Donn McClean's Horses To Follow: July 27th to August 2nd

Before we dive in, some basic rules for a horses to follow list is to keep them in a tracker and on your radar for the next three runs, bearing in mind ideal conditions across variables like venue, ground, opposition and price are satisfactory to you as a punter. This column should help you build up a list that proves profitable under those circumstances, provides timely reminders to reduce repeated form study and assist with your enjoyment of a season be it National Hunt or Flat racing in the UK and Ireland and sometimes beyond.

Mysterious Night - Goodwood, 26^th July 2022

Mysterious Night can be marked up at least a little on the bare form of the performance that he put up in finishing third in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood last Tuesday. Smartly away from stall seven, he could never really get in, he was forced wide around the top turn, and William Buick just allowed him make ground around the outside and move into the lead. He travelled well in front early in the home straight and, while his early exertions took their toll, and meant that he couldn't repel first Holloway Boy and then Marbaan, he still finished a good third, nicely ahead of his remaining rivals.

It was a race in which the early pace was fast, with the winner and the runner-up coming from well back. Third behind Persian Force in the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket's July meeting over six furlongs on his previous run, and a full brother to Althiqa, winner of a Grade 1 in America over nine furlongs, Mysterious Night is deserving of another go at seven furlongs. Charlie Appleby's colt has plenty of potential to continue his progression, this was just his fourth run, and there could be a fair bit more to come. He holds an entry in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster next month, and he would be interesting if he lined up in that.

Lilac Road - Goodwood, 28^th July 2022

Lilac Road remains interesting after her run to finish third behind Nashwa in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood last Thursday. Settled back in the field early on by Tom Marquand, she travelled well into the home straight, but she got a little out-paced when they quickened at the three-furlong marker. As well as that, she shipped a bump from Rogue Millennium to her outside when her rider wanted to move to the outside to ask her for her effort. In the end, she had to follow Nashwa's run on the outside and, while she couldn't match the winner for pace, she did keep on well once she got going, getting up to take third place, running on at the finish.

A listed race winner as a three-year-old, William Haggas' horse has progressed this season as a four-year-old. She was good when she sprang a mile surprise in winning the Middleton Stakes at York on her previous run, and this run was a nice step forward from that. Out of Lavender Lane, who finished third in the Group 2 Prix de Mallaret over a mile and a half, it could be worth stepping her up to a mile and a half now, she shaped her as if she would appreciate a step up in trip, and it is interesting that her astute trainer has entered her in the Yorkshire Oaks and in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes over that distance.

San Anton - Galway, 29^th July 2022

San Anton did well to finish second in the seven-furlong median auction maiden at Galway last Friday. He was ridden along through the first furlong by Gary Carroll, but he still couldn't secure a prominent early position from his outside draw in stall 11. Third last of the 15 runners after they had gone a furlong, he had dropped back to last by the time they turned to race into the dip. Widest of all down the hill and around the home turn, he made good ground around his field. He hit the front at the furlong marker, but Roman Hands fought back well on the far side, and just got back up to beat him by the bob of a head.

It was a messy enough race, there were a few hard-luck stories in the pack and Keep In Touch is probably the one who will go into most notebooks from the race, she got checked in her run on the home turn and again in the home straight. That said, San Anton had to do a lot of running to come from the rear into a challenging position, and he covered more ground than any of his rivals in a race in which the winner made most of the running along the inside from stall one. Gavin Cromwell's horse should progress from this run, his first since May and just his second ever, and it may have been inexperience as much as his early exertions that saw him cede the lead close home. A brother to Inca Prince, who has won over seven furlongs on the flat and three times over hurdles, he could improve too for going up in trip. A son of Fast Company, both his runs have been on easy ground, and it may be that at least a little bit of cut in the ground is important to him.

Jeremys Flame - Galway, 29^th July 2022

Jeremys Flame ran better in the Galway Blazers Handicap Chase than her finishing position in sixth place suggests. Weak in the market beforehand, she travelled and jumped well in mid-division, and she moved up nicely on the run down the hill to the final two fences, one of just four horses who were still on the bridle. She got in tight to the second last fence, however, and she was a little pensive at the last, and she came under a ride on the run around the home turn, as lack of a recent run probably took its toll. In the end, she just kept on up the hill to finish sixth, but she was only beaten a total of less than six lengths.

It was still a fine run by Gavin Cromwell's mare. Second to Fiddlerontheroof in the Tolworth Hurdle in 2020, this was her first run since last April, and it is probable that that told in the end. Winner of a good mares' chase at Thurles last February, in which she had Dolcita and Minella Melody behind her, her handicap rating of 140 is more then workable now. She has never been beyond two miles and six and a half furlongs, but she sees out that trip well and, out of a half-sister to staying chaser Kinburn, she is well worth a try at three miles now.

Great Ambassador - Goodwood, 30^th July 2022

Great Ambassador did best of the low-drawn horses in the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood last Saturday. They split into two groups, 14 went near side from high draws and 14 went far side from low draws. Great Ambassador, from stall 12, went far side, and he travelled well towards the rear of that group. He made good progress from the two-furlong marker, he had to chart his way through traffic, but he did, and he burst through the leading line of the far-side runners as the groups merged on the run to the furlong marker. He kept on all the way to the line to take sixth place overall, less than three lengths behind the winner Commanche Falls. He was just unlucky that the near-side horses had the advantage. The first five home all raced in the near-side group.

Ed Walker's horse was probably punching above his weight in a hot Hackwood Stakes on his previous run, in which Saturday's Phoenix Sprint Stakes winner Go Bears Go finished second behind Minzaal, who finished second in Sunday's Prix Maurice de Gheest, but this was much more like it, back into top handicap company. Winner of a listed race at York last September, Great Ambassador could still be a Group-class sprinter, but he will also be of interest in another top sprint handicap. Beaten only by Bielsa, who raced a solo down the near side, in last year's Ayr Gold Cup, he will be of interest in that if he goes to Ayr again this year, where, as things stand, he would be racing off the same mark as last year.