Nin looks better for Midgley

TRAINER Paul Midgley can finally saddle Ninjago to victory when the sprinter lines up at Wolverhampton.

The North Yorkshire handler has made little secret of the admiration he holds for the seven-year-old gelding, who was transferred to Midgley from Richard Hannon’s yard last May.

Ninjago has occasionally threatened to live up to the positive vibes, but the hard fact remains he has gone 12 races without success for his new trainer.

The son of Mount Nelson has, however, been aggressively campaigned in good company, so perhaps this descent into class three company for the 32Red.com Handicap might do for him.

There was, after all, just reason for optimism for the future over this course and distance on his last outing in late February when he flashed home for fifth place in a better calibre of race.

Ninjago was only beaten a length and a quarter by King Robert, but there is hope that form can be reversed as the Midgley horse was blocked for room inside the final furlong and was always chasing the game from there on in.

Running off the same career-low mark of 89, he really ought to be competitive in this six-furlong affair.

Beauchamp Opal has a fighting chance of breaking her maiden tag in the mile-and-a-quarter apprentice handicap at Chelmsford.

The three-year-old filly, trained by Charlie Fellowes, has shown bits and pieces of form in seven starts, without ever ripping up too many giant oaks.

But she made a fair step in the right direction last time out at Kempton, when a fast-finishing fourth over a mile, to suggest her time is near off what remains a workable mark.

There is also a fair realistic expectation that Beauchamp Opal should come into her own over this longer trip.

Chesterfield can be followed with a shade of optimism in the extended two-mile handicap hurdle at Taunton.

Trained by Seamus Mullins, having previously been in the care of John Ferguson, the seven-year-old chestnut made an encouraging return to form at Newbury.

Back down in class and in trip, Chesterfield was a little too keen in Berkshire, and while no match for the winner, Remiluc, he still gamely stuck at it to finish second.

Mullins’ inmate was also guilty of being too head-strong at Kempton, so that is something connections will be keen to address.

Before that, though, he actually turned in quite a heartening display in the Grade Three Wessex Youth Trust Handicap Hurdle at Ascot in December, when he recovered from a fifth-flight error to stay on for eighth place.

Chesterfield has done all of his winning over this sort of trip, while he races at Taunton off just 1lb higher than at Newbury.

A race like this must surely be within striking distance for such a horse. (76) S Hodgson 9 9-7 (CD4) ........... Rob Hornby (45) M Mullineaux 4 9-5 (CD) ..... Phil Dennis (5) (15) D P Quinn 5 9-4 (D3) ....................... T Clark (3) (8) P McEntee 4 9-4 ............ Josephine Gordon (16) P Hiatt 4 9-3 .................... Molly King (7) (13) Rebecca Bastiman 9 9-3 (CD2) ... D Tudhope (14) Mrs L Williamson 7 9-2 (CD2) ........ L Morris (49) Andi Brown 4 9-2 .................... Lulu Stanford (5) (19) R Brotherton 4 9-2 ............... B A Curtis (14) Mrs L Williamson 4 9-2 .................. D A Parkes (5) (13) J G O’Shea 9 9-2 (CD2) ......... Ben Robinson (7) BETTING: 3 Teepee Time, 7-2 Justice Rock, 5 Lizzy’s Dream, 13-2 Quality Art, 7 Red Flute, 10 Louis Vee, 14 Rat Catcher, 16 Camino, 25 Others. (31) B Smart 4 10-0 (CD) .................. B A Curtis (21) K Ryan 4 9-13 (BF, D4) ...... L Edmunds (5) (19) P McEntee 6 9-12 (CD) .... Josephine Gordon (31)PMidgley79-11(D4) ...................... RWinston (21) Rebecca Bastiman 6 9-10 (D2) . P McDonald (31) T D Barron 6 9-10 (BF, CD) ............... P Makin (21) O Pears 4 9-9 (D3) ....................... P Hanagan (558) P Morris 5 9-9 (D) ............... J Garritty (36) J Given 6 9-5 (CD) ........... A Mullen (142) Mrs R Carr 7 9-5 (D) ......... J P Sullivan (117) S bin Suroor 3 8-11 (C, D) ....... Oisin Murphy BETTING: 4 Dubai One, 9-2 Captain Dion, 5 King Robert, 11-2 Jaywalker, 7 Fast Track, 8 Oriental Relation, 10 Ninjago, 12 Gentlemen, 20 Others.

11-4 Tracked leader, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Wolverhampton 5f Conditions Stakes (2yo) (2) in Dec beating Gheedaa by 1/2l, 6 ran. 7-4fav Led, headed halfway, tracked winner, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, edged right and unable to quicken towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Jaywalker at Newcastle 6f hcp 0-95 (3). 14-1 Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, led close home, won at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-105 (2) in Feb beating Upavon by nk, 12 ran. 8-1 Prominent, led halfway, pressed inside final furlong, driven out, gamely, won at Newcastle 6f hcp 0-95 (3) beating Captain Dion by 1/2l, 10 ran. 9-2fav Held up in mid-division, headway on outside over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 3rd of 12, 1/2l behind King Robert at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-105 (2) in Feb. 8-1 Led, ridden and headed 1f out, gradually weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 10, 5l behind Florencio at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb. (27) J Gosden 10-0 (40) D M Simcock 9-12 (71) J Tuite 9-11 (161) E Dunlop 9-11 (9)MJohnston9-9..SharnaArmstrong(7) (34) C Fellowes 9-8 (7) P Evans 9-7 (36) R Hannon 9-6 (BF) (19) M Appleby 9-2 BETTING: 11-4 Lady Hester, 4 Bonnie Arlene, 9-2 Beauchamp Opal, 5 Moneyoryourlife, 8 Zenovia, Jive Factor, 14 Navajo Star, 20 Log Off, 25 Conkering Hero.

5-1 In touch in rear, headway on outer to lead inside final furlong, edged left, ridden and ran on, won at Lingfield 1m 4f hcap (2) pol beating Gawdawpalin by 2 1/2l, 8 ran. 9-4fav Held up towards rear, headway when switched right entering final furlong, ridden and ran on to lead post, won at Chelmsford City 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol beating Take The Helm by hd, 8 ran. 22-1 Tracked leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Nimr at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-105 (2). 6-1 Tracked clear leading pair, headway to lead over 1f out, edged left final furlong, ridden and ran on, won at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Final by 2l, 10 ran. 16-1 Raced wide close up, ridden 2f out, weakened entering final furlong, last of 13, 7l behind Nimr at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-105 (2). 7-1 Raced wide close up, joined leader halfway, ridden and every chance from over 1f out, no extra close home, 4th of 8, 1 1/4l behind Qaffaal at Chelmsford City 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol.

4-1 Tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, one pace, 3rd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Simply Me at Lingfield 1m fll hcp (5) pol. 7-1 Led 2f, tracked leader, led again 2f out, ridden clear briefly entering final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Signe at Newcastle 1m 2f fll hcp (5). 3-1 In touch in rear, ridden and kept on final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 6, 5l behind Ixelles Diamond at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-70 (5) pol. 11-1 Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 6th of 8, 4l behind Barwah at Newcastle 1m hcp 0-65 (6) in Jan. 10-1 Took keen hold, prominent, led 8f out, headed 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Signe at Newcastle 1m 2f fll hcp (5). (14) S Bowring 7 9-3 (CD) (21) A Carson 4 9-2 (6) Mrs L Mongan 5 9-2 (D) (14) D Shaw 4 9-0 (D) BETTING: 3 Celtic Artisan, 9-2 Polar Kite, 6 Greyfriarschorista, 7 Little Choosey, 10 With Approval, Cat Royale, 12 Samphire Coast, Almanack, Foie Gras, 16 Others.