Newmarket preview: Baltic Brave and Moore a potent combination

Baltic Brave is unbeaten under jockey Ryan Moore, and can get back winning ways in the 7f handicap on today’s card at Newmarket (15.10) now reunited with the three times champion.

The Hughie Morrison trained gelding opened his account under Moore when scoring by 1 1/2 lengths at Yarmouth last July, and went on to follow-up in terrific style over course and distance when slamming Dutch Art Dealer by three lengths off a mark of 79.

Baltic Brave got put up 8lb for the latter success, but went on to finish a solid third at this venue off his revised rating of 87.

This four-year-old also ran well on his penultimate outing when beaten just 1/2 a length in a class 4 contest at Lingfield off his current mark of 84, before finding class 3 company too much last time out over course and distance.

The drop back down into class 4 company is sure to see Baltic Brave in a far better light, and it looks significant that the son of Baltic King is now reunited with the rider who has partnered him to both his career success.

Moore clearly knows how to get the best out of Baltic Brave and, with underfoot conditions fine, this looks a good opportunity for the pair to maintain their 100 per cent record for Morrison’s gelding.

Fairway To Heaven was a desperately unlucky loser last time out and can gain compensation by landing the feature 5f handicap (16.20).

The Michael Wigham trained was last successful in a class 2 handicap at Windsor 12 months ago when coming with a storming late run to beat Gamesome by a length off a mark of 89.

Fairway To Heaven went on to finish a solid fourth of 12 to Barracuda Boy on the all-waether at Lingfield off 92, and was also far from disgraced when fourth at the same venue off 89 back in January.

The six-year-old is now able to race off just 83, 6lb lower than when last successful, having reruend to form last time our when failing by just a short-head to overhaul Lady Gibraltar over 5f at Goodwood.

Fairway To Heaven travelled strongly throughout but found himself behind a wall of horses at the furlong marker.

When a gap did eventually appear the son of Jeremy flew home, and there is little doubt that he would have won granted a clear passage.

Off just 1lb higher, Fairway To Heaven remains well-treated and can foil the hat-trick bid to red-hot favourite Double-Up to get back to winning ways.

Selections:
14.00: Dark Forest
14.35: Martiniquaise 13
15.10: Baltic Brave (NAP)
15.45: Abertillery
16.20: Fairway To Heaven (NB)
16.55: Cilento
17.30: Imtiyaaz