Ground ideal for Maarek ahead of Newbury raid Trainer David Nagle is one person who does not want the weather to take a sudden turn for his improving sprinter Maarek. The five-year-old has won four of his last six starts, including a handicap at Newmarket and the Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle, as well as finishing a close sixth under a big weight in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot. He is coming back over to England for the Group 3 chrisbeekracing.com Stakes (registered as the Hackwood Stakes) at Newbury on Saturday and conditions look like being ideal once more for the soft-ground lover. "We think this weather is beautiful!" said Nagle. "I'm driving the box now on the way to Newmarket and we'll go on to Newbury from there. "He's in good form and he's taking his races well, obviously we hope it's soft. "It was desperate at Newcastle and he coped, he's a completely different horse in those conditions and Newcastle was probably his easiest win. "He ran well on good ground at Ascot but relishes it soft. "I think we've got Paul Hanagan to ride him as Graham Lee is required at Newmarket. It's disappointing having to change jockeys again but it's one of those weeks. Anyway, he's not a bad replacement, is he?"
