Ellaal looks set for hat trick
CHARGED UP: SEVEN-YEAR-OLD GAINING IN CONFIDENCE AFTER A GOOD YEAR ʂ He has his highest rating to date but should be up to the challenge
Ellaal can make it a hattrick in the Scott Coppola Electrical Distributor Handicap at Musselburgh today. The seven-year-old may be lining up off his highest mark since 2012, but his confidence has been boosted after what has been a busy - and fruitful - 2016 so far.
Without a win since 2014, Ruth Carr's charge was sitting on a rating of 59 at the start of the year but started to climb back through the ranks after winning at Wolverhampton in March.
A couple of 1600m successes at Musselburgh in April and May soon followed; Ellaal had a blip through June, before eventually coming good again at Scottish venue at the end of July.
He ran out a 4.50-length winner, prompting a six-point hike in the handicap, which duly proved no barrier to success as he then triumphed at Newmarket.
While his winning margin was cut to two lengths, he was putting in all his best work at the end under what was a well-judged ride from James Sullivan.
A similarly shrewd performance in the plate here can see Ellaal shrug off a 3.5kg rise and claim glory once again.
Twin Point recently poked his head in front at Yarmouth and looks a likely type in the Dale Hall And Hickman Associates Handicap at Leicester.
The five-year-old is now with his third trainer in Charlie Fellowes, and has certainly made a good start for the team, finishing in the first three on four of his five starts for the yard.
A winner at Lingfield in January before placing third at Kempton that same month, Twin Point was then off the track until the end of last month when he made a promising return in finishing second at Yarmouth.
He then returned to that track to triumph off a figure of 75 and while further progress is needed if he is to win off his new rating of 78, Twin Point can rise to the challenge.
Let's Be Happy can make it third time lucky in the Imperial Commercials Halesowen DAF Maiden Auction Stakes at Wolverhampton.
This daughter of Mastercraftsman is clearly nothing special but she did make progress from her initial unplaced run to finish third at Brighton. A relatively cheap 23,000 gns purchase, she can repay a slice of that cost.
Creggs Pipes can make the transition to Pattern class by landing the Group 3 Coolmore Stud Fairy Bridge Stakes at Tipperary.
Andrew Slattery's runner has won each of her last four starts, claiming a Killarney Listed event and a thoroughly competitive handicap at Galway on her two most recent starts.
Her soaring rating has somewhat forced connections to switch up in company and while Classic- placed Now Or Never can prove a worthy adversary, Creggs Pipes could be hard to stop while on such a roll.