Story set for a happy ending at Chelmsford
WINNING STORY can warm up for his Finals Day date in April by securing another chunk of glory in the totepoolliveinfo.com Visit For Racing Results Conditions Stakes at Chelmsford.
The Godolphin four-yearold has seen only limited action to date, but he has shown more than a glimpse of ability in those six outings.
A winner on his racecourse bow at Newmarket last spring, Winning Story failed to realise Classic aspirations as he finished last in the Lingfield Derby Trial and his return at this track back in November yielded little joy as he unshipped his rider early on.
He then stepped up to two miles to finish a creditable third before seemingly taking another slide back down the ladder when only sixth behind the reopposing Watersmeet dropped back two furlongs at Wolverhampton.
That race really did not pan out in his favour so it probably was not too much of a surprise to see him bounce right back to his best when switched back up in distance.
This time he took it up some way from home before galloping all the way to the line for a one-and-threequarter-length verdict.
The handicapper has Winning Story on a mark of 104 which puts him level with Watersmeet, but given Winning Story will be getting 5lb from that rival and a bit more still from a couple of others, it is really hard to envisage defeat.
Tripartite scored his first success in the best part of eight months last time out and can follow up in the totequadpot Insure Your Placepot Last Four Handicap.
A winner at Doncaster in June, Tripartite was out of luck in his four subsequent starts last year but given a couple of months off, he made a glorious return at Wolverhampton in mid-February.
He beat Magic City, who is in opposition once again, conceding 2lb and Tripartite is actually 1lb better off this time, so there is no reason to expect the result to be any different this time around.
Magistral could be very well treated in Newcastle’s Betway Handicap on the pick of his form.
Having started life as a maiden winner with John Gosden back in 2013, the Manduro gelding has passed through a few trainers’ hands but is now part of Iain Jardine’s capable team.
Despite having been off the track since November 2015, Magistral made a very pleasing return to finish second at Gosforth Park on February 1, with a lack of match practice perhaps just telling close home.
His current perch of 72 is some 15lb below his best ever mark and he merits close inspection.
Nansaroy can hit the target for the first time over fences in the Forbra Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Ludlow;s excellent meeting.
Evan Williams pitches his runner in the at the deep end here having failed to get his head in front in three chase outings to date, but he has been making strides with each attempt.
His most recent eightlength defeat at the hands of Final Nudge showed what a positive effect headgear can have and while he was none too clever at the last, Nansaroy managed to regain momentum to lift the minor honours.