by Jack Milner
John Ferguson’s yard have thrived throughout the summer with the handler’s Bloomfields Operation enjoying six winners from their last twelve runners. The yard are blessed with an abundance of classy ex-flat performers and Maputo (2.20) another 100+ rated flat horse to join the yard and a confident selection to follow-up last month’s winning debut in the opening Novices’ Hurdle at Stratford.
The well-bred son of Cape Cross was rated as high as 114 after his G3 Royal Whip Stakes success at the Curragh two seasons’ ago and showed he had retained all his ability when making a winning debut over timber under Aidan Coleman last month at Perth. The 5-y-o looks a fascinating prospect for the yard and can get the better of Fergal O’Brien’s three-time winner Tangolan.
Jonjo O’Neill’s yard are similarly in good nick and it would be no surprise to see Top Spin go well under Richard Johnson in the Handicap Hurdle over two and three quarter miles, however a chance on Presenting Streak (2.50) for the Winks family. The selection was well-backed for a Maiden Hurdle at Southwell just twelve days ago when second behind a comfortable winner for the David Pipe yard. The well-bred son of Presenting looks the ideal type to improve further now handicapping and can prove to be better than his opening mark of 108, aided further by Winks’ 7lb claim.
Jonjo’s Presence Felt (3.50) has been a revelation since returning to a much sounder surface. The gelding followed-up his Worcester success with an excellent second last month at Southwell and could still be well-treated from a 9lb higher mark. He was well-backed for a series of handicaps over both fences and hurdles without ever failing to justify market support last spring but gets on well with jockey Will Kennedy and should remain competitive once more.
The pick of the action on that flat comes from Brighton where Jo Hughes’ Don’t’ Tell Her (2.00) can shed the maiden tag at the fourth time of asking under Silvestre De Sousa. The filly built on her debut at Chepstow when third in a claimer at Deauville and followed-up last time out when narrowly beaten in a similar contest. A first-time tongue-tie should bring further improvement still to land, what looks on paper, a rather poor renewal.
Ed De Giles’ stable are enjoying a good spell and Bazooka (4.30) can give the yard further success in the 7f Handicap under Jim Crowley. The 4-y-o has improved on all four starts since returning from an absence of over 18 months, placing in a trio of handicaps on the all-weather. The selection was unlucky when headed before fighting back in the closing stages last time out over a mile at Kempton and he should go close providing he translates his all-weather form to the turf.
The benefit of experience should have done wonders with William Haggas‘ Symposium (2.40) who should shed the maiden tag at the second time of asking at Wolverhampton. The well-bred filly wasn’t knocked about when fourth in a warm Newbury maiden but should improve for the run and can score under stable jockey Pat Cosgrave who opts to ride ahead of stablemate Field of Stars.
Nine head to post for the feature handicap over the extended mile with Sir Michael Stoute’s Hakka (4.40) a confident selection to score under Ted Durcan. The well-bred colt has won two of his four lifetime starts, both on the all-weather, and couldn’t have been more impressive when winning well over the trip last month at Chelmsford. The handicapper has put him up 6lb for that but he looks capable of better still and can score for the third time this season.
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