Horse racing in the sunshine at Newbury Racecourse. (Pic: Courtesy of Newbury Racecourse).

Horse Talk with Simon Jackson: Top horse-racing tips and the latest news.

STARS OVER THE SEA is fancied to secure another big prize for jockey George Baker by winning the Dubai Duty Free Handicap at Newbury on Saturday.

The five-year-old is available at 14-1 and is the shortest priced of four  potential runners for trainer Mark Johnston who has also entered Watersmeet (16), Montsarrat (33) and Sennockian Star (16-1) in the field of 20 runners.

The consistent son of Epsom Derby winner Sea The Stars has been well supported in recent runs – he has been sent off favourite or joint favourite for each of his past five starts – in a fruitful campaign that has already amassed two wins and three placed efforts.

His last two starts resulted in second-place finishes at Haydock and Doncaster where he finished well in both races. He is taken to continue a great month for Baker who last Saturday won the Ladbrokes St Leger on Harbour Law, who was highlighted here last week.

Harbour Law’s Epsom-based trainer Laura Mongan created history when she became the first female trainer to win the St Leger. Mongan was also the first Epsom trainer to win a Classic since the John Sutcliffe Jnr-trained Right Tack won the 2000 Guineas in 1969.

“We have a great team at home and it proves that we can do it with the right ammunition and it proves that Epsom can do it,” Mongan said. “We do very well as a team with what we have got at home. It’s just great to have a horse like this and bring him here.

“George knew exactly what to do at the right time and we knew coming into today that we could leave it to George as we had done everything we could at home.

“We’ve done it. He’s a great horse and I just hope we are lucky enough to hold onto him. All he has done all season is mature and grow up and he is just very exciting. It’s a great day.”

In other news 10-time champion jumps trainer, Paul Nicholls, applauded the return of The Jockey Club Chase Triple Crown which offers a £1million bonus to connections of any horse that completes its Triple Crown of the Betfair Chase (Haydock Park) 32Red King George VI Chase (Kempton Park) and the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup this season.

Kauto Star is the only horse to have won all of the three races in one season. Cue Card came agonisingly close last term when winning the Betfair Chase and King George, but fell at the third to last fence when travelling well in the Gold Cup.

“Kauto Star winning the Betfair Chase, King George and Cheltenham Gold Cup in the same season really cemented his legend among the public,” Nicholls said. “You’ve got to be a special horse but he showed it could be done and it’s great for jump racing that The Jockey Club is putting up this bonus challenge.”

Horse Talk with Simon Jackson. Showcasing horse racing in London and the south east.