Widden Stakes – 2023

Track: Soft Weather: Overcast

A bit to learn here with a few first starters. Have Steel City on top, it ran an excellent race on debut when 2nd behind Red Resistance who we get a form guide on earlier in race 2 in the Canonbury Stakes. Learning To Fly is feared. A first starter out of the Neasham stable that has Chad Schofield doing the steering. Perfect Proposal did well in the Gimrack and should land on the speed with Tim Clark doing the steering. Cigar Flick has the famous J-Mac and Waller combo but will need a bit to go right from the draw to be winning. The tempo should be solid in this.

1. Cigar Flick (8)

The J-Mac Waller combo combine. Liked the debut effort of Cigar Flick. Much harder here but have to respect the jockey aboard and the master trainer. The draw is the query.

2. Dipsy Doodle (9)

Did a bit wrong on debut and will need to settle better in this. Has plenty of raw talent but the draw is a slight query. Top 4 chance with better manners.

3. Divine Glory (2)

Solid debut effort in The Gimrack. Schiller is in outstanding form and this race is well within reach.

4. Dorothy Gail (5)

Can’t have.

5. Just Glamourous (10)

Ran a solid debut and should be suited up in trip. The query is how far it gets back from the barrier but watch for it late.

6. Learning To Fly (7)

Very well in the market and should run a solid race on debut. Trials have been excellent including winning a recent one beating Perfect Proposal. The query is where it lands to from the draw.

7. Lizzie’s Gem (3)

Best to respect any market moves.

8. Mumbai Muse (12)

Keep an eye on the market.

9. Perfect Proposal (4)

Excellent debut running 2nd and has been tipped out since. Tim Clark does the steering from barrier 4 and it should land right on the speed and prove hard to run down. This race is well within reach and recent trials have been everything connections would want to see.

10. Star Act (11)

Can’t have.

11. Steel City (6)

Have Steel City on top. Its debut was excellent and Collett is a suitable booking. A form guide can be found in race 2 with Red Resistance, if that runs top 2 my confidence with Steel City grows. It brings in strong last start ratings and can give this race a shake.

12. Stefi Magnetica (1)

Hit the line hard on debut so the step up 200m in trip should suit here and getting off a dry track may prompt an improved performance. Barrier 1 has to be the query off its running pattern on debut.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Bryce Parker’s Tips	Jo Jackson’s Tips
11 Steel City	6 Learning To Fly
1 Cigar Flick	11 Steel City
3 Divine Glory	9 Perfect Proposal
2 Dipsy Doodle	1 Cigar Flick