Quixote the hero at Southwell
QUIXOTE has yet to really put his best foot forward in Britain, but all that can change with victory in the sunbets.co.uk Handicap at Southwell.
The German-bred seven-year-old has plied his trade in Europe in previous years, winning a Listed event in Germany back in 2013 and lifting a handful of very moderate contests on the all-weather in France too.
He will be having his first start for David Loughnane here having initially been campaigned by Tony Carroll in this country, with a mixed record of success.
Quixote did not really show too much on the turf last summer or in the pre-Christmas all-weather period, but his fourth at Lingfield in January marked him as the type to be finally finding his feet.
Lining up in a similar event to this, he had an unfavourably wide draw but soon got to the front and only narrowly failed to make all, eventually settling for a one-length fourth after being swamped in the finish.
The handicapper has steadily eased him down the ratings from a starting point of 97 to his current perch some 7lb lower and that ease can prove crucial.
Glenalmond has fallen a long way from his heady juvenile days when he beat future Royal Ascot victor My Dream Boat and was only a length adrift of subsequent multiple Group One hero Muhaarar.
The five-year-old even lined up in the 2000 Guineas a couple of years ago, but it has sadly been pretty much all downhill since then.
That said, Glenalmond appears to have found a much more suitable level of competition now and can go well in the Betway Middle Distance Handicap.
Stepping up to 10 furlongs seemed to bring about some improvement at Chelmsford back in February and he clearly lacked the necessary pace to push on over an extended mile when only third last time out.
Switching up to a mile and three furlongs on this occasion, Glenalmond can keep batting on with credit.
Meshardal has been steadily falling down the ratings and looks back on a winnable mark in the Betway Handicap.
He last won off a mark of 85 at Catterick back in June 2015 and given he has not got his head in front since, it is little surprise he is now running off a 20lb lighter perch.
He has shaped with a bit of promise in finishing third the last twice though, and Ruth Carr has found him another good opportunity here.
Bivouac has shown plenty of ability in two outings over fences this term and can keep up the good work in the Trust Klober Novices’ Chase at Kempton.
Nicky Henderson’s charge looked every inch a future chaser when racing over hurdles and despite making a late start to the campaign at Exeter in February, he seemed a likely type to make his mark in this division.
While he was beaten some 14 lengths on that occasion, the experience was clearly not wasted on him as he stepped up to the mark at Leicester last month. (209) D C Griffiths 4 10-0 .......................... D Allan (14)SDixon59-12(BF,CD) .................. KO’Neill (153) M Appleby 5 9-12 ........... A Rawlinson (3) (6) D Shaw 5 9-10 (CD) ............. T Hamilton (14) D Loughnane 4 9-9 (CD3) ............. S De Sousa (136) B Ellison 4 9-9 (C, D) ....................... B A Curtis (29) I Furtado 7 9-5 (D4) ............................... T Eaves (14) Mrs R Carr 7 9-2 (CD2) ............... J P Sullivan BETTING: 9-4 Big Amigo, 4 Treaty Of Rome, 6 Crosse Fire, 7 Meshardal, 8 L C Saloon, Specialv, 10 Spiraea, 12 Appleberry.
9-4fav Prominent, ridden to lead entering final furlong, ridden out, won at Southwell 5f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Mar beating Borough Boy by 1l, 9 ran. 11-2 Prominent, ridden and every chance over 1f out, led inside final furlong, driven out, won at Southwell 5f hcap 0-70 (5) fbs in Mar beating Treaty Of Rome by hd, 11 ran.
9-4fav Towards rear, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, no impression, 4th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Mighty Zip at Chelmsford City 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol. 4-1 Outpaced after 1f, ridden and headway entering final furlong, ran on strongly, not reach winner, 2nd of 6, nk behind Roy’s Legacy at Southwell 5f hcp 0-68 (6) fbs in Mar.