Strong Irish challenge at Newmarket A number of Irish-trained horses head to Newmarket today with leading claims. Dermot Weld will be represented by Tarawa in the opening Fillies and Mares Listed race at 1.50pm. This daughter of Shamardal hasn’t tasted success since winning her maiden at Leopardstown last October, but has been competing at a higher level and must have strong claims if reproducing the form of her fourth place finish in the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh in May. Most recently Tarawa finished a never nearer fifth over this distance of one mile in the Group 2 Dullingham Park Stakes at the Irish Champions Festival. With cheek-pieces deployed for the first time today, a bold showing can be expected. Weld also sends over Azazat to contest the Group 3 Fillies and Mares race over one mile and four furlongs where she will be joined by the Jessica Harrington-trained Scarlett O’Hara. First time cheek-pieces are also reached for by Weld as he tries to eke out some improvement from Azazat who finished second to Unless in a Listed contest over a shorter distance at the Curragh last time out. Scarlett O’Hara gained her breakthrough win in cheek-pieces at Leopardstown in June and that headgear replaces the blinkers she wore at Deauville last time where she finished a close fourth in a Group 3 contest. Jessica Harrington won this race in 2021 with Forbearance and will be hoping to get a share of the prize money once again. Leading online bookmakers bet365 are offering enhanced place terms on the first two races at Newmarket today where they are paying 1/5th odds 1,2,3,4 places. Check out the bet365 link below to see their bet boost on selected runners in Irish and the UK each day. The Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at 3.00pm for two-year-old fillies sees Aidan O’Brien’s highly regarded Ylang Ylang on a retrieval mission. The daughter of Frankel won her first two starts in taking fashion before blowing out in the Moyglare Stakes at the Curragh almost three weeks ago. Tacky ground was blamed for that heavy defeat where she trailed home last of the nine finishers behind Fallen Angel. With the ground more suitable today there will be high expectations that she can regain her winning thread. Aidan O’Brien also saddles a newcomer in the second division of the Al Basti Equiworld Maiden at 4.45pm. Psalm was a £300,000 purchase at Tattersalls last year, but he is related to some average performers on the dam’s side which would not inspire confidence. The big race of the day, the Group 2 Dubai Joel Stakes at 3.35pm, has no Irish runners, but should be a very competitive affair with six closely matched contenders on official ratings. Last year’s winner Mutasaabeq has disappointed on three starts since again winning over this course and distance in May and a return to Newmarket where he has won four times in total could bring about a turnaround in his fortunes. The likeable Chindit is on a hat-trick, but in contrast to Mutasaabeq has failed to win on three previous visits to Newmarket The most intriguing runner in the race is the long-absent Maljoom. Having won his first three starts in the spring of 2022, Maljoom lost his unbeaten record when finishing an unlucky fourth in last year’s Group 1 St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and hasn’t been seen since.
