- This topic has 1 reply, 2 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 2 months ago by
.
- Posts
[b:2rfdygm7]TODAY PLAYS [E/W]:
NOTTINGHAM 2.50 – CAPTAIN DUNNE
NOTTINGHAM 3.50 – AKMAL
NOTTINGHAM 4.50 – BORDER OWL[/b:2rfdygm7][/color:2rfdygm7]BEVERLY 3.10 – WHOZTHECAT
BEVERLY 4.10 – SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL[/color:2rfdygm7]LINGFIELD 4.00 – DANSILVER
LINGFIELD 5.30 – ANGELENA BALLERINA[/color:2rfdygm7]Good luck !!!
KristIs it okay if I post these in here?
3.20 Nottingham –
Perfect Pastime @ 4/1
Tricky little handicap but the one that interests me is the Walter Swinburn trained Perfect Pastime. Whilst not an out-and-out sprinter on pedigree, this gelding by Pastoral Pursuits showed form in every start at 2 without managing to get his head in front.
Started his career as a 16/1 shot in a 6f maiden at Windsor back in June, where he only found one too good in the shape of Major Dude of Richard Hannon. That horse flopped in a useful conditions race at Newmarket but was clearly a fancied horse as he went off 8/11 in the Windsor maiden, and 7/2 at Newmarket.
Perfect Pastime ran a creditable race on his 2nd start when 5th of 14 at Salisbury, though was 7l behind the first 3, who drew clear. Again, the winner was an 8/11 shot trained by Richard Hannon. However, this horse did go on to better things. Royal Exchange was that horse, who since won a listed race, and was a close 3rd in a Group 2 won by Rerouted. The horse in 2nd at Salisbury, Midnight Feast, was beaten in a Lingfield maiden, but was perhaps not suited by the track, and in the end it proved to be no disgrace. The winner of that race was Cochabamba, who Midnight Feast gave 5lbs that day. The Roger Teal trained Cochabamba proved a revelation as she went on to run 2nd in Listed, Group 3, and Group 2 company – behind Lily Again, Theyskens’ Theory, and Cape Dollar respectively.
The other horse part of the first 3 at Salisbury was Fight The Chance of Mick Channon’s. On that horse’s final start of the season at Chester, it beat Little Lion Man in a class 2 conditions race. So the Salisbury form is pretty strong. The respective ORs of the first 3 are now 103, 84 and 91.
Perfect Pastime returned to Windsor over 5f next time out, and was just unable to challenge when finishing 4th, beaten 1l. Showed a few signs of inexperience but finished well. That would, however, suggest that 5f may just be too sharp.
On its first run in a handicap, things appeared to drop right, but he hung right and was headed close home by Loki’s Revenge. Would have won had he kept straight. Again the form looks solid, as that horse is now rated 88 and won two all-weather races at the end of 2010.
Ran another excellent race when 3rd at Sandown in a September Nursery, but in the end Jack Smudge and Pick A Little wore him down, relegating him to 3rd. Jack Smudge is another horse who went on to record 2 further successes, and is also rated 88 now.
Perfect Pastime’s latest run can be ignored. In a 5f race at Newbury, he raced alone just off the stands side rail before joining the main bunch at half way. Did well to stay on to be beaten 5l in 8th under the circumstances. Was drawn 14 and those drawn 11, 12 and 13 finished in the final 3 positions.
Nothing wrong with the horse’s attitude (though does hang right a bit). Been unlucky meeting progressive horses and one day he’ll win a handicap. I think that day will be today. Off a mark of 73 which looks ready to be taken advantage of. Went well on debut which gives hope for his seasonal return, and Walter Swinburn’s last four runners have been placed.
4.00 Lingfield –
Maydream @ 8/1
This is a weak 2 mile handicap, and it might be worth siding with a potentially unexposed horse over this trip.
Maydream showed little in maidens, but has benefited from the switch to handicap, to record some respectable performances. Despite finishing 8th on her handicap debut at Wolverhampton over 12f in December, she was only beaten 4 1/2l behind Alternative Choice in a weak, but competitive, handicap. A move which I found a bit strange was to drop the filly back down in trip at Kempton where she raced over 10f next time out. This was again a decent effort, and was better than the form shows. Another very poor race, but Maydream was snatched up just before the 3f marker, and considering this horse appears to be a galloper – and doesn’t do anything very quickly, this gave her no chance over the 10f trip. She picked up again to finish 6th, beaten just over 6l.
Trainer Jimmy Fox decided to send her over a much greater distance at Wolverhampton next time. The 2 mile trip looked to be ideal on what she had shown previously, and her sister raced in bumpers, as well as her dam being placed over 12f. She had staying influence in her pedigree also. Unfortunately the Wolverhampton race was the rather farcical affair won by Six Of Clubs. All the jockeys pulled up thinking the race was to be voided as a stricken horse remained on the home turn, but this was not the case. Some jockeys eventually proceeded to continue and finish the race. However, Sam Hitchcott on Maydream was not one of these. Frustrating as we didn’t get to see whether she definitely stayed the 2 mile trip.
Her most recent run was the closest she has come to winning a race, finishing well to finish a 3/4l third to Little Richard over 12f at Kempton. Again, didn’t do anything too quickly, but ran on all the way to the line to be closing at the finish.
These races are very moderate affairs but there could be more to come over staying trips. A mark of 46 may prove very fair for this filly over further.
This race is far from a strong one, though, also. Dansilver is in good form and goes well here, but a rating of 64 may prevent him winning again. The two horses in form that he beat last time out are both maidens, and Camps Bay – who he beat over c&d recently – is a perennial place horse nowadays.
Prince Charlemagne ran in the Wolverhampton race behind Six of Clubs, but it is hard to assess that race in terms of form, and failed to run well last time out (when very easy to back). The market often tells the story with this horse so it is definitely worth watching.
I think this could be set up for one of the less exposed horses, and out of those, I very much think Maydream could be the one to beat. The track may not play to her strengths as ideally as Wolverhampton, or Kempton, but in a weak field, it might not be enough to stop her at a rewarding price (currently 6.8/1 on Betfair)
5.30 Lingfield –
Clearing House @ 2/1
I backed this horse when it won on the 19th March over c&d, where it displayed a fine turn of foot to put the race to bed. Blasted through runners to settle matters and drew clear to win readily. This was on the back of a couple of sound runs, though Lingfield is the place where Clearing House loves it most. It was an impressive 20/1 winner over c&d when coming through plenty of problems to score from the reopposing Christmas Coming by 1 1/4l in early March. Clearing House was getting a stone that day, but the way he won suggested it would take a big swing in the weights for the form to be turned around. Tomorrow there is only 2lbs between the runners, though Adam Beschizza takes off a very handy 5lbs – and I think he is a very capable jockey too.
Confirmed his wellbeing over 7f at Kempton next time out, when going down by a nose to long-time maiden Cane Cat. Met trouble in running and had to be switched wide to finish strongly to just fail. Ran a stinker at Wolverhampton next time out but is easily excused from that run. Both the track and the trip were against him with 9f around Wolverhampton proving far from ideal. The return back to the c&d where Clearing House has recorded 2-2 this year will suit to perfection, and can make it 3-3 tomorrow.
Perfect Pastime is now generally a 9/4 chance after defections.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.