The ground was described as good to soft at Bath on Sunday
morning with the BBC website suggesting there was the prospect of showers for
the area ahead of and during today's nine-race card. That said as I found out
to my cost regarding York on Saturday, weather forecasting remains an inexact
science!
It has been a relatively quiet campaign for Hugo Palmer, but
he did have a winner at Chepstow over the weekend and he fits Hlaiton
(5.15) with first time cheek-pieces in the mile handicap. William Buick takes
over on the gelding who was beaten less than 2L at Newbury last time when he
met interference inside the final furlong but finished off his race well. He
has been raised 1lb for that effort but must have a leading chance if the
headgear can bring about a modicum of improvement.
The most interesting race on the card is the extended 10f
maiden and I am sweet on the chances of Crystal Pegasus (6.50) whose
second to Brilliant Light at Wolverhampton last time was given a boost when the
winner did us a favour at Sandown at the weekend. That run was over an
additional quarter of a mile and it is possible that William Buick will have to
make his own running with no guaranteed pace in the race.
Lake Baikal is likely to be a short price to follow up his fluent
Perth success from just a 4lbs higher mark, but it is worth noting that all six
of his career starts have been on right-handed tracks. He could easily be well
ahead of the handicapper, but I think Court Jurado (1.45) can conform
recent Stratford running with Simon The Great on 1lb worse terms.
Court Jurado had only run 2 days earlier over today's
C&D and may not have been at his best last time although it is worth noting
that Simon The Great was not knocked about in third and was subject to an
enquiry into his running and riding.
Lough Har (2.20) has been
raised a couple of pounds for finishing a short head second at Market Rasen
last time but the winner – Arthur's Sixpence – has since followed up at
Fontwell and I hope to see Fergal O'Brien's top-weight go one better with the
slight drop back in trip considered a plus. His excellent handler dispenses
with the tongue-tie he worse last time but fits his 6-y-old with cheek-pieces
for the first time.
At Ballinrobe this afternoon I
hope to see Mick Charlie (3.30) go one better than when runner up –
beaten just over a length – at Killarney on Saturday when he had the third 7L
further back. If in the same mood he will be extremely hard to beat for Declan
Queally.
