A field of nine line up for the £6,000 pot and the favourite Mirrored will have to overcome a 6lb rise in the handicap if he is to follow up his recent seasonal debut success. If he does fail, there are no shortage of alternatives as each looks reasonably handicapped and could improve for the step up in trip or for the switch to a better surface.
Mirrored races off his revised mark of 81 after a clear-cut victory at Kempton on the all-weather in April. He improved for each of his three runs last season as a two-year-old and he has obviously strengthened up well over the winter. Stepped up to a mile for the first time by trainer Sir Michael Stoute, he was kept along the inside rail by Ryan Moore for most of the journey before asserting in impressive fashion in the final furlong, where he picked up in the style of an improving horse. He beat a field of unexposed three-year-olds that day and the race could turn out to be good form, especially as the runner-up has already come out and won again since. Mirrored was given a nice compliment by his champion jockey after the race, who stated that 'he could win a few more races this season'. He is a son of Dansili, will appreciate further in time and looks a smart type for handicaps. He couldn't be in better hands and he should win this race on his way to better things.
Maxwell Hawke is an interesting runner for Peter Chapple-Hyam on only his third career start. He is being stepped up to a mile here after a win last time out at this course over 7f, where he was well backed on his seasonal debut. He was very fit that day so may not improve much for the outing but was workmanlike in winning, showing he has a good attitude. The step up in trip may bring out some improvement in this son of Rock Of Gibraltar, however it be said that he would have to improve significantly to lower the colours of Mirrored. His opening handicap mark of 80 looks fair and he could be competitive given that he is proven on this quicker ground.
Royal Executioner is one of the more exposed runners in the field but he has some good form to his name and is entitled to respect. On his last two-year-old start, his trainer David Simcock chucked him into a Class 2 Newmarket nursery and he ran a superb race to finish third, losing out by three quarters of a length. He shed his maiden easily at Lingfield in February, even though that was a weak contest. He then went onto to race in a tricky handicap at Kempton in March and was beaten into second by a Mark Johnston improver, who has gone onto race in better company. Jamie Spencer takes the ride and he will play his cards late, but he will need to improve to beat the favourite and to repel the efforts of the handicapper.
Mister Dee Bee is worthy of a mention as he improved for the step up to a mile last time out and hails from the in-form Barry Hills stable. He struggled to make an impact during his two-year-old career, where he raced over 7f and predominantly on soft ground. It is evident from his recent win that he appreciated the extra furlong and the faster ground, which he will get here. His win at Ripon was dogged and determined as he had to fight during the last two furlongs to deny a well-backed horse of Henry Cecil's. He made all that day and looked to be booked for second place when the eventual runner-up cruised alongside, however, Mister Dee Bee dug in and stayed on dourly to record his first win. He must improve again to feature here and his mark over 79 looks about right. He should run well for Michael Hills.
Selections: 1st - Mirrored, 2nd - Maxwell Hawke, 3rd - Royal Executioner.
Result: 1st - Mister Dee Bee, 5/2, 2nd - Gaily Noble, 7/2, 3rd - Yellow Printer, 9/4 fav.
This race lost most of its interest after the withdrawals of the main market principles on account of the ground. Mirrored looked likely to take all the beating here but it looks as if his trainer is looking for some ease in the ground before letting his charge take his next step. Mister Dee Bee looked to have a good chance on form after the defections of his main rivals and he was demoted to second favourite after strong support came in for Tom Dascombe's Yellow Printer. Mister Dee Bee travelled three deep throughout the race and took up the running from Yellow Printer with two furlongs to go, but he had to battle to get the better of Gaily Noble. The winner had previously shown that he was a game sort and he again showed that toughness. He will go up in the handicap for this but is an improving sort and may gain his hat-trick in similar company. Gaily Noble came with a strong late run under Steve Drowne but could not find enough to pass the winner. He has some good form to his name, notably in better company last time out at Newmarket, and the drop back to a mile here suited, as did the quicker ground. If he continues in this form he should find a race. Yellow Printer was well backed before the race but was too keen in front and was a spent force at the end. He set a strong pace under Richard Kingscote but had nothing left to give when challenged by Mister Dee Bee. If he settles, he may be able to find a similar race.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment