Star to shine brightest
WOLVERHAMPTON RACEGOERS can seize an early initiative by lending their support to Spiritual Star in the opening race of the day.
The eight-year-old gelding is by no means a world-beater, but he surely has enough about him to end a maddening winless run in the eight-and-a-half-furlong apprentice handicap.
Spiritual Star has rather been at sea for a while now. Indeed, he has not hit the target since October 2015.
Be that as it may, there were definite signs of life at Lingfield last time to suggest there is the requisite fire in the belly to win a small prize like this.
The son of Soviet Star was sent off as a 5-1 chance in a one-mile handicap and came desperately close in the hands of regular rider Paddy Bradley.
Spiritual Star was stealthily held up by his jockey before he was produced with what looked a potentially winning run inside the final three furlongs.
But with the momentum seemingly behind him, Lee Carter’s inmate suddenly encountered a good deal of traffic problems inside the final 250 yards.
Once daylight appeared, he flashed home to finish third and was only beaten a head by Wink Oliver.
That run did not go unnoticed by the handicapper, who has raised him 2lb to a mark of 67.
Even so, it was only a few years ago that he was rated in the 90s, so that should hardly be an off-putting statistic.
With Bradley back at the helm, a big run is anticipated.
See Vermont has constantly found winning hard to do since he struck at Musselburgh last August, but all that might change when he lines up for the Betway Sprint Handicap.
Rebecca Bastiman’s sprinter is not getting any quicker, but the nine-yearold is a capable operator on his day.
He was not beaten at all far at Newcastle earlier in the month, either, and it is also pleasing to see Danny Tudhope keep the faith.
See Vermont is now 2lb lower than his last winning mark and has hardly been found an epic encounter in which to haul himself back on the straight and narrow.
Bandol should go well in the two-anda-half-mile handicap chase at Hexham.
Simon West’s nine-year-old has had a good season, with back-to-back wins in the depths of winter a testament to his ability.
It all went wrong at Sedgefield earlier this month, though, as he fell at the eighth fence of a handicap chase for novices.
Bandol had, however, travelled smoothly until that costly mistake, so he can be forgiven that lapse in concentration.
He has won before on heavy ground, but connections have always been of the belief he is a better horse on a sounder surface.
And with the forecast set fair, he should find things highly suitable in what is not a particularly strong race.
Hurricane Rita can storm to victory in the 188bet.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle.
The grey mare looked revitalised after having undergone a wind operation when he tootled home at Ayr on March 10, but she probably found the two-mile trip too sharp at this track six days later.
No matter, Hurricane Rita still turned in an encouraging display to finish second behind My Little Cracker.
It is interesting, then, that trainer Stuart Coltherd has decided to step her right up in distance to two miles and seven furlongs.
Back in novice company, she rates a danger to all. (20) L Carter 8 9-9 ....................... P Bradley (27) Rebecca Bastiman 9 9-9 ...Megan Nicholls (5) D O’Meara 5 9-9 (CD) .......................... P Vaughan (245) J Riches 7 9-7 (CD) ......... Connor Murtagh (5) (20) P Cole 8 9-5 (BF, CD)..Paul St John-dennis (7) (11) J McConnell (IRE) 6 9-4 (CD) .. Ben Robinson (66) M Channon 4 9-3 ............. Lenka Helmecka (7) (12) M Tompkins 5 9-2 (CD) ............. G Malune (5) (12) M Appleby 6 9-0 (BF) ............ Jane Elliott (17) J Ryan 4 8-7 ............... Darragh Keenan (5) BETTING: 3 Spiritual Star, 7-2 All You, 4 Lucent Dream, 7 Hold Firm, 8 Green Howard, 10 One For Jodie, 12 Stormbound, 16 Pc Dixon, 20 Others. (22) P Morris 9 9-7 (D5) .... C Rodriguez (7) (5) M Appleby 5 9-5 (CD) ..................... S De Sousa (41) A Carroll 5 9-4 (CD3) ............... G Downing (15)SDixon59-4 ...................... KO’Neill (18) A Hales 4 9-4 (BF, CD) ............ C Shepherd (3) (18) Rebecca Bastiman 9 9-3 (C, D3) ..... D Tudhope (25) S Dixon 7 9-2 (CD) ................... R P Walsh (7) BETTING: 9-4 Loumarin, 7-2 Dandilion, 4 See Vermont, 6 Penny Dreadful, 7 Pearl Noir, 12 Cruise Tothelimit, 14 Toni’s A Star.
4-1 Close up, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Monarchs Glen at Goodwood 1m 1f 2yo mdn (4) gd in Oct. 7-2 Pressed leader after 2f, lost place 3f out, outpaced over 2f out, stayed on and every chance over 1f out until entering final furlong, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 8l behind Falcon Cliffs at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo mdn fll (5) pol in Feb. Piccolo gelding out of Spanish Gold. 66-1 Held up towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, never dangerous, 6th of 8, 21l behind Excel Again at Newcastle 1m 3yo mdn stks (4) in Feb. 50-1 Mid-division, ridden and lost place 2f out, no danger after, 6th of 8, 13l behind Alabaster at Kempton 1m 3f mdn stks (5) pol in Feb.