Jim Crowley: “Better ground here will help Laneqash”

Coral ambassador previews his two rides at Newmarket on Friday

Newmarket 3.35 – Laneqash

The ground went against Laneqash at Doncaster. It was just too soft for him, which was no surprise really as his sire Cable Bay – who I rode – was the same, they need top of the ground to be at their best. We’ll get good ground here, which will be better for him, and I think he’ll get the extra furlong OK, as we are stepping him up to a mile for the first time.

Master Of The Seas was second in the 2,000 Guineas, and although he’s not been seen since that race, Charlie Appleby’s runners are in flying form and he could be hard to beat, while Benbatl is a top-class older horse who was slightly unlucky not to win at Goodwood last time, so this looks a decent race.

As I say, Laneqash will appreciate the better ground, but realistically he needs to step up from what he’s done so far to take this, we’ve got five pounds to find with the Godolphin pair and that looks about right.

Newmarket 4.40 – Mashoor

Mashoor has been a little bit disappointing as he’s a horse with some ability, but he’s perhaps not gone on from his Nottingham win at the start of the season as we’d have hoped, and he’s been beaten favourite on all three starts since then.

This is a competitive looking race, although maybe not the strongest, and again a better surface should suit my fellow.  And of course Sir Michael Stoute is one of the best for getting horses to improve as they mature, and if Mashoor can take a step forward, run to his ability that we know is there, he could certainly be involved at an each-way price.

Jim

View the latest horse racing odds