David Probert weekend rides blog: 'This horse looks to be one of the leading contenders'

David Probert is back, as we approach the end of another horse racing week, with his weekend rides blog.

This horse won well last time out at Kempton over 2m. He is running off a mark of 75 now but Hughie’s runners are in great order, so he will have a good chance of defying the 4lb rise. It is a competitive race, but this horse is straightforward to ride and looks to be one of the leading contenders.

He has been a progressive horse on the all-weather over the winter. You can probably put a line through his last run as he was up against it in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester which Illinois won. Hugo Palmer has given him a wind-op since then, so hopefully that should have sharpened up his breathing. If he puts his best foot forward, he will be thereabouts at the finish.

It is great to pick up a ride for Godolphin and Saeed bin Suroor with City Walk. This is an eight-year-old with some real top-class form earlier in his career. He hasn’t run for 540 days, so he would be forgiven for needing the run. Saeed had a winner at Royal Ascot last week, and it would be great to ride a winner for him in the royal blue silks.

This is a two-year-old trained by Kevin Ryan who is making its debut on the track. It’s obviously his first day at school, and we will know more about him after this race. Kevin will have him ready for the track, so if he can settle, it would be no surprise to see him in the mix.

This is a consistent horse who is now off a mark of 65. He stays 1m4f well so I will be hoping this turns into a test of stamina. If my horse just takes a step forward on his recent form, he will have a good chance of getting his nose in front this time.

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