An excellent six-race card at Stratford is today’s highlight, including nine going to post for an excellent renewal of the feature handicap chase over two and a half miles. Lucky Landing heads the weights bidding to concede weight all round and, whilst likely to improve for the step back up in trip, has to concede weight all round, including giving 5lb to Domtaline (8.00) with Evan Williams’ 8-y-o fancied to bounce back accordingly.
The selection was rated as high as 139 in his pomp with Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls at Ditcheat and despite losing his way, has hinted at something of a renaissance. The gelding has disappointed on both starts for the yard on ground softer than ideal however should relish the forecast sounder surface. He was successful on just his second start over fences over course and distance a couple of seasons back and from a career-low mark of 123 should be competitive.
Laura Mongan’s Stay in my Heart (8.30) chased home Williams’ well-backed runner Patricktom Boru at the track last month and can go one better under regular partner Leighton Aspell. The pair pulled 26 lengths clear of the field when running over course and distance four weeks ago and despite a 6lb rise at the weights, appears relatively well treated to shed the maiden tag over timber at the belated 25th time of asking.
Oh So Gigolo (9.00) is a fascinating entry for the Nicky Henderson yard in the finale and cost connections 32,000 Euros for connections at Tattersalls 18 months ago. The gelding is related to a few useful types and with the ‘Master of Seven Barrows’ enjoying a 19% strike-rate at the track over the past five years, the gelding can give a first winner to 7lb Conditional Mr R O’Reilly on his first ride under rules.
Flat action comes via the length and breadth of the British Isles with seven-race cards from Hamilton, Chepstow Brighton and Gowran Park respectively with US Navy Seal (6.20) fancied to score for the team of Aidan and Joseph O’Brien at the latter. The well-bred War Front colt cost $700,000 at the sales and was sent off a warm favourite on his debut last term at Leopardstown, finishing a disappointing last of seven. Nevertheless, the form of that race has worked out exceptionally well and given the hype surrounding the colt’s debut last term remains of serious interest on just his second visit to a racetrack.
Ralph Beckett’s Easter Mate will be a likely warm favourite for Chepstow’s opener after an excellent third on debut at Newmarket however Tasleet (6.10) was a massive eye-catcher on debut last time out at York. The selection ran green in the early stages before making ground late on and with the benefit of experience under his belt can progress accordingly to shed the maiden tag at the second time of asking.
Henry Candy‘s Cosette (8.10) has been far from disgraced in four efforts since returning this term and is now stepped up in trip tackling 2m for the first time and can score under Dane O’Neill. The selection has been dropped 3lb for finishing third in a brace of competitive handicaps at Windsor and Sandown however the combination of the drop in class and the marathon trip can unlock the key to her and she can give weight and a beating to her seven rivals accordingly.
David O’Meara’s G1 Prix de l’Abbaye winner Move in Time makes his seasonal reappearance up at Hamilton however after an absence of almost seven months, and the burden of a G1-penalty, is overlooked for Michael Dods’ consistent mare Spinatrix (3.45) under Conor Beasley. The selection receives 12lb from O’Meara’s charge and, whilst a beaten favourite last time out at Ayr, should thrive on her optimum conditions; a stiff five furlongs on ground with a bit of juice in it.
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