by Charlie McCann
A fascinating twilight card from Newbury this evening with the probability of soft ground given significant rain is expected to hit the track on Monday afternoon.
Bellajeu (5.10) is out of a mare who won a listed race on heavy ground and will take all the beating in the mile-and-a-half maiden for Ralph Beckett. Connections will be desperate to get a win next to her name for breeding purposes and the filly finished runner up in the listed Oaks Trial at Lingfield back in the spring. She was beaten at 4/6 at Chester last time but coped well with heavy ground as a juvenile and that might be the key. The fact that she holds an entry in the British Champions Fillies' and Mares' Stakes at Ascot in October suggests she should be up to winning at this level.
Knight Of Wands ran a good race first time out for Luca Cumani but his breeding suggests fast ground will suit and a bigger threat may come from the beautifully bred Clowance One who returns to the track after a 100 day absence following an excellent debut when runner up over 10 furlongs here back in May.
Kallisha (5.40) beat a good yardstick on debut for Ralph Beckett on soft ground, but has not beaten a horse home in two starts for Brendan Powell. At the time of writing the trainer's last three runners (2 flat one jumps) have all won and this filly wasn't beaten far on ground that may have been faster than ideal last time. George Baker takes over in the saddle and a market move would be worth noting.
The mile handicap is a cracker with any number of potentially well handicapped animals back on soft ground. Ice Slice won on soft ground here last autumn from a 4lbs lower mark and will appreciate the give in the ground but the vote goes to Miniskirt (6.40) who has only raced twice on turf but ran well on heavy ground at Salisbury on debut and is 3lbs lower on turf than her all-weather rating. She is more effective on fibresand than polytrack which suggests today's surface will suit.
There is a decent fillies' maiden at Chepstow with some big yards represented and Rosamaria (2.30) gets the vote for Mark Johnston having shaped with considerable promise when fourth at Doncaster on her debut when well backed. She travelled well on that occasion, is entitled to come on for the experience and most of Rip Van Winkle's progeny enjoy soft ground.
Major Mac (3.30) can land the 12f Maiden Handicap for Hughie Morrison in an intriguing race for the grade. Island Authority is likely to be a different proposition now handicapping for Ed Dunlop and as a son of Authorised will love the ground but the selection is taken to put behind a modest effort at Carlisle when he appeared not to get home over 1m 6f. This 12f trip on soft ground looks ideal and Luke Morris does the steering; Brandon Castle is another to consider in a race where the 3-year-olds look to hold the key.
Mile House would prefer better ground but that same sentiment can be applied to most of his rivals in the Beginners' Chase at Fontwell and he wasn't beaten too far in the Persian War at Chepstow last autumn. He won a point-to-point in his native Ireland on yielding ground but marginal preference is for Rothman (5.20) who has chase experience and did win a hurdle on heavy ground in his native France last January.
There is a good evening card at Ballinrobe and Time For Mabel (4.25) is penalised for winning on the level in his native France but ran an excellent first race over timber when third at Kilbeggan back in June including on soft ground. He certainly has the scope to make his mark over timber and gets the vote for Edward O'Grady and Andrew Lynch.
As De Ferbet (8.00) has finished runner up five times on the spin including all four starts for Willie Mullins but he is beginning to get his act together over fences and can finally get his head in front in the finale stepping back up in trip.
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