There was a bit of rain forecast for Salisbury on Wednesday, but the hope is that conditions are no worse than good for today’s eight-race card.
The feature race is the Group 3 Dick Poole Stakes for two-year-old fillies and Happy Romance – who was taken out of the Prestige Stakes on account of the soft ground last weekend – had previously won two valuable Sales’ races in the manner of an exciting juvenile. She must go close, but the nod goes to Time Scale (3.10) who was only beaten a length when fourth in the July Stakes last time and that form has worked out well. That run was the fillies fourth run in five weeks, and she has been given the best part of two months to freshen up.
Spring Of Love has been off the track since finishing down the field in a 7f listed contest on her reappearance ten weeks ago. The filly won on debut over 7f, but she must have been showing enough pace on the home gallops to suggest to trainer Charlie Appleby that she can compete in this competitive fillies’ handicap. A check of the market is advised.
Chil Chil (3.40) did us a favour when bouncing off the fast ground at Ascot last month and she is taken to defy a 9lbs hike in the weights. Champion jockey Oisin Murphy’s record on the selection is 1311 and he is seeking a hat-trick in this corresponding race having won the last couple of renewals.
I think Leroy Leroy (7.00) has bumped into a couple of progressive rivals on his last couple of starts including over today’s C&D last time and he is taken to make it third time lucky in the Maiden Hurdle at Southwell. The selection is 5/2 at Boylesports.
Jim Boyle’s four-year-old looks to have Nicky Henderson’s winning pointer Staithes to beat although the latter disappointed on his first start under rules when last of 10 in a maiden Bumper back in March.
The form of Fivethousandtoone’s (2.00) Windsor second on debut was given a boost when the winner – Bahrain Pride – did us a favour in listed class at Ripon on Monday. The selection went off a shade of odds on at Windsor and lost little in defeat. It will take a good one to lower his colours today.
There was heavy rain forecast for Haydock on Wednesday afternoon and conditions are likely to be soft for today’s seven-race card. Alpine Mistral has won her last four and her current handicap mark is 30lbs higher than when scoring at Ripon back in July. She can actually race off 78 this afternoon under a 6lbs penalty and looks the one to beat with the likely ground considered a plus.
The vote, however, goes to the John Gosden trained Sun Bear (3.20) who has only had three starts but looked to be getting the hang of things when scoring at Windsor over a mile when last seen in July. Her sister Dubhe acted on soft ground and, after just the three career starts, she is open to considerable improvement.
Without A Fight (3.50) is another unexposed sort who is taken to follow up his facile Newbury Novice success on soft ground. That win was gained over 10f, but jockey Andrea Atzeni suggested that a step up in trip would be on the cards next time and that is the case today. Fellow three-year-old, Coconut looks the danger in receipt of 8lbs from the Crisfords’ gelding.