By Charlie McCann
The Richard Hannon trained Baitha Alga gave connections an excellent winner on Derby Day at Epsom, earning a quote of 12/1 with BetVictor for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot later this month.
Sheikh Joan Al Thani can enjoy further success with Lwah (6.20) in the opener at Windsor this evening, this time Richard Hughes in the plate instead of Frankie Dettori. The Lawman colt is speedily bred and looks the ideal type to make a winning visit to a racetrack for a stable that excels with their juveniles.
Kevin Ryan continues to churn out winners and despite Searchlight (8.20) missing the target more times than England did against Honduras on Saturday, the application of first-time blinkers can see him land a second success of his career.
The gelding was backed into favouritism at the track over five furlongs last month and ran well enough to finish third but ultimately giving the impression that he had more to offer. Kieren Fallon rides for the first time and that combined with the blinkers and the step up in trip he should be there or thereabouts once more.
Jupiter Storm was a game winner at the track last week but George Baker’s mount nicked it from the front and he can be opposed for the ten furlong handicap under a penalty. Clive Cox‘s Perfect Cracker (7.20) should give the gelding a race and arrives on the back of two excellent runs at Lingfield on the all-weather.
That was followed up by a good third on his first start after a break when chasing home the two at the head of the market and with another 2lb taken off, remains extremely competitive. Ryan Tate takes off a useful 5lb and can claim his first winner at the track at the 21st time of asking.
Cox can land a double over the Pennines at Pontefract with Shankly (8.10) who makes his first start handicapping after two unsuccessful starts out of his depth in much stronger company.
The Monsun colt made an impressive debut last season at Salisbury winning at the first time of asking despite greenness. He was pitched in at the deep end in the G1 Criterium de Saint Cloud and although disappointing, was far from disgraced on ground softer than ideal. The colt never settled on his seasonal beau at Newbury and providing that run has blown the cobwebs out, he has to go close from a lenient mark of 77.
There’s jump racing for us at Newton Abbot and Roscommon with Jeremy Scott’s Moorlands Jack (2.45) at the former, taken to make full use of his tumbling mark in the handicap chase over the extended two miles.
Jack kopped a hefty 10lb rise from the handicapper for winning a brace of handicap chases at Worcester last term and spent the winter trying to work off the excess weight, much like this writer has spent the New Year working off the extra pounds put on at Christmas. The 9-y-o was backed on his reappearance after a six-month break last time out at Worcester and he should be dangerous with fitness on his side against horses that have been on the go all season.
The Peter Bowen stable remain in excellent form and Rolling Maul (3.15) has to go close in the two miles novices’ hurdle. The gelding received a peach from Jamie Moore to win last month at Market Rasen and the 6-y-o is taken to continue his winning ways at the expense of the pair of Manjakani and Sergeant Thunder.
Former Cheltenham Festival hero Alderwood (8.00) should be able to return to winning ways over the Irish Sea at Roscommon, likely to get the better of Noel Meade’s Realt Dubh in an excellent reenw3al of the two mile chase. The 10-y-o strolled to success in the Grand Annual at last year’s festival and is having just his fourth start since. Rated 149 he should be able to return to winning ways before JP McManus’ charge heads for a likely tilt at next month’s Galway Plate.
For all the latest odds and more head to BetVictor.com
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