TUESDAY'S SELECTIONS: HUNTINGDON: 2.30 Terramarique, 3.00 Tempsford, 3.30
Regal Quote, 4.00 Hibiki, 4.30 Ocean Du Moulin, 5.00 Moscow
Catch. LEICESTER: 1.40 Emirates Roadshow, 2.10 King's Song,
2.40 Maia, 3.10 ABSENT PLEASURE (NAP), 3.40 Ghaidaa, 4.10 Afram
Blue, 4.40 Class Is Class, 5.10 Roodolph. NEWCASTLE: 2.20 Miss Cracklinrosie, 2.50 Custody, 3.20
Sea Salt, 3.50 Princess Rainbow, 4.20 Rawdon, 4.50
Ergo. Double: Absent Pleasure and Emirates Roadshow. Absent Pleasure rates as a strong fancy to land the Iveco
Stralis Conditions Stakes at Leicester on Tuesday Brian Meehan's juvenile boasts some smart form and had been
considered for some Group One events earlier in the season. Those aspirations look a little lofty after his defeat in a
nursery on his latest start but there was more to that performance
than meets the eye. He was sent off a short-priced favourite to oblige but a
horrible draw in three took its toll and as the first two came out
of 14 and 13 respectively, it was a huge effort to lose by only a
length, giving upwards of a stone in weight away in the
process. He was the moral winner of that event and when you take into
account the fact he beat the well-regarded Huntdown in his maiden,
he is probably better than his bare rating of 95 suggests. Michael Jarvis could win with the stable cat at present and
every weekend he seems to be landing another big winner. He runs Ghaidaa in the Iveco Eurocargo Fillies' Conditions'
Stakes and on official ratings, she is 6lb clear of her nearest
rival. As that is Annie Skates who looks to have completely lost her
way, Ghaidaa looks difficult to oppose. The daughter of Cape Cross ran with credit in big-field Listed
Handicap at Ascot recently, finishing third from a bad draw and a
repeat of that should see her take all the beating. Godolphin have hit a purple patch of late and Emirates Roadshow
showed promise last time out to finish second to the
highly-regarded Ra Junior at Newmarket. That was a big step up on his first run, pulling three lengths
clear of the third, and as he holds an entry in the Derby, it will
be disappointing if he cannot win a race such as this. Sir Michael Stoute has a 43% strike-rate at Newcastle over the
last five years and it will be a surprise if Custody fails to get
off the mark in the EBF/UTS Maiden Stakes. Already gelded, he has finished second on his two most recent
starts but looked unsuited by quick ground last time and should
find this softer surface much more to his liking. Emma Lavelle has started the season in fantastic form,
highlighted by a big-race double at Chepstow on Saturday. She runs Regal Quote in the WBX.com (World Bet Exchange)
Novices' Hurdle and he is worth another chance after a
disappointing start to his career last season. He looked a promising prospect when fifth on his debut but was
unsuited by soft ground when well beaten at Folkestone while blood
and mucus in his lungs explained a dismal effort on his final
outing. However, Lavelle has given the five-year-old plenty of time and
now is the moment Regal Quote can repay that patience. | 
