In today's opener at
Newcastle Spanish Kiss (4.10) was a late defection from a run on the turf at
Windsor on Monday to wait for this tapeta handicap and he is taken to build on
an eye-catching third at Lingfield on his last start.
The selection was drawn
wide and his jockey decided to cut across at the back of the pack where he sat
and suffered until making a late charge on his first start over 12f. He has a
much better draw in stall two today and the long home straight will surely
suit. William Knight's four-year-old is a big stamp of a horse and I was
concerned about his ability to handle Windsor's tight turns. No such worries
today. The three-year-old was 7/2 with William Hill on Monday morning.
Indigo Lake (4.45) is
2lbs higher than when just touched off by stablemate To Nathaniel at Newmarket
last time when he was a bit keen in his first-time blinkers. The headgear is
applied again this afternoon and, if Rab Havlin can get him nice and relaxed in
the early stage, he is taken to be produced late on to take the spoils in the
feature race on the card. One of the other three-year-olds in the field Eastern
Sherriff is considered the main danger.
It hasn't been a great
time on the oche for Michael van Gerwen in recent weeks but the gelding Van
Gerwen (8.50) has been in good form on turf
of late on returns to the tapeta from a 7lbs lower mark than when runner up at
Beverley last time.
The selection has
never won on the all-weather but he did run a good race here when third her
from a 1lb lower mark back in March and he is given one last chance to show he
can cope with an artificial surface. He has certainly improved on turf of late
and the hope is that he can maintain that improvement returned to tapeta.
In the opening Novice
Hurdle at Newton Abbott I am prepared to give Eye Of An Eagle (1.00) another
chance despite throwing the race away at Fontwell last time when he drifted
right on the run in as he looked for the way back to the stables. He is,
arguably, a winner without a penalty and gets the vote ahead of The Bees Knees
who makes his hurdles debut for Fergal O'Brien. A winning pointer, the
five-year-old was made market leader for his reappearance in a Bumper at Market
Rasen where he suggested he may need 2m 4f+ to be seen at his best over timber.
Dariya (2.05) goes
unpenalized for turning a conditional jockey's seller into a procession at
Stratford at the weekend and, if she is in the same mood, she will be tough to
beat. Jockey Tom Buckley takes off a valuable 7lbs and takes her weight down to
11st 7lbs. One note of caution she only carried 10 2lbs at the weekend although
she has carried 11st 6lbs to victory at Worcester earlier in her career.
Story Of Friends bids
to follow up last week's C&D win in the 3m 2f handicap hurdle but this
looks a better race and a 7lbs penalty makes life more difficult. Storm Home
finished ahead of Story Of Friends last time and would be a huge danger but his
stamina is not guaranteed.
Yeavering Belle (2.40)
was well beaten at Uttoxeter last time but the winner – Yes No Maybe So – has
subsequently followed up from a 9lbs higher mark and Kim Bailey's mare is taken
to make it four wins from her last five starts although this is a new trip for
her and she is another whose stamina must be taken on trust.
There is a valuable
juvenile maiden over a mile at Goodwood with a number of the leading yards
represented. Those with experience look vulnerable and the William Haggas colt Dhushan
looks sure to have his supporters on debut. The vote, however, goes to Star
Caliber (3.35) a Golden Horn colt who makes his racecourse debut for Andrew
Balding and King Power Racing. The juvenile cost 200,000 gns as a yearling and
is related to several winners – the stable like to run some of their better
juveniles at their local track.
