The ground was described as good to firm at Bath on noon on Sunday for today’s seven-race card and classic winning jockey Tom Marquand can land the mile nursery on Impulsive One (3.05) who was beaten a head at Windsor seven days ago although I felt he was unfortunate not to get the race in the Stewards’ Room. He can race from the same mark this afternoon and is 13/8 with bet365.
Coul Kat was a good winner at Chepstow on Thursday and carries a 6lbs penalty for that victory but was beaten – albeit on good to soft ground – from a mark 10lbs lower over C&D on his penultimate start. Richard Hannon’s Burristo looks a bigger threat having finished runner up in his last couple of starts and he remains potentially well treated.
Both Chil Chil and Motagally (4.05) disappointed on their last start on rain-softened ground and I believe the latter will confirm previous C&D form with Chil Chil on 1lb better terms. When Motagally beat the Andrew Balding-trained filly by over 2L here back in July, Chil Chil was making her seasonal debut and was an impressive winner of her subsequent start at Ascot before getting bogged down at Salisbury last time.
She will enjoy getting back on a sound surface, but the Charlie Hills-trained gelding – 7/4 with William Hill – bounced off the firm ground here in July and was made market leader for the Gt Saint Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon last time. Do note both horses are entered in the Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday with Chil Chil – who needs to win to stand any chance of getting into the race – 10/1 and Motagally 20/1.
A’Shamadi (4.25) is out of a half-sister to an Oaks winner in Love Divine and cost 150,000 gns as a yearling but has looked slow over trips in and around a mile and steps up to 12f at Lingfield this afternoon. The Crisfords’ replace the cheek-pieces he wore at Wolverhampton last time with a visor this afternoon and the hope is that the step up in trip works the oracle although he is by the late Shamardal and is not giuaranteed to appreciate this stamina test although the 11/4 with bet365 looks a fair price..
In the apprentice selling handicap I fancy Critique (4.55) to run a big race for Ed Walker dropped back to 10f with blinkers reapplied having been left off on his last start. The ew selection – 13/2 with Boylesports 4 places – has a good draw in stall three and I hope Thore Hammer Hansen sends his mount forward although there is usually plenty of pace in apprentice contests and I hope that is the case today.
The form of Final Thought’s (6.50) second at Yarmouth on soft ground last time was given a boost when the winner Indigo Girl did us a favour when landing the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster last week. The filly – who was unlikely to have appreciated soft ground on breeding – can go one better this evening on Wolverhampton’s tapeta surface from an opening mark of 75 although he has not been missed in the market and is a best-price of 13/8. .
