters when I was an apprentice a decade ago, so it will be a real pleasure to ride for him at Thirsk.
I’m targeting his course‑and‑distance winner IDYLLIC in the Happy 21st Birthday Lily Watkinson Handicap over 4 furlongs and 32 yards – a mare who captured a similar rating at the same track last summer and should relish comparable conditions. Meanwhile, Mark Walford was in flying form at Ripon on Thursday when he completed his first ever flat treble, which bodes well for his new recruit SOLAR BIRICZ in the Nick Simpson Cannot Be 60 Handicap over 2 furlongs and 47 yards. The gelding won a 5‑furlong handicap at Doncaster last summer for Brian Ellison and is stepping up to six furlongs for the first time, so I expect Mark and his team to learn a great deal about his stamina and speed.
I hope that trainer Eve Johnson Houghton and jockey Charlie Bishop can keep their Classic aspirations alive with Betfred 2000 Guineas hopeful ZAVATERI in the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes at Newbury (2 miles). The race will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing. Their colt Without Parole set the benchmark after capping a glittering juvenile campaign with a Group 1 National Stakes win in Ireland. He looked a little uncomfortable on the undulating Newmarket ground in the Dewhurst, his final start, but Oxagon, who finished just behind him, vindicated the form by taking the Craven Stakes on Thursday.
Albert Einstein’s re‑appearance in a Listed race at the Curragh three weeks ago was underwhelming, yet it is intriguing that Aidan O’Brien has opted to run him again over seven furlongs, even though he has hinted that the horse will be aimed at the major sprints later in the summer. The Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes (1 mile ¼) at Newbury on Saturday – more commonly known as the Fred Darling – looks to be an open renewal with several fillies of comparable ability. I am convinced that Shadwell’s TOULEEN is better than her performance in the Rockfel last autumn, but she will need to be at her best to win this traditional Classic trial – a race I claimed on a 33‑1 outsider, Duty First, twelve months ago.
Returning to this flatter track where she debuted victoriously, Owen Burrows’ filly should be well‑placed, though she may face her toughest competition from Richard and Peter Fahey’s Catching The Moon, who won at this level at Ayr in September and will be partnered by Ryan Moore. It would be a notable achievement for young trainer Jack Channon if URBAN LION could add the Win Unique Experiences at OLBG Prizes Spring Cup Handicap (3 furlongs and 10 yards) at Newbury to his Lincoln victory. Check out the latest horse racing news, interviews and features from Sky Sports Racing.
He held Rogue Diplomat by the narrowest of margins on Town Moor, and while another close finish is likely, I believe he still has room for improvement to confirm his form for such a progressive yard and give Eddie Greatrex another significant win. I also expect Simon and Ed Crisford’s Shout to perform better than his Doncaster outing. With that run under his girth and champion Oisin Murphy in the saddle, he is another horse to keep an eye on.
I am hoping to see veteran Al AASY capture the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (John Porter) at 2 miles and 35 furlongs for Tom Marquand and trainer William Haggas. The courageous nine‑year‑old loves this track and should keep Karl Burke’s likely favourite Convergent on his toes.
In closing, I sat down with Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft to discuss the upcoming fixtures, the horses I’m riding, and my hopes for the weekend. The excitement is palpable, and I can’t wait to get back in the saddle and give each of these talented runners the best possible ride.