Horse racing: Longer trip is made to measure for Goldoni on all-weather track

Andrew Balding thinks very highly of this gelding, who will be raring to go after two good efforts this spring.

While the form from his Epsom victory, in which he defeated Mister Music by half a length, could be called into question, he has clearly made big strides from two to three.

Although he is ineligible for the Derby, the son of Dylan Thomas looks to be crying out for this longer trip, especially on pedigree, and should have no issues competing on the Polytrack.

Vow is an engaging entry in the Betfred “The Bonus King” Oaks Trial Stakes.

Johnny Murtagh again comes over from Ireland to ride this Motivator filly, who made a superb debut at Newbury last month.

William Haggas’ three-year-old overcame clear traits of naivety to defeat Everlong in a hot fillies’ maiden which is sure to work out well.

A half-sister to the likes of Beaten Up and Harris Tweed, Vow will relish the transition to a mile and a half.

Bonnie Brae is quite a confident selection to take top honours in the Betfred Victoria Cup at Ascot.

The ability to deal with a quagmire is likely to be key when unpicking this esteemed seven-furlong handicap and David Elsworth’s five-year-old mare neatly ticks that particular box.

Bonnie Brae won by a length in a big-field handicap on soft ground at Doncaster last November, her final outing of the season and was victorious at Salisbury in similar conditions last summer.

Despite racing off a 6lb higher mark than at Doncaster, Elsworth’s charge is a past-master in hurly-burly handicaps of this nature and is, intriguingly, due to be ridden by Ryan Moore.

There is something on offer for most tastes on a mixed card at Haydock featuring jumps and Flat racing.

On the level, Our Jonathan is taken to shine in the Network Healthcare Conditions Stakes, while Saphir River should be followed in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle.

The latter’s most recent effort over hurdles, when he came from a mile back to take fourth spot in Listed company at Aintree, suggests he has a bright future in his new discipline.

Highlight on Nottingham’s card is the Listed Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Kilvington Fillies’ Stakes, which represents a good opportunity for Ladies Are Forever.

Deed Of Gift should be given another chance in the wsteams.com Novices’ Hurdle at Worcester on Sunday. The five-year-old gelding was sent off an even-money favourite on his racecourse bow in February, but proved disappointing as he trailed home a distant fourth.

Deed Of Gift is related to a couple of nice runners, though, and given that trainer Jonjo O’Neill’s yard were hardly firing on all cylinders at that stage of the year, he could fare much better this time. Kuilsriver was narrowly denied at Plumpton last time, but he can right the record with victory in the Betfair Racing Excellence Conditional Jockeys’ Training Series Final Handicap Hurdle back at the Sussex track.

While yet to strike gold in 11 starts to date, Kuilsriver still has some decent form in the book for trainer Nick Gifford. A crack at the Lanzarote and in Grade Three company looked a bit above him last term but two recent efforts back in novice company have yielded two runner-up prizes.

A mistake at the last cost the five-year-old dearly last time as it checked his momentum and he was worn down by Nagpur close home.

Gifford’s decision to pitch him into a conditionals’ race is interesting, as Kuilsriver should be able to handle the likely testing ground.

• Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill could be facing up to a six-month suspension amid allegations of ‘milkshaking’ in California.

According to US reports, the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) has completed a hearing into a case featuring Argenta, a horse trained by O’Neill that tested positive to elevated levels of carbon dioxide in his blood system after a race at Del Mar in August 2010.

The TCO2 test is designed to uncover cases of milkshaking, the illegal practice of giving a horse a blend of bicarbonate of soda, sugar and electrolytes believed to reduce fatigue and enhance performance. A verdict on O’Neill’s case is expected within two months.