Jim Crowley “Maqsad should be able to justify favouritism”

1.15 Newmarket – Maqsad

She’s a nice Siyouni filly who has been working really well. William Haggis really likes her. She’s favourite today and is a very nice filly. We think she should be able to justify favouritism.

1.50 Newmarket – Alemaratalyoum

This horse is having his first run for Stuart. He’s been winning for Iain Jardine over a mile. Obviously we are dropping back in trip today. The owner may have bought him to go sprinting so we will see how he gets on. He is having his first run of the season. Stuart is an astute trainer and I’m sure he has a plan for him, but I suspect today is about finding out whether he has the speed for six furlongs.

4.45 Newmarket – Alandalos

She’s a good horse and ran really well at Lingfield behind Enable’s full sister who won the race. She’s been working very well at home. There are a couple of unraced horses in the field so you don’t quite know what you are up against. Owen Burrows has a beautifully bred filly, Tatweej, who might just need the run. It’s always an advantage going into a race like this when you’ve had a run under your belt, and we are hoping Alandalos will run well.

Other races:

The Fielden Stakes looks an interesting race. Kadar catches my eye. I was impressed with him last year. He is very unexposed and Karl Burke thinks a lot of him.

Looking at the Nell Gwyn, I was a big fan of Main Edition last year. She ran a lot and seven furlongs looks about the right trip for her. There hasn’t really been a filly to stamp her mark on the 1000 Guineas yet. They finished in a heap in the Fed Darling on Saturday and it was two seconds slower than the Greenham.

Looking back at Newbury on Saturday

I was very pleased with Laraaib. He travelled supremely well and was the last horse off the bridle. He got a little bit tired but I loved the fact that he travelled so well in such a high class race.

Mohaather had been working really well at home and I was delighted with his win in the Greenham. He will probably head for the 2000 Guineas now. Whether he will stay or not we don’t know but we have to have a go. There’s always a slight doubt in your mind based on his breeding but if you are not in you can’t win. It wasn’t like he scraped home in the Guineas by a head. He was much the best. I said to Marcus afterwards that there was never a moment when I didn’t think he would win. I was able to get a nice position, he switched off, he liked the ground and I was able to press go whenever I wanted. It was great for Marcus Tregoning who’d prepared the horse beautifully.