Yesterday’s Review
1pt e/way Heerathetrack (99) – Another consistent effort from the selection who just came up three quarters of a length short at the finish. A tardy start from the stalls probably cost him the chance of victory on this occasion. Result 3rd 9/2 adv…3/1 SP.
Today’s Advice
Aljezur (7F 1Y Listed) – This Luke Dace trained three-year-old performed with extreme credit on seasonal debut when overcoming a poor draw over seven furlongs at Kempton to finish third, just beaten three quarters of a length behind Arctic Thunder. On that occasion he found a prominent early position, and led a furlong from home before weakening near the finish. As that was his first effort in 152 days, it looked like there was plenty more to come. His next effort over course and distance proved very disappointing where he was backed into odds on favouritism for a Class 4 handicap. He threw his chances away by pulling too hard behind a very slow pace. Today’s (3.20) Lingfield may represent a big step up in class, but the time of his race at Kempton compares very favourably with today’s rivals, and his trainer is on record as rating the son of Galileo Gold a lot higher than his current handicap mark of 80. He looks overpriced in the market, and it will be interesting to see if he can reproduce that excellent seasonal debut with prominent racers such as Lessay, Ahlain and Star Mind in opposition.
So Chic (7F Hcap) – This four-year-old filly has been performing very well at today’s venue with her last four visits yielding a win and three places. She is still rated seven pounds below her last winning handicap mark when trained by Charles Hills, and looks favourably treated for today’s (3.55) Lingfield. Now trained by John Long she is seen to best effect when there is a decent pace in her races. She may look held by Rabinal on her latest effort over course and distance, but a four pound turnaround at the weights and a possible stronger pace from prominent racers Almodovar Del Rio, Mount Mogan and Senseofentitlement may be enough to reverse the form.
Dequinto (6F 1Y Classified Stakes) – The Tony Carroll stable have been known for their shrewd acquisitions from Ireland over the years with the recent fine form of Tortured Soul proving a great advertisement for his training skills. Tony has shown that he has a great talent for spotting lowly rated horses from the Emerald Isle, and being able to win races with them in the UK. In Dequinto he has another shrewd acquisition, who is rated just 40 by the handicapper, but caught the eye on his stable debut last month at Southwell. The race was run to suit the front runners that day with the first four at the three furlong pole filling the first four places at the finish. The son of Requinto was slowly away that day, but was noted recording the fastest final furlong sectional of (12.04) according to TPD. With more pace on paper for today’s (4.30) Lingfield with Red Walls and Hannah’s Return in opposition, it may well be that even better can be seen from the selection providing he can come on for his latest run.
Drakeholes (7F 14Y Hcap) – This five-year-old performed a lot better over course and distance last time out than it may appear at first glance. On that occasion there was a decent headwind at play, and conditions woudn’t have suited the selection under which he had to make his own running. He still performed with credit just weakening inside the final furlong to finish fifth, beaten just three and a quarter lengths. With a tailwind forecast for tonight’s (6.30) Newcastle it is hoped that he can improve on his placing last time out, with conditions at the weigths also more in his favour with tonight’s rivals. He is currently rated 22lbs below his handicap rating of 72 from last season, and he is worth keeping an eye on going forward.
0.5pt e/way Aljezur (100/1 Paddy Power, 80/1 General) 3.20 Lingfield
0.75pt e/way So Chic (15/2 General 4 places) 3.55 Lingfield
0.75pt e/way Dequinto (11/1 General 2 places) 4.30 Lingfield
1pt e/way Drakeholes (8/1 General) 6.30 Newcastle