Fast ground the order of the day at Nottingham for this evening’s six-race card and I hope to see Desert Quest (6.15) go one better than when second at Thirsk last month.
The ew selection – 15/2 with William Hill – was claimer ridden when runner up last time and is, arguably, 6lbs higher in the weights with Cam Hardie taking over in the saddle tonight. He got going too late in a slowly run race last time and there is the possibility that Franny Norton will adopt similar tactics aboard Fandabidozi who went down by under a length at Hamilton last time. He is a big danger, but Desert Quest is unexposed at this trip and connections now know their 3-y-old gets 1m 6f very well.
At Ffos Las I believe Siyata (3.40) is well treated from her mark of 71 but she must learn to settle in her races if she is to give herself a chance of finishing her race off. She is dropped back in trip by about a furlong this afternoon, but I hope Oisin Murphy can get a bit of cover on Roger Charlton’s well bred Juddmonte filly.
Charlton has his string in excellent form having saddled three winners from his last seven runners. There is a bit of pace in the race with Arthur’s Victory and Sweet Pursuit likely to ensure a decent gallop. If she drops her head, I feel Siyata – 2s with 10Bet– is potentially well treated from a mark of 71. But she must learn to settle!
Brighton winner Chief Of Staff has been put in very short in the mile handicap at Chelmsford this evening for the burgeoning partnership of Marco Ghianni and Saeed bin Suroor. That form is nothing special though with the runner up a beaten favourite in a modest maiden at Catterick last week.
He could be well ahead of his mark, but I do feel that Frantoio (8.40) can make a race of it for David Simcock and Jamie Spencer. The selection – 11/2 with Boylesports – did not get the best of runs under Jamie Spencer at Doncaster last time and may have finished runner up with a clear passage.
The selection makes his all-weather debut this evening and his draw in stall six – of seven – is less than ideal, but he is lightly raced and open to further improvement. Note at the time of writing Spencer has not ridden a winner from his last 17 rides but had no less than seven seconds in that period. He will be keen to end that frustrating run.
