Jim Crowley: His course form makes him the one to beat

Jockey and Coral ambassador Jim Crowley discusses the chances of his four rides at Newmarket on Friday.

Newmarket 3.00 – Alshinfarah

Alshinfarah is a lovely filly who won her first two starts well, and then we went to France for a Group 3. There was no pace that day, and because my filly broke from the stalls so well, we ended up making the running, and were only headed in the last 50 yards or so.

In those circumstances she ran a big race that day, it certainly wasn’t run to suit her, and if I can hold her up here, I think she’ll improve again, and she should be right in the mix. This is a good race, but she’s a filly I really like.

Newmarket 3.35 – Mutasaabeq

Mutasaabeq loves Newmarket and has won four times on the Rowley Mile, including this race last year. It’s a course where he can bowl along in front and dominate, and although he doesn’t always put his best foot forward – as at York last time – on a going day he’s very hard to peg back. There is very little between the six runners on official ratings, and that’s the same in the betting, but for me this fellow is the one to beat on his course form.

Newmarket 4.10 – King Of France

I don’t ride many for George Boughey but his record speaks for itself, he’s a talented young trainer. King Of France didn’t show much on his debut at Windsor earlier this month so will need to step forward, but he’s a well-bred colt in the right hands to progress.