Andrew Balding has Firelight primed to burn off Salisbury rivals
– Firelight sets a standard that will be tough to match in the Shadwell Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes at Salisbury today.
The daughter of Oasis Dream shaped with abundant promise on her debut over 1000m in June, looking as though a step up in distance would see her in an even better light.
That theory was borne out as she opened her account over 1200m at Kempton on her second start, albeit narrowly, and followed up at Newmarket early last month.
She faced a significant hike in class when contesting the Lowther Stakes at York a fortnight ago, but was far from disgraced in finishing fourth behind the highly regarded Fairyland.
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Andrew Balding’s filly was beaten just two lengths on the Knavesmire and may well have finished closer in a more strongly run race.
Either way, the experience will not have been lost on her and this Listed event looks a fine opportunity for her to gain a black-type victory.
Goodnight Girl can lift the Lochsong Fillies’ Handicap.
The three-year-old will have to defy a career-high mark of 90 but she is seemingly on an upward trajectory.
A three-time winner already this year, Goodnight Girl was just outstayed last time but should not be written off back at a track where she has performed well previously.
West End Charmer could be the star of the show at Haydock as he contests the EBF Novice Stakes.
The Nathaniel colt finished last of eight runners on his introduction at Glorious Goodwood, but the fact that top trainer Mark Johnston ran him at a high-profile meeting is indicative of the regard in which he is held.
He dropped into an eminently more winnable event at Windsor little over a week later and won in the style of a horse with the talent to hold his own at a much higher level at some stage.
This novice event looks an ideal stepping-stone to a loftier endof-season target.
Bugler Bob can make it thirdtime lucky in the Novice Auction Stakes at Carlisle.
John Quinn’s juvenile was runner-up on his Pontefract debut to Ventura Storm, a horse who is now rated 91.
It was no surprise to see him sent off a short-priced favourite over this course and distance on his second start little over a fortnight ago and, while it was a shade disappointing that he came up short, he did not disgrace himself in finishing third and will not need to improve much to win a race of this nature.
Fresh Terms can complete a hat-trick for Ralph Beckett in the Bet totetrifecta Handicap at Chelmsford.
The jumping fare comes from Sedgefield, where Gordon Elliott has several good chances including High Expectations, who looks to have been found a winnable opportunity in the Alice Bendle Handicap Hurdle. –