Bishop’s Bounty primed
THERE are a number of potential pitfalls facing punters in the Racing.It’s A Rush Allowance Plate that heads the card at Scottsville today.
There are a host of three-year-olds that have obvious claims and there are a couple that have the potential but have been off form in recent months.
Add to that a number of older horses who, if they produce their best form on the day, could put a spanner in the works.
In short, it’s not an easy race to predict an outcome in spite of it being a set-weights event.
Justin Snaith and Anthony Delpech were denied in a tight finish to the Gr1 Woolavinton 2000 on Saturday but they team up with Bishop’s Bounty here and the smart son of Western Winter looks primed.
He was tested in the lucrative Lanzerace Ready To Run and the Gr1 Cape Guineas but both races seemed to be beyond his compass when judged on his previous sprint form.
Bishop’s Bounty has had one outing over course and distance in the soft when going down narrowly to Purple Tractor and although he gives weight to most and not the best in under the conditions, he should be a serious contender.
The filly Our Destiny is the best weighted runner in the race and her last outing in the Poinsettia Stakes is probably best ignored as she did not get the best of passages. Glen Kotzen’s runner has been up there with the best of her generation as far as the fillies are concerned and off a handy weight should at least be competitive.
Charles Laird sends Buffalo Soldier over what looks to be his best course and distance after trying further at his last two.
He showed good pace before folding behind Horizon in a sophomore Allowance Plate over 1 400m last time out and the declaration of blinkers could sharpen him up enough for victory.
Horse Guards
Runners from the Dennis Drier yard have started to hit form and Horse Guards will have a host of supporters after he finished under two lengths back to Attenborough in his first run back since gelding.
The form of that race has panned out quite well.
Stable companion Hack Green has lost form since beating the smart filly Green Pepper over course and distance last August.
With stable jockey Sean Veal preferring the chances of Horse Guards the inference is obvious but an upset by Hack Green would not be beyond the realms of possibility.
But the list of possible winners is a long one.
Sylvester The Cat drops to a sprint and if he decides to let loose he cannot be discounted.
Isingamoya, Rodney and Bold Respect are others to consider in a wide-open affair.
The Scottsville 2 400m has become something of a specialist distance since the closure of Clairwood and the paucity of races over the distance on the Greyville turf.
The Blinkers Bar Handicap is a prime example but that still does not make things any easier.
One Man Show
Top weight One Man Show was possibly just in need of his last outing over course and distance although he did find traffic at a crucial stage of the race and is likely to do better here.
Main Player ran an excellent race on the Greyville poly when beaten by Crowd Pleaser and Edict Of Nantes last time out but prior to that, in his first outing in a handicap, was touched off a piece-of-paper by the well regarded Techno Captain.
Garth Puller’s runner goes this trip for the first time but on the strength of that run should have no trouble with the extra and rates a big runner.
Sheriff Hood and Burnt Cherry look pick of the balance.