With the amount of rain that has fallen in Britain and Ireland in the last 48 hours it seems sensible to focus on the two all-weather tracks for our preview of Thursday’s racing.
Superiority is an interesting contender at Chelmsford having her first start for six months for Karl Burke who has given his three-year-old a wind operation in the interim period and fits his filly with cheek-pieces on her return. She is bred to be better than her current mark of 64 and a market move would be worth noting.
The vote, however, goes to Alba Del Sole (2.10) who is, arguably, in the form of her life and was unlucky not to score at Bath last time from a 2lbs lower mark under today’s 7lbs apprentice. The mare – a best-priced 15/8 at bet365 – has won from a higher mark in the past and the hope is that she gets a fast run pace to chase from her good draw in stall four.
There is a terrific 3-y-old handicap over 10f, and it will be run at a good gallop with Molinari in the ideal box in stall one for a front-runner. I think you can put a line through the grey’s last start given it was his third run in just over a fortnight and he has been off the track for 25 days subsequently.
The vote, however, goes to Motamayiz (3.10) who showed he gets this 10f trip when staying on strongly into second at Yarmouth last time. He is ridden by a talented 5lb claimer who rode him on his penultimate start over a mile when a staying on third at Kempton when he hinted he was ready for this step up in distance for Roger Varian. The lightly raced William Haggas trained filly Red Poppy is considered the main danger. The selection opened up at 3s with William Hill but is now 5/2 with Boylesports.
At Lingfield Premier Power (3.55) must give weight to his 11 rivals on his belated seasonal reappearance for Varian in the Novice event over 6f. The colt was sent off Evens on debut at Newmarket when beaten a head before landing the odds over this trip at Kempton back in October. The colt was entered in a similar 7f contest tomorrow, but connections must feel he possesses enough pace for six furlongs.
Speech Room (6.30) had the third 6L back when second over 12f here last time and he certainly wasn’t stopping at the line giving the impression he will improve again for the step up to two miles this evening. The gelding – 4s with bet365 – runs in the famous, but now rarely seen, Sangster colours and William Buick is a positive jockey booking.
The feature race at Beverley is their listed sprint the Beverley Bullet and the evergreen Caspian Prince will ensure you have to stay every yard of this stiff five furlongs. Kevin Ryan fits Major Jumbo (3.30) with first time blinkers and this six-year-old looked ready for a drop back to the minimum distance when readily picked off by Judicial at Chester last time. Today’s softer ground will hold no terrors and he can make a welcome return to the winners’ enclosure. The ew recommendation is 11/2 at Unibet.
