This Queen can reign
Elsworth youngster will make her mark in handicaps
post. He lacked the racing experience to handle winning favourite Easter Mate (made all), but kept on encouragingly to nab second despite lugging left in the straight.The Johnston yard is starting to hit top form and this likeable colt is nailed on to win a race or two.
KEMPTON MARCH 2 (STANDARD) 1m3f handicap (Class 4) Useful form
QUALITY SONG (Richard Hughes) seems to have thrived physically since being gelded and having a short break after a busy period in mid-winter (ran three times in a month). He was never really in prime position in a contest dominated by those that raced to the fore, but still recorded a personal best in third. Quality Song remains eligible for 0-75s after this (he’s rated 75) and would be hard to beat if dropped back into that grade next time.
6f handicap (Class 5) Progressive winner
THE BIG LAD (Richard Hughes) is a really scopey individual who maintained his unbeaten record with another cosy success. He’s better than the bare result implies – had to overcome a bad draw and ran green under pressure – and looks a nightmare for the handicapper to assess as he does no more than the bare minimum to win. A new mark of 81 is a conservative view of The Big Lad’s potential and he remains one to follow.
LINGFIELD MARCH 5 (STANDARD) 1m handicap (Class 2) Fair form
UNFORGIVING MINUTE (Gary Moore) came here boasting a perfect 4-4 record on Polytrack and looked in tremendous shape after a short spell in Dubai. He could not quite reel-in the smart front-runner Mister Universe (successful in a hot Listed race since), but emerged from the race with great credit by finishing second.Unforgiving Minute could be equally effective over 1m2f and will surely be placed to advantage by his shrewd trainer this spring.
7f three-year-old Listed (Class 1) Messy race
ABE LINCOLN (Jeremy Noseda) looked fully fit on this return from a 105-day break and needed to score in order to book his place for the three-year-old final on All Weather Championship Day.Unfortunate-