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UNLIKE the past few weeks, the weather has called a halt to the turf racing and the all-weather takes control of a feature Saturday.
The big race tomorrow now falls on the side of a zero-95 rated, six-furlong handicap at Lingfield at 2pm.
However, this three-year-old event has surprisingly only attracted a field of four which is a disappointment — but probably more a reflection on the very moderate prize money up for grabs.
But what we are not short of is young horses in form, with two of the entries on a hat-trick and Charlie Fellowes on a four-timer.
And despite the size of the field, we will not be short of early pace — with Charlie Fellowes and Secret Handshiekh both very free in their races. It could play into the hands of WATER OF LEITH, which trainer Jim Goldie feels is a very classy individual.
The winner of two novices at Wolverhampton, this son of Kodiac only just does enough in his races, so it is hard to gauge just how good he could be — and this race could be set up for him. I also wouldn’t rule out the remaining runner Twilight Heir, who went to post as the 11/8 favourite for a good novice auction at Goodwood last back end but simply couldn’t handle the heavy turf on that occasion. He could well be involved here under Cieren Fallon.
There are no less than three course-and-distance winners in a field of six in the class-four one-mile handicap at 2.35 and one of those, APEX KING (nap), could well be the answer to this open event.
The selection has plummeted from a mark of 90 all the way down to 75 here in the last 16 months, but has given hints that he is finally about to turn the corner.
His last two runs at Wolverhampton, and indeed here over the course and distance, could well have landed two gold medals with a bit more luck. And as long as Luke Morris can get him into a good rhythm and settle, he looks too strong at the weights ahead of the lightly raced Crackling.
The last-named is set to have only his fourth career start, and I know that his trainer Martin Meade feels he is finally coming to himself after suffering from numerous minor problems. If the money comes for him he is worthy of huge respect in a race which may not take an awful lot of winning.
All-weather action is completed under the lights at Wolverhampton and I am particularly keen on the claims of RIVERFRONT in the concluding extended mile-and-a-half handicap at 8.15.
This lightly raced gelding has only visited the track on five occasions since his debut in August 2019. But his run last time out suggested that two miles was way too far for him and he will benefit enormously from this drop back in distance.
Earlier on, course-and-distance winner JACKSTAR has finally fallen back down to a winning mark of 75. He looks the value in this extended seven-furlong handicap at the main expense of Arafi, who arrives here on a hat-trick.
