Now dropped back in grade and trip, Irish raider Ickworth makes plenty of appeal in the Listed 5f Harry Rosebery Stakes for juvenile colts and fillies at Ayr on Friday (14:40).
This Willie McCreery trained daughter of Shamardal, who carries the famous all-blue colours of leading owners Godolphin, is a lightly-raced sort that has won two of his four starts.
After scoring by three-quarters of a length on debut at Dundalk, Ickworth took the step up into Listed company in her stride when beating King Neptune by 2 3/4 lengths over 5f at The Curragh.
She travelled smoothly in second under Billy Lee, before taking up the running a furlong-and-a-half from home and staying on strongly to score with plenty in hand.
It was a most taking display and the runner-up went on to chase home the very smart and exciting Siskin next time up in a Listed affair at the same venue.
That gives the form a solid look and Ickworth was fancied by many to land the hat-trick in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes only to blot her copybook when refusing to start.
She has had just one outing since and shaped better than the bare result suggests when finishing a 9 3/4 lengths eighth of 10 to Albigna in a Group 2 over 6f at The Curragh.
Ickworth made headway two from home to throw down a challenge at the furlong marker before weakening out of contention late on.
The trip clearly stretched her that day and the drop back down to the minimum trip, over which both her successes have come, is sure to suit.
This is also a far more suitable test, so Ickworth makes plenty of appeal in the Harry Rosebery at 11/2 with Betfair.
Signora Cabello value in Scottish Fillies’ Sprint
The other Listed race on a cracking Harry Rosebery card is the 5f Scottish Fillies’ Sprint Stakes (15:15), and Signora Cabello looks worth siding with at 10/1 with Ladbrokes now having her sights lowered.
This John Quinn trained daughter of Camacho developed into a top class juvenile last season when winning four of her seven starts.
After victories at Bath and York, she showed a tremendous attitude to dig deep and get up in the dying stride and beat Gossamer Wings by a short-head in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Signora Cabello backed that up with another Group 2 success when landing the Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte in France when fending off the challenge of Sexy Metro by a neck.
She then ran a cracker in defeat when a three-quarters of a length runner-up to Pretty Pollyanna in the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville.
The form of those races set a clear standard in this, and Signora Cabello looked as good as ever on seasonal reappearance when a highly promising fourth of seven to Calyx in a Group 3 at Ascot.
Although she then failed to shine in a Listed contest at Haydock, Signora Cabello was far from disgraced last time out when an 8 3/4 lengths ninth of 12 to Blue Point in a red-hot renewal of the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.
This is easier and she has a fine strike rate of 66 per cent over 5f trip having won four of her six starts over it. So, taking everything into account, Signora Cabello looks the value bet at the odds on offer.
Lucky Lucky Man weighted to go well in Ayr Bronze Cup
In a typically fierce and wide-open renewal of the 6f Ayr Bronze Cup (15:45), Lucky Lucky Man looks weighted to make a bold bid to retain his crown.
This Richard Fahey trained four-year-old came good at this time last year, winning at Leicseter off 83 before going on to enjoy his finest hour when landing this by 1 1/4 lengths off the same rating.
The son of Clodovil is now able to race off off 5lb lower and comes into the contest on the back of three solid efforts.
After finishing a 1 3/4 lengths third of nine to Cale Lane at Hamilton, Lucky Lucky Man ran very well when a keeping on 4 3/4 lengths fifth of 19 to Growl in the Great St Wilfrid consolation race at Ripon.
He then found only a rejuvenated East Street Review three-quarters of a length too good 13 days ago in a decent 16-runner handicap at Thirsk Those runs suggest that Lucky Lucky Man’s time is near and he is undoubtedly well-handicapped on the pick of his form.
Proven form in big field handicaps is another plus, as if the fact that he hails from a yard with a good record in races of this nature at the meeting.
There is simply nothing to not like about the profile of Lucky Lucky Man. At 10/1 with Coral, who are paying five places, he looks well worth an each-way wager in this other big race on Harry Rosebery day.
