Salisbury Thursday Preview

The feature event on Salisbury’s Thursday card is the Group 3 Sovereign Stakes at 3.55. The popular six-year-old Boom And Bust enjoyed his biggest moment when landing the Golden Mile at Goodwood under Hayley Turner in 2011.

The duo were unlucky not to repeat the victory last year when finishing fourth after meeting with interference. This year he returned to the Sussex track to run a fine third behind Garswood in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes.

The pick on official ratings is Luca Cumani’s Afsare who ran to his best when second to Mandour at Sandown last time. He can be temperamental at the start but will be a threat to all if he is on his behaviour.

Richard Hannon’s Professor came to the end of his winning sequence at Goodwood and is yet to prove that he stays a mile whilst Andrew Balding’s Highland Knight is another consistent performer. Charlie Appleby’s pair of Fulbright and Snowboarder complete the six-runner line up.

The opening maiden race at 1.50 could go the way of Ralph Beckett’s Starlight Serenade who was second over course and distance recently. She may have most to fear from Richard Hannon’s newcomer Crystal Nymph.

Mick Channon’s Jersey Brown came up against a smart sort in Amazing Maria at Goodwood and is unlikely to meet anything of that calibre in the second division at 2.20. Luca Cumani seems to have found a winning opportunity for Paradise Watch in the 2.50 after two placed efforts.

Ralph Beckett has another winning chance in the 3.25 with the hat-trick seeking Prospera. The filly has a 6lb penalty for her latest victory at Kempton but could be up to the task. Shalwa and Bantam are closely matched on Windsor form but Ed Dunlop’s runner may just come out on top again here.

My Own Way Home is seeking a four-timer in the 4.25 under Cathy Gannon. Bold front-running tactics paid off handsomely at Lingfield last time and the combination are likely to be up with the pace again here.

Sir Mark Prescott’s Portrait is another front-runner looking for a fourth consecutive victory when she lines up in the closing 5.00 race. Amanda Perrett’s Lion Beacon disappointed at Haydock last time out but could bounce back here.