Week Ending April 27th 2021

As the start of the flat season starts to hit top gear I shall be briefly writing some weekly eyecatchers for people to browse through and take note.

Whilst the obvious one is Stowell who was given an easy ride by Rab Havlin who subsequently got a 21 day ban, here are a few more for the notebooks.

 

LITTLE SUNFLOWER

This is a low grade filly but one that got away due to the undulations of Brighton. Always out the back it was amazing that Hollie Doyle was able to get this one into 2nd with the three-year-old not helped by the horse in front Nozieres who kept getting in the way too. Back at Lingfield or flatter track on turf Little Sunflower will certainly win more races.

 

SNOW LANTERN

This one is more obvious being by Frankel and could reach a very high level. The filly simply put a potential good field in their place despite running freely at Newbury. Her dam won the 1,000 Guineas though connections have decided to swerve the classic for York late in the month where she would be a good bet for the Musidora Stakes. I suspect Goodwood will also be a possibility later in the season.

 

IGOTATEXT

We move back down to handicap company for Archie Watson’s IGOTATEXT who actually went off a big price when beaten into 2nd at Yarmouth. I am sure the trainer on the advice of Oisin Murphy will step this one up a furlong as was doing all his best running in the closing stages. The handicapper has risen this one to a mark 81 but I am sure in the coming weeks we could get a good price in a competitive handicap as still relatively lightly raced.

 

COUNSEL

Despite us backing Foxes Tails on the day who will also improve for going up in trip another who was well clear of the field was Counsel in 2nd. I’d expect Johnny G to step Counsel up in trip (plenty of stamina in pedigree) in the coming weeks. Trainer might find this one being given a handicap mark of around 90 so options might be limited but expect this one to win a good race in the next two starts.

 

WIRKO

This three-year-old trained by Charlie Appleby needed every yard of the one mile 2 furlongs at Epsom and could be an outside bet for the Derby. This son of Kingman is bred for a distance so I’d expect we will see the colt go for another trial at Chester (maybe Lingfield). We will know more when he takes on the O’Brien horses to see where we stand but it was certainly a good performance after being outpaced. Worth bearing in mind for the St Leger too as that distance will not be an issue.

 

SECRET PROTECTOR

The Fielden Stakes will throw up some future winners and whilst the winner Highland Avenue got a perfect sit on the golden highway at Newmarket, the one to note is the 2nd Secret Protector. Not many horses came off the pace on Tuesday so that performance can be marked up. Connections currently have this one entered for The Dante (end of May). You would suspect the step up in trip for that contest is going to be ideal. Fact; Front two finished well ahead of the field suggests they are both very decent horses who can scale much higher as the season progresses. Worth noting jockey bookings beforehand would have suggested Secret Protector was preferred over the eventual winner Highland Avenue.

SCOPE

From an excellent family the three-year-old is open to any amount of improvement over slightly further distance. Having won on heavy ground last season, the good to firm going would not have suited Thursday, so that performance behind Al Waqidi can be upgraded. Trainer Ralph Beckett is going to hit a purple patch at some part in the next month or so, you can see this son of Teofilo going through the ranks on soft ground.

MAKRAM

Trainer Roger Charlton is a very patient trainer that normally starts the season slowly with winners so it was no surprise that Makram came up short over a distance short of what will be his best as the season progressed. The canny trainer will target some good handicaps for this unexposed four-year-old. A trainer to watch at particularly Newbury, it could be that he has targeted a nice race for this one in the coming weeks.

BELLOSA

Having met Jane Chapple-Hyam she is a no nonsense trainer who is underestimated and can train a good one. Always open as well when her horses have been gambled on. This eyectacher was fairly obvious who never looked like getting beat. A good jockey booking of Oisin Murphy plus to win by 7 lengths shows this filly to have plenty of class. Connections might be tempted to come back in trip over 6 furlongs as the filly showed tremendous speed from the gates. No surprise if we might see this daughter of Awtaad in a listed event in the coming weeks, where it would take a good one to beat her.

Malcare WordPress Security