Rain forecast for Tuesday but the ground should be perfect for today’s flat card at Chepstow and I am sweet on the chances of Firesnake (2.30) for Tom Dascombe. The juvenile has been pulled out of a couple of recent engagements of late which is a slight concern and I note that he has been raised 1lb for standing in his box over the last fortnight!
That said I know connections considered him a decent 2-y-old earlier in the season when the Dascombe juveniles were not at their best and he might have got in lightly on his handicap debut. This represents a drop in grade for Captainthunderbolt and Burningfivers and they represent top yards also making their handicap debut. It could be a hot nursery but I am convinced there is more to come from Firesnake.
In the opener Sirajiah (2.00) would not want the ground to deteriorate too much and it is interesting to see trainer William Haggas drop the filly back a furlong having been a beaten favourite at Leicester over six on debut. Connections still have the selection entered in the Gp 2 Lowther and the Gp1 Chevely Park later in the year so she must have been showing up well on the Newmarket gallops.
At the time of writing David Lanigan’s last four runners have either won or finished runner up and the debutante Real Smart (3.00) wouldn’t have to be anything out of the ordinary to land her maiden. The well-bred grey has most to fear from Mickey Haller who refused to settle at Wetherby on his reappearance and has been subsequently gelded. The once-raced Flying Hammer is another to consider but the unraced filly gets the vote for an in-form yard.
There is a valuable handicap at Pontefract and I hope there is enough juice in the ground for Hernandoshideaway to take his chance. The Michael Dodds 3-y-old won at Ayr on his sole start as a juvenile and has finished second on both starts this term over today’s mile-and-a-half trip but he does need plenty of cut in the ground and the forecast suggests today will not be his day. Do keep him on side when the word soft appears in the going description.
Preference is for Lanigan’s Plutocracy (3.40) who had been gelded prior to finishing a running on fourth at Kempton last month when making a belated seasonal reappearance. The selection will be fresher than most and is as equally adept on turf as he is on an all-weather surface.
At Newcastle this evening Sea Of Heaven (7.20) is 5lbs higher than when runner up at Sandown last month and races as if a thorough test of stamina is what he needs. He was staying on all the way to the line at the Esher track over 1m 6f last time and remains open to significant improvement given he has only raced five times to date.
Ben Haslam saddles two in the 7f fillies’ handicap and both have chances but the vote goes to Shesnotforturning (7.50) who steps back up to 7f having run out a decisive winner at Hamilton over six from a 5lbs lower mark last time.
Godolphin owned runners have landed the 7f maiden at Kempton for the last two years and the War Front filly Mise En Rose (7.10) can make a winning debut having cost connections $240,000 as a yearling from the Keeneland Sales.
This looks a really hot contest with Honorina having already set a decent standard having finished runner up at Doncaster on debut for Sir Michael Stoute. I just feel she might need further especially on this quick surface although it is significant that she holds a Gp 2 entry over 7f for next month (Rockfel Stakes at HQ).
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