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Thursday 14 April 2011

Up a bit, down a bit - 13th April 2011



First race to review is the Class 2 William Hill.Com Handicap run over 6f at Doncaster on Sunday 3rd April 2011. It was a decent race runner wise and it was won by Michael Bell's Horseradish by 3/4 of a length from Waffle with Our Jonathan a short head back in 3rd. The winner has been raised 4lb to 100 for his win whilst the 2nd and 3rd have both been raised 1lb to 100 and 94. The second and third both came with fine runs and Waffle who was having his first run for David Barron looked to be the best of the two and looks capable of winning soon on this performance. Of those behind there were drops of 2lbs in the handicap for Joe Packet, Hotham and Wildcat Wizard with the latter now in the hands of David Nicholls.
Time of race - 1m 12.22s slow by 0.82

Stables Post Race Comments
Michael Bell -"Horseradish continues to progress and it was great to get another win out of him in what was a very competitive handicap. He is a real gutsy horse and always gives his all which he did here on ground that would not have been to his liking. He had the race won when quickening clear a furlong out and, while the margin was cut down close home, he looked to win nicely".
Jeremy Gask - Medicean Man "I do feel the ground wasn't perfect for him. I think he prefers a smaller field and slightly more forgiving surface but I was only a touch disappointed in the run".

At Windsor on Monday 4th April the Class 4 Tobey Le Rone Handicap over 5f  10yds was run in a course record time of  58.08s and the winner Taurus Twins who was carrying 8-13 won by 2 lengths. As a result has been raised 6lb to 78 for this fine effort and there is no reason why he cant follow up. Of those behind I thought the 3rd and 5th Ajjaadd and Equuuleus Pictor both ran good races and they had a bit of a bumping match at the back of the field before they both stayed on to good effect, Ajjaad stays on the same mark of 72 whilst Equuleus Pictor has been dropped 1lb to 72 and they continue to run well.

Lexi's Hero was unlucky not to hold onto the lead in the Class 3 3yo Dalby Stand Handicap over 6f at Pontefract on Tuesday 5th April when he was beaten a neck by Strictly Pink. He has got plenty of pace about him and on an easier track he may be hard to peg back, he has however been raised 3lb to 89.

The Class 3 Spring into Racing at Beverley Handicap over 5f  on Wednesday 6th April was won by Kevin Ryan's Breathless Kiss by a neck from Falasteen and Beat the Bell. The winner came with a well timed run to get up on the line and she could remain ahead of the handicapper who has raised her 4lb to 93. Of those behind Rocket Bob who usually runs well over Epsom's fast five (1423) dropped 3lb to 85 and Fol Hollow 2lb to 88 (won off 93 at Thirsk last May in a Class 2 seven runner handicap over 5f on Good to Firm beating Captain Dunne).

At Nottingham on the same day the Class 3 Free Racing Post form at Totesport.Com Conditions Stakes over 5f 13yds went to Iver Bridge Lad who had finished 2nd behind Jimmy Styles on levels in the Cammidge Trophy at Donacster. He came with a strong run between horses to win going away and his good run doesnt look like it is over just yet. Face the Problem ran well in 3rd for a 3yo as this was a competitive race with some fair yardsticks and the winner has since finished a close 3rd in the Listed Abernant Stakes behind Genki at Newmarket, so being dropped 2lb by the handicapper could be a result for him as well as the second and fourth Secret Asset and Five Star Junior.

The following day at Ripon the Class 4 SIS Live Handicap over 6f went to Cape Vale who scored readily by 1 1/4 lengths from Discanti and he has been raised 5lb to 89 which may not look too punitive but he has never won off a mark as high as that before. The race itself was run in a faster time than the second division won by Lucky Numbers and the one to take out of the race for me is Marvellous Value who had a bit of a rough race and finished 4th, she has been dropped 1lb to 78.

A horse to look out for in future could be Munaaseb who won the Maiden at Lingfield over 6f by 8 lengths on Saturday 9th April. He is a half brother to Amour Propre so he could have plenty left to come.

At Thirsk on the same afternoon the Class 2 Michael Foster Memorial EBF Conditions Stakes over 6f went to Evens and Odds ridden by Kieren Fallon by half a length from Redford amking it 1 -2 for David Nicholls. Hamish McGonagall who needs a fast 5f set the race up for them and Evens and Odds who had race fitness on his side was able to prevail in a tight finish.