For the second week running we had a winner from the previous weeks highlighted horses, this time it was Shawkantango who won at Southwell today.
This week we start at Kempton with the Class 5 Handicap run over 5f, the race was won by Barnet Fair by 3/4 length from Palais Glide, he missed the break but it didnt make much difference as he was able to sit of the pace before making up ground effortlessly turning into the straight, he was then put about his work and he knuckled down well to be on top where it mattered in a good time. As a result he has been raised 5lb 80 but only having run 8 times he is now starting to come into his own and he may well improve again if kept to the polytrack.
Tislaam looks to be pretty exposed as a handicapper, however he won the Class 5 at Kempton over 6f on 9th February with a little bit in hand and as a result he has been raised a lenient 3lb to 70 on the AW. He didnt get the best of breaks jumping up when leaving the stalls and he ended up on the inside rail where he was chopped off going round the turn. He then moved towards the middle at the back of the pack as they headed up the straight, he went for a run but was blocked when full of running, a gap appeared and he picked up in eyecatching fashion to break through and win going away. As Ive said he has been around a bit in his short career but he should be up to winning again on this showing.
Lingfield next on Saturday 12th February and Division 1 of Blue Square Sprint Series Qualifier over 6f which saw Norville win by half a length, but it was the performance of the second Primo De Vida that caught my eye. He was sent on in the front from the start and he led the field a merry dance before gradually being worn down by the field to succomb in the final furlong. As a result he has been raised 2lb to 72 and certainly on this showing if he was to adopt the same tactics again he may be difficult to catch.
Finally Breathless Kiss won that afternoons Class 4 6f Handicap by 4 1/2 lengths in a time that equalled standard for the track and this was a good effort from him although as a result he has gone up 9lb to 89 so the handicapper is taking no chances.
