Shah to star
SHAH OF ARMAAN was thoroughly disappointing last time but should be given chance to redeem himself in the sunbets.co.uk Handicap at Wolverhampton.
The four-year-old was certainly not without his supporters at Southwell last month but he put up no kind of show at all, backpedalling apace in the closing stages to finish last of 12.
The Southwell Fibresand would not be for every horse though and it is heartening that Kevin Ryan’s charge has shown much better form on this Tapeta surface, running with credit at both Wolverhampton and Newcastle in the past.
He is perhaps much better judged on his third in a competitive Newcastle event on his penultimate start or his maiden win at Wolverhampton back in January when he looked quite smart in victory.
Dream Love was a shock 50-1 winner on her racecourse bow and while she could not follow up next time, she should not be ruled out of the 32Red Handicap at Kempton.
She beat on odds-on favourite on that first occasion and that rival has since gone onto victory with another of those further down the field also subsequently scoring to give the form a really solid look.
Simon Dow must have fancied his chances of another win at Lingfield next time but the race did not really pan out in her favour and she was just tapped for a bit of toe in finishing third.
The handicapper has thankfully left her mark alone after that run, and a perch of 75 appears perfectly workable.
Dhalam is worth looking out for in the second division of the 32Red.com Maiden Stakes as he makes his racecourse bow.
Frankie Dettori takes the ride for John Gosden and this Lonhro colt boasts a very nice pedigree.
Chalonnial will also encounter good ground for the first time at Kempton and it could work the oracle for him in the 188bet.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle.
The five-year-old has encountered testing conditions on each of his three starts this term, with his most notable performance coming when claiming third behind Finian’s Oscar in the Grade One Tolworth back in January.
He was firmly put in his place when switched to Grade Two level at Kelso last month but heavy ground appeared to take its toll as Chalonnial’s challenge quickly petered out.
Quicker conditions are an unknown, but Harry Fry would not be taking a chance unless he thought it in Chalonnial’s best interests.
Innocent Girl is technically running from miles out of the handicap in the 188 Bet Mares’ Handicap Hurdle but it could be dangerous to ignore her judged on recent chase form.
The eight-year-old has won her last two outings over fences with the minimum of fuss, most recently triumphing off a mark of 105 at Taunton just over a week ago.
She has certainly not shown quite the same form over hurdles, but if she can transfer her fences form to this sphere, she could be handily weighted to bring up the double for Fry. (14) E Dunlop 9-10 .............. S De Sousa (42) P Cole 9-7 ........................................ L Morris (183) J Portman 9-7 .............................. J Crowley (165) R Hannon 9-6 ............................. L Dettori (145) P McBride 9-5 ............................... P Cosgrave (14) M Botti 9-4 ......................... G Wood (5) (110) Oliver Greenall 9-3 .. K Stott (48) J Best 9-3 ........................................ K Fox (184) M Blanshard 9-2 ............ D Probert (13) S Durack 9-0 .................. Oisin Murphy (168) L Dace 8-12 ....................... K O’Neill BETTING: 2 Alemaratalyoum, 7-2 Al Mansor, 7 Arthurthedelegator, 10 Malt Teaser, Arctic Sea, Power Power, 14 Never Folding, 16 Famous Dynasty, 20 Others. (21)JRyan59-9 .............. RWinston (171) W Haggas 4 9-9 ................... Georgia Cox (5) (34)DSteele89-8(CD2) ......... SDonohoe (25) M Attwater 4 9-7 (CD2) ......... A Beschizza (5) J Hughes 5 9-5 (D) .......................... J F Egan (62) A Carroll 6 9-5 (D) .......................... J Crowley (8) L Carter 8 9-4 (CD) ............. P Bradley (5) (11) R Hodges 8 9-1 (D5) .... L Morris (28)AWintle58-11 ................... SHitchcott BETTING: 9-4 Selection, 4 Spiritual Star, 11-2 Tee It Up Tommo, 6 Wink Oliver, 7 Thecornishbarron, 8 Music Major, 14 Mister Musicmaster, 16 Rightway, 50 Freight Train. 2016: GOLDEN WEDDING 4 9 7, R Winston 7-2 JtFav (Eve J-Houghton), drawn (6) dead heated with ROXIE LOT 4 9 3, R Hornby(3) 12-1 ((Mrs P Sly)), drawn (13), 13 ran. (42) D Elsworth 9-10 (D) ......................... R L Moore (186) W Knight 9-10 (D) ........................ J Crowley (19) R Hannon 9-7 (D) ............. T Marquand (158) S Kirk 9-5 ........................................ L Keniry (16) W Jarvis 9-3 (CD)...Josephine Gordon (208) B Millman 9-2 .............. Oisin Murphy (7) J Gallagher 9-0(6ex) (D) .... M Dwyer (13)DIvory8-13 ................................ RWinston (74) P McBride 8-8 ..................... S De Sousa BETTING: 15-8 Mitigate, 5 Gala Celebration, 11-2 Sea Shack, 6 Preobrajenska, 7 Challow, 8 Sans Souci Bay, 16 Seeing Things, 25 Glory of Paris, Bobby Vee.