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Wednesday 4 May 2011

Up a bit, down a bit



Sendrig Construction Handicap - Class 4 - 6f - Newcastle - Good To Firm
This was won by the highly progressive King of Eden(Horse to Follow) who has now won 6 of his last 10 races. He had gone up by 4lb for his last win but he came through horses here to win by 3 lengths going away and has been raised 7lb to a mark of 88. The stable have said that one of his targets will be the Victoria Cup at Ascot as the straight seven will suit and they appear confident of more improvement to come.
Marvellous Value looked tremendous in the paddock but despite looking like winning at one stage he was readily passed by the winner and finished 3rd, he has been dropped 1lb to a mark of 77.

Mercedes Benz of South Yorkshire Handicap - Class 3 - 6f - Doncaster - Good To Firm

Enderby Spirit came home the victor here by a head from Star Rover off a mark of 90, his best effort last season was on his penultimate outing when two and a quarter length third of 21 to Mac's Power(Horse to Follow) in a Class 2 Handicap over the same course and distance and that was also off a mark of 90. He has only been raised 3lb for this win so he will remain competitive as he has faced some tough assignments in the past. One and threequater lengths behind him here was Eric Alston's Diman Waters(Horse to Follow) who travelled strongly through the first part of the race before coming under pressure and staying on to finish a close 5th 4 1/2 lengths in front of the 6th Cape Vale. He is a big horse that is capable of further improvement this season, the handicapper has left him on the same mark of 82 and we should watch out for him next time particularly as the yards horses are going so well at the moment. Tabaret won this last year off 86 and although running better than his finishing position would suggest has been dropped 2lb to a mark of 82. Desert Poppy is probably capable of better than she showed here and shouldnt be written off.

totequickpick Handicap - Class 3 - 5f - Goodwood - Good

This race was run in a time only 0.28 seconds outside the course record in 58.29 and we all know what a quick 5f  this track is with its downhill start. The winner was Humidor for George Baker by 3/4 of a length from Addictive Dream with Captain Carey 3rd. The winner has been raised 6lb to 93 whilst the second has been raised 4lb to 91.

Pearl Bloodstock Palace House Stakes - Group 3 - 5f - Newmarket - Good to Firm, Good in places Tangerine Trees started where he had finished off last season by running his rivals ragged to win good renewal of the race by half a length from Rain Delayed. The winner looks set for a good season as he may improve from this with the trainer saying he has always worked like a Group horse at home and the Kings Stand is a realistic target. Jonny Mudball was having his first run of the season too and he finished a respectable close up 3rd and his trainer comments "He was fit for Newmarket but he might just have lacked sharpness for his first run over five. He started life winning over seven but he has the pace for five and he'll go to Haydock for the Temple over five next time and he might be a group horse if he were fast enough for five. He could be good enough." Borderlescott had apparently been working well at Southwell and he should come on for the run and Sole Power showed his run in Dubai to be all wrong now back on a sound surface with a fast pace.

I have been making regular posts on the blog now for just over a year and despite having a string of winners I am not getting enough feedback to continue with the current format and from this week onwards I will not be posting any previews for races below Class 2 Handicaps. I will of course continue to provide a write up of all the weeks sprint racing on a Wednesday evening.