Paul Lally:
R1: 1-8-7-4
R2: 5-10-3-8
R3: 4-5-9-6
R4: 9-13-5-3
R5: 4-1-11-6
R6: 1-8-4-2
R7: 2-1-4-5
R8: 7-6-2-4
R9: 6-2-4-5
R10: 4-3-14-13
Best Bet R4 N9 Flying Phantom
Longshot R5 N4 Forever Charm
Play R9 QQP 2-4-6
CHELTENHAM, England -- Pretty Crystal was no better than second in four consecutive Group 3 races for 2-year-old fillies from June to September in Britain last year.
The storyline has started on a much brighter note this year.
On Wednesday at Newmarket, Pretty Crystal rallied through the final quarter-mile to win her first stakes in the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs.
By Declan Schuster
Pierre Ng is looking to up the ante in his bid to win a maiden Hong Kong trainers’ championship when he heads to Happy Valley tomorrow night (Wednesday, 17 April) armed with eight chances across the nine-race fixture.
Ng led by 16 wins at Christmas, but now his margin is five (55-50) as a rampaging Francis Lui surged to a half-century with a treble at Sha Tin on Sunday (14 April).
Paul Lally:
R1 6-5-8-12
R2 1-10-6-8
R3 9-4-10-1
R4 9-5-6-1
R5 7-1-4-9
R6 10-1-11-8
R7 6-3-10-9
R8 4-6-8-2
R9 4-2-11-5
Best Bet R3 N9 Parents’ Love
Longshot R4 N9 Gold Tack
Play Race 6 QQP 1-10-11
Tom Wood:
R1: 4-6-8-3
R2: 1-2-10-6
R3: 10-9-6-4
R4: 1-9-4-12
R5: 7-1-3-4
R6: 6-1-10-8
R7: 6-3-10-2
R8: 6-3-4-2
R9: 4-2-6-11
AINTREE, England – The gelding with the catchy name had a flashy finish in Saturday’s Grade 1 Grand National at about 4 1/4 miles at Aintree Racecourse.
What I Am Maximus did from the final fence to the wire – a distance of slightly less than 500 yards – was nothing less than brilliant.
Ridden by Paul Townend for trainer Willie Mullins, I Am Maximus closed from about eighth after the 30th and final fence to take the lead in deep stretch. He rapidly pulled clear to win the $1.24 million race by 7 1/2 lengths as the 7-1 co-favorite with bookmakers.
AINTREE, England – A month later than expected, Jonbon won his first Grade 1 race of 2024 in Friday’s $314,125 Melling Chase at 2 1/2 miles at Aintree Racecourse, the fourth consecutive favorite or co-favorite to win in as many races on the seven-race program.
Regaleira is the lone filly facing colts in Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese 2000 Guineas at Nakayama Racecourse, a familiar scenario for the two-time winner.
Last December, Regaleira beat 14 males and one other filly as the 2-1 co-favorite in a field of 16 in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Nakayama, her final start of the year.