by Jack Milner
Alison Brewer's Agent Gibbs absolutely bolted-up at Brighton last week and will be a warm favourite the hat-trick at Lingfield under Adam Kirby, however under a double penalty he appears vulnerable and a chance is taken on Roger Charlton's well-bred filly Melodica (5.05). James Doyle replaces Paul Hanagan in the plater after the latter guiding the filly to finish third last time out at Wolverhampton just five days ago. The selection made eye-catching progress in the closing stages and now stepped up to a mile and a half for the first time can shed the maiden tag at the belated sixth time of asking.
Earlier on the card Sir Michael Stoute's Moonlight Sonata (4.35) can score on her first start for three and a half months under Ted Durcan. The well-bred filly sets a fair standard based on her three efforts in maiden company thus far and was well-backed on her seasonal reappearance at Sandown in April. Whilst admittedly being a shade disappointing when a beaten favourite that day, she will likely improve for the outing and can make amends now stepped up in trip.
There's racing from Carlisle where Mark Johnston's Mister Rockandroll looks to have been well placed to follow-up last week's impressive success under a penalty. The gelding receives weight all round from his elders however is having his 12th start already this term, his 9th since the beginning of May, and as such t could be worth siding on Dianne Sayer's dual-purpose animal Baileys Concerto (5.25) under Paul Mulrennan. The selection generally plies his trade over fences however has ran in three maidens on the flat, finishing second two starts back over an inadequate trip at the track in June, and the 135-rated chaser could be potentially well-treated from an opening mark of 62.
There's evening racing from Nottingham and Ffos Las with Andrew Balding's High Admiral (8.00) a confident selection to land the feature at the latter. The well-bred son of New Approach built on his debut when making a winning return last month at Newbury and with the form of that race already working out well can follow-up under David Probert. The selection receives 9lb from his elders and, providing the ground stays on the quick side of good, should be far too good for his six rivals in South Wales.
Today's best action comes from Nottingham where Dawaa (5.45) can strike for the red-hot team of Mark Johnston and Silvestre De Sousa. The latter looks set to win a first Flat Jockeys Championship and after being named July's ‘Jockey of the Month' can add another notch to his saddle under Sheikh Hamdan's well-bred filly this evening. The selection has hinted at ability in three maidens at Thirsk, Newcastle and Pontefract respectively however disappointing last time out in West Yorkshire when a beaten favourite on ground softer than ideal. The return to a sounder surface should see her put her best foot forward and she should prove competitive on her nursery debut from an opening mark of 71.
Six go to post for the feature 5f Conditions Stakes with ‘sprint king' Robert Cowell bidding to continue his excellent record in the sphere with Duke of Firenze under Jim Crowley. He would be fancied if the heavens were to open however with the ground currently good-to-firm it leaves Paul Midgeley's Desert Law (7.15) as the most likely winner under Martin Lane. The selection has finished third in competitive handicaps at the Curragh and Ascot on his last two starts, well backed for both, but should return to winning ways whilst simultaneously landing connections a nice £10,000 pot as well.
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