Desert Wind blowing hot
DESERT WIND should complete his hat-trick in the Betway Novice Stakes at Wolverhampton.
Ed Vaughan’s charge was wellbeaten on his racecourse debut at Nottingham in the autumn, but shaped significantly better when switching to the all-weather at Southwell a few weeks later, coming home nicely to finish third behind a very useful operator in Epsom Derby entrant On The Warpath.
Despite that promising effort, it was still surprising to see him blitz his rivals when opening his account over this course and distance shortly after the turn of the year and while the winning distance was not as far, there was just as much authority about his latest triumph at Lingfield.
Desert Wind must concede at least 8lb to each of his rivals for his latest assignment, but one of the newcomers will have to be well above average to stop him going in again.
Regina Nostra can make it third time lucky in the first division of the 32Red.com Fillies’ Novice Stakes.
The well-related daughter of Pivotal looked in need of the experience on her introduction at Chelmsford, but still ran with some encouragement to place third.
She occupied the same finishing position on her latest start at Newcastle, but it was a step forward as she was beaten little over a length and may well have finished closer but for being impeded by the eventual winner inside the last of six furlongs.
On both of her starts Regina Nostra has appeared to lack a gear when required, so the step up to seven furlongs should see her in a better light.
Sweet Symphony has done enough to suggest she can win a race, and her latest opportunity comes in division two of the 32Red.com Fillies’ Novice Stakes.
Marco Botti’s charge is bidding to strike at the fourth attempt and the return to seven furlongs can only boost her chance.
A close eye should be kept on another Botti runner when Zefferino goes in the ROA/Racing Post Owners’ Jackpot Handicap.
The son of Frankel looked promising in his early days with Roger Charlton, but has been gelded and will be having his second start for Botti. His first run for his new stable came at Kempton last month and was not devoid of promise on the back of a lengthy break.
Lisdoonvarna Lad is taken to secure a second win at Wetherby in the Bet At racinguk.com Novices’ Hurdle.
The six-year-old made a flying start to his hurdling career when fairly bolting up here back in December, earning him a step up to Grade Two level in the Rossington Main at Haydock.
He proved no match for the impressive First Flow, but boxed on well to finish third, looking like a step up in distance was required.
Charlie Longsdon gives his charge the opportunity to race over half a mile further on his return to West Yorkshire and with the track and ground seemingly no problem, it will be disappointing if he does not make his presence felt. (18) Harriet Bethell 5 11-0 (CD2) ............ Mr S Walker B Barr 9 10-13 (D4) .. Mr C J Todd (7) (17) P Butler 8 10-13 (D) .......... Miss M Bryant (5) (10) Olly Murphy 5 10-12 ................... Mr L Stones (5) (105) R Brotherton 7 10-11 (CD) . Mr Z Baker (10) A Brittain 8 10-10 (D) ...... Miss Becky Smith J W Mullins 5 10-10 ............... Mr Luca Morgan (7) (46) J McConnell (IRE) 4 10-9 .. Mr Thomas Reilly (5) (25)BBarr510-9 ....... MissHGodfrey(7) (13) Miss Amy Murphy 4 10-9 (D) ........ Miss J Cooley (3) (116) Olly Murphy 4 10-9 ........... Ms Lisa O’Neill (12) J J Quinn 5 10-8 (CD) ........... Mr James King BETTING: 15-8 Compatriot, 6 Frozon, 7 Tred Softly, 8 Sevilla, 10 Bohemian Rhapsody, Fidaaha, 12 Enola, 14 Filament Of Gold, 16 Others. MY FANTASEA (10) I Williams 5 9-7 ..................... R Kingscote CAT ROYALE (26) J Butler 5 9-7 (CD) ........................... D Brock WAROFINDEPENDENCE (10) J G O’Shea 6 9-7...Ben Robinson (5) FRANTICAL (18) A Carroll 6 9-6 ............................... W Carson TIS WONDERFUL (24) C J Gray 4 9-5 ........................ W Cox (5) LET ME IN (650) B J Llewellyn 8 9-5 (CD2) .............. K Baker (7) RAMBLOW (350)MAppleby59-4 ......................... RWinston DOR’S LAW (12) D Ivory 5 9-4 .................................. R Hornby TOP OFFER (13) P Morris 9 9-4 (CD) .................... J Gormley (5) UDOGO (40) B Powell 7 9-3 ...................................... M Dwyer SUNSHINEANDBUBBLES (18) Jennie Candlish 5 9-2 (CD).. J Fanning KRISTAL HART N Mulholland 9 9-2 .......................... L Keniry ANTON CHIGURH (18) Mrs N Evans 9 9-2 (CD)Nicola Currie (5) BETTING: 4 My Fantasea, 11-2 Sunshineandbubbles, 6 Dor’s Law, 7 Tis Wonderful, 8 Top Offer, Kristal Hart, 10 Udogo, Let Me In, 16 Others. Jonjo O’Neill 5 10-0 ........... Fran Berry (24) J Portman 3 9-1 (CD) ...................... R Hornby M Botti 3 8-11 .................................. G Malune (7) (150) K Ryan 3 8-11 .............................. A Mullen (125) J W Mullins 3 8-11 ................. K O’Neill (24) D M Simcock 3 8-11 ........... George Bass (7) (20) M Appleby 3 8-11 ................. R Winston (12) W Haggas 3 8-11 ............. T Marquand K Burke 3 8-11 ....................... Ben Curtis BETTING: 2 Regina Nostra, 4 Persian Prize, 9-2 Stay In The Light, 6 Unveiling, 7 Cyclades, 10 Dalawyna, 14 Make Magic, 33 Reine Des Miracles, 50 Happy Ending.
3-1 Towards rear, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Meerpat at Newcastle 6f Fillies Novice Stakes (3yo+) (5). 22-1 Chased winner throughout, ridden over 1f out, never any chance, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Danzan at Chelmsford City 6f nov stk (4) pol in Jan. Showcasing filly out of Starlight Walk. 12-1 Mid-division, pushed along and outpaced over 2f out, soon beaten, 6th of 9, 8l behind Aquarium at Lingfield 1m Novice Auction Stakes (3yo) (6) pol in Jan. Bated Breath filly out of Parakopi. (13) J Gallagher 4 10-0 ............. J Haynes (18) Kevin Frost 3 8-11 ............ A Mullen (62) R Charlton 3 8-11 .................... K Shoemark H Palmer 3 8-11 ...................... Josephine Gordon M Meade 3 8-11 .................................. O Murphy (27) J Portman 3 8-11 ............................... R Hornby (31) M Botti 3 8-11 (BF)M Monaghan (3) (26) M Appleby 3 8-11 ................ A Rawlinson (12) M Johnston 3 8-11 ........................... F Norton BETTING: 13-8 Dieulefit, 11-4 Fabianski, 4 Sweet Symphony, 10 Craftiness, Nautica, Zadorra, 33 Traumatised, 50 Broadway Angel, 66 Rivas Rose Marie. (24) M Botti 4 9-10 ................... M Monaghan (3) (29) K Burke 4 9-9 (CD3) ............ C Lee (3) (10) D Loughnane 7 9-7 (C) ......... E Greatrex (7)ABrittain79-7(CD) ............................ CHardie (12) M Appleby 6 9-3 (CD) .............. A Rawlinson (20) C Fellowes 7 9-1 (CD) ......... S Donohoe (20)RMSmith109-1(CD4) ............. JFanning (22) Kevin Frost 6 9-0 ................ D Costello (48) T Dascombe 8 8-13 (CD2) ..P Pilley (3) (105) I Furtado 5 8-10 (CD2).. G Malune (7) BETTING: 3 Dark Alliance, 9-2 Champagne Pink, 5 Sooqaan, 6 Barnaby Brook, 8 Scribner Creek, 10 Zefferino, Buckland Beau, 12 What Usain, 14 Others.