The ground was described as good to firm at Bath on noon on
Sunday for today's seven-race card and classic winning jockey Tom Marquand can
land the mile nursery on Impulsive One (3.05) who was beaten a head at Windsor
seven days ago although I felt he was unfortunate not to get the race in the
stewards' room. He can race from the same mark this afternoon.
Coul Kat was a good winner at Chepstow on Thursday and
carries a 6lbs penalty for that victory but was beaten – albeit on good to soft
ground – from a mark 10lbs lower over C&D on his penultimate start. Richard
Hannon's Burristo looks a bigger threat having finished runner up in his last
couple of starts and he remains potentially well treated.
Both Chil Chil and Motagally (4.15) disappointed on their
last start on rain-softened ground and I believe the latter will confirm
previous C&D form with Chil Chil on 1lb better terms. When Motagally beat
the Andrew Balding-trained filly by over 2L here back in July, Chil Chil was
making her seasonal debut and was an impressive winner of her subsequent start
at Ascot before getting bogged down at Salisbury last time.
She will enjoy getting back on a sound surface, but the
Charlie Hills-trained gelding bounced off the firm ground here in July and was
made market leader for the Gt Saint Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon last time. Do
note both horses are entered in the Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday with Chil Chil –
who needs to win to stand any chance of getting into the race – 10/1 and
Motagally 20/1.
A'Shamadi (4.25) is out of a half-sister to an Oaks winner
in Love Divine and cost 150,000 gns as a yearling but has looked slow over
trips in and around a mile and steps up to 12f at Lingfield this afternoon. The
Crisfords' replace the cheek-pieces he wore at Wolverhampton last time with a
visor this afternoon and the hope is that the step up in trip works the oracle
although he is by the late Shamardal.
In the apprentice selling handicap I fancy Critique (4.55) to
run a big race for Ed Walker dropped back to 10f with blinkers reapplied having
been left off on his last start. The selection has a good draw in stall three
and I hope Thore Hammer Hansen sends his mount forward although there is
usually plenty of pace in apprentice contests and I hope that is the case
today.
The form of Final Thought's (6.50) second at Yarmouth on
soft ground last time was given a boost when the winner Indigo Girl did us a
favour when landing the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster last week and the filly
can go one better this evening on Wolverhampton's tapeta surface.
