By Charlie McCann
Given the unsettled weather and the distinct possibility of heavy thundery showers, which could change the official going description at many of today’s turf meetings, it might be prudent to concentrate on today’s all-weather racing beginning with a fascinating 6f fillies’ handicap at Lingfield for three-year-olds.
Blacke Forest has the plum draw in stall one and it is no surprise to see him drop back in trip having failed to get home over a mile last time; he looks to have been given a very workable mark of 64 on handicap debut and a market move (tissue price 10/1 at BetVictor) would be worth noting.
Frangipanni missed the kick, having been backed as if defeat was out of the question, when scoring over C&D last month and a 6lb rise looks very fair in the circumstances. I would be staggered if a mark of 66 was the summit of her ability but she is reluctantly overlooked in favour of Trillian Astra (4.30)) backed on turf off this mark last week before being pulled out on account of the ground which had turned soft.
The selection, a forecast 12/1 chance, is well drawn in stall two and finished a decent third over 7f on her last maiden over 7f back in November showing plenty of pace. She might be a tad rusty returning from a near 200 day lay-off but she looks open to considerable improvement and the yard of Clive Cox remain in good form although one could argue they have been hitting the woodwork of late.
Victor’s Bet was owned by BetVictor Chairman Victor Chandler when trained in Spain and ran a race full of promise on his British debut over an inadequate 7f on turf here earlier in the month. He might be one to keep on the right side of going forward, but he has a poor draw to overcome in stall 9 and the nod goes to George Baker (5.00). Trained by George Baker but ridden today by Martin Dwyer the selection is back to his last winning mark on polytrack and should be coming back to the boil having had a spin in Jersey last month when just touched off over 7f.
There is a very interesting juvenile 6f fillies’ maiden at Kempton this evening with many big yards represented including Hugo Palmer‘s Only Joking who is entitled to step up on her Warwick debut when racing with plenty of pace before tiring on the soft ground. Preference, however, is for debutante Cursory Glance (6.50) who cost connections $150,000 as a yearling and represents the yard of Roger Varian who has saddled the winner of the last two renewals of the corresponding race.
Jazz Master (7.20) is a dual C&D winner who is taken to score from a 4lb higher mark than when successful back in October having ran, arguably, a personal best on his reappearance at Doncaster last month. He remains open to further improvement back on tonight’s surface and may have most to fear from Magic Hurricane who is closely matched at the revised terms with the selection on their respective Doncaster comebacks.
At Worcester significant rain wouldn’t be a concern to Velator (6.40) who will hopefully strip fitter for his Wincanton run last time when pulled up in a better race than this when returning from a five-month break. Trainer Anthony Honeyball can get them ready and Denis O’Regan again takes the mount.
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