Nottingham hosts the only turf meeting today with three all-weather meetings giving it more of a January feel than the height of summer. The ground at Colwick Park was given as a mix of good to soft and soft although a dry day is forecast for Tuesday.
In the Mile Novice event preference for Typewriter (2.25) over Euraqilo is marginal. The filly ran well on good to soft ground at Goodwood last month over 7f giving the impression she would be well suited by the step up to a mile. David Probert keeps the ride. There was 4s available on Monday but the selection is 7/4 with BetVictor at the time of posting.
Euraquilo met trouble in running but finished with a rare rattle when third at Redcar on debut. He would have been the selection on fast ground and is one to keep on side, but his ability to handle today’s ground must be taken on trust. James Fanshawe has yet to saddle a 2-y-o winner so far this season, but it will not be long before he gets off the mark with this son of Raven’s Pass.
There is a valuable 5f Conditions event and Motagally would have been a confident selection on fast ground, but preference is for Dubai Station (3.35) who bounced back to something like his best when third at Hamilton last time.
That was his first start since being gelded at the beginning of June and he looked a different horse to the one who had finished last in his three previous starts this term. He has won on soft ground in the past and I hope to see him build on his excellent run last time for Robert Cowell who is so adept at resurrecting the careers of fallen sprinters. The selection is 5/2 with Boylesports.
In the opener at Lingfield this evening I feel the drop back to 12f will suit the beautifully bred filly Alambrista who has been failing to get home over further in recent starts. Connections will be desperate to get a win next to her name with one eye on the breeding sheds and she looks sure to give it a good go from the front. She is fitted with blinkers for the first time by Sir Mark Prescott.
The vote, however, goes to Cayman Moon (5.05) who steps up to this trip for the first time having scored over 10f here from a 7lbs lower mark back in June when visored for the first time. The selection – 5/2 with MansionBet – is bred to appreciate this evening’s step up in distance and it was no surprise to me to see him staying on well when the race was over at Wolverhampton over 9.5f last time.
There is a terrific 7f handicap and the last time Bowman raced on polytrack he gave 6lbs and a beating to Rhoscolyn who is now rated 30lbs higher in the weights while the winner is rated just 1lb higher. He is clearly well served by today’s surface and William Buick is booked by Mark Johnston.
He must go close, but I hope to see Great News (6.35) settle better on the switch to polytrack and he should have a good pace to track with Bowman likely to ensure a decent gallop. The selection – 2s with 10Bet – has not yet confirmed the promise of his debut success at Salisbury under Oisin Murphy but if he learns to settle, he is potentially very well treated.
It took Vandad (8.05) eighteen attempts to get off the mark, but he is taken to follow up his recent facile Brighton win from just a 2lbs higher mark. The 4-y-o is ridden by Nicola Currie who landed the Silver Saddle at the Shergar Cup at the weekend. The selection – 11/4 with Boylesports – is well drawn in stall two for one who can race prominently although he certainly will not get a soft lead with Lethal Blast making all at Windsor on Sunday.
