Flyboy to soar in the Old Dalby Handicap at Leicester

- Flyboy is likely to be primed to the minute today for the Old Dalby Handicap at Leicester.

This four-year-old gelding will be having just his second start for Richard Fahey, having previously been in the care of David O’Meara, and big things are expected of him.

Flyboy won a good Haydock handicap a year ago off a mark of 79 and yet lines up in this 1400m affair with 2kg less on his back.

Adam McNamara’s 1.5kg claim also comes in very useful indeed.

This son of Zoffany has largely struggled since he was gelded in July 2016, but the proverbial green

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shoots of recovery were evident on his debut for the Fahey yard.

Flyboy finished third in a 1400m handicap at Carlisle, where he was wearing first-time blinkers and did not have a clean run.

His path was blocked inside the final 200m and was always chasing the game thereafter.

With that in mind, he probably did really well to go down by just two lengths to Forever A Lady.

Little wonder, then, that Fahey has elected to stick with the blinkers after such a promising run, which will have done him the power of good.

First-time cheekpieces could eke out the necessary improvement from Windsor runner West Drive.

This four-year-old chestnut rather floundered as a 2-1 favourite in a reasonable race at Lingfield, but he did make a little bit of late headway to finish fourth of eight runners.

Trainer Roger Varian is seemingly keen for West Drive to become more focused in his races so has reached for the headgear ahead of this handicap over an extended 2200m.

But perhaps the best thing going for the son of Sea The Stars is the fact he nicely won a maiden over this course and distance last September.

That piece of form alone should stand him in good stead.

Spring Loaded is better known for his all-weather exploits than on the turf, but he still has a grand chance of defying top weight in a qualifier for the Sky Bet Windsor Sprint Series Handicap.

Paul d’Arcy’s grey stayed on gamely to take fourth spot in a good sprint at Chester last time and should appreciate stepping back up to 1200m.

A winner at Windsor in October 2015, Spring Loaded is rated considerably lower over turf and can cash in.

Questo should go well in a 1200m handicap at Thirsk.

Tracy Waggott’s five-year-old is a fair operator at this lowly grade and should come on a good deal for a pleasing return over this course and distance in April.

The gelded son of Monsieur Bond was 2kg higher than when he won at Redcar last autumn, but he shaped encouragingly in third place behind Ancient Astronaut.

That form does not look anything out of the ordinary, but this is not a great race, either.

Questo will enjoy competing on the fast ground and also has the trusty Joe Fanning in the plate.Press