Chepstow's meeting for today was abandoned yesterday due to
waterlogging and it would be wrong to suggest this was anything other than a
moderate days racing. There was
significant rain due at Lingfield on Tuesday and I feel it is best to assume
the going will be on the soft side of good at the very best given the forecast
for today's turf card.
Michael Appleton has yet to find the key to Double
Reflection (3.55) but the mare has dropped to an attractive mark and the
booking of Cieren Fallon catches the eye. The selection has not seen the track
since beating just one home at Wolverhampton six months ago but, while she has
no history of going well fresh, she was better than this grade at her best and
her shrewd handler looks sure to revitalise her sooner rather than later.
I must admit to being surprised to see John Locke
(4.30) step up in trip for his third start having looked to have been outstayed
on the all-weather here over 10f last time. I think it is fair to say that if
Harry Bentley had his time again he would not have followed such a strong
gallop, but he did have the third over 8L back and the John Gosden trained
winner – Faisal – is a colt of some potential.
Nearly Famous (5.00) was a winner on the flat and
over timber for Jessica Harrington and is taken to break her duck in Britain
for Grace Harris with Hollie Doyle – who was in the saddle for her penultimate
start – back in the plate. Any significant further rain would be a plus.
In the first division of the median auction maiden Hugo
Palmer introduces Lovely Breeze who is the half-sister to Powerful Breeze. The
latter was my three-year-old filly to follow this summer but has yet to see the
track following a mishap in the spring although she does hold an entry in the
Gp 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown last month.
The market will provide valuable clues as to stable
expectations although the booking of Andrea Atzeni – not a regular rider for
the yard – is considered a positive.
There was also plenty of rain forecast for Musselburgh on
Tuesday and Iain Jardine can land the opener courtesy of his once-raced Bulls
Aye (1.00) who ran a promising race on debut over 6f. Today's additional
furlong should suit on breeding and the blinkers he wore when fourth on debut
at Ayr are persevered with.
Bibbidibobbidiboo (2.00) has not won for over two
years but she ran her best race for some time when second at Catterick last
time when forced to cover ground from her moderate draw. The mare has won over
today's C&D in the past, has a better draw in stall five today and trainer
Ann Duffield has fitted her 5-y-old with first-time cheek-pieces today.
The handicapper has dropped former Ebor winner Nakeeta
(4.35) down to a mark of 70 despite running a good race in a decent Ripon
handicap – winner has followed up from a 3lbs higher mark – when going down by
just a couple of lengths. This step up to 2m will suit – once runner up in the
Chester Cup over 2m 2f – and he can show he is no back number even approaching
his tenth birthday.
