BOB ALONG AT THE SEASIDE

TRAINER DAVID BARRON CAN STRIKE WITH BOLDER BOB IN REDCAR MAIDEN – AND IT LOOKS A FORMALITY

Bolder Bob looks nap material in the Racing UK-sponsored Maiden at Redcar tomorrow.

David Barron returns to the seaside venue with his charge after a very promising debut last season.

Over the winter, Bolder Bob was gelded and since then the form has been franked in no uncertain terms.

The Mark Johnstontrained winner Sofia’s Rock was won twice this season, most recently at Haydock last Saturday from a lofty mark of 94, while Charlie Appleby’s runner-up, Alqamar, bolted up at York’s Dante meeting on his first run in a handicap off 76. The handicapper saw fit to put him up 9lb.

Back in third was Bolder Bob, making his debut, and while he was beaten over eight lengths, even this fifth and sixth home won next time.

An ordinary maiden looks a formality.

John Gosden’s Westerland created quite a stir when he made his debut at Newbury recently and he shaped very nicely.

Had it not been for the fact he was the first representative of Frankel’s second crop to run, not much would have been said, but naturally some were disappointed he could not get off the mark straight away.

Nevertheless, he was beaten by a Coventry Stakes-bound winner in Nebo, so he lost little in defeat.

That experience should stand him in very good stead and the fact Gosden has him out again relatively quickly in the first division of the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes at Leicester suggests he may even has his eye on a crack at one of the juvenile races himself.

Gosden’s Coronation Stakes entry Cashla Bay is also interesting in the Coronation Fillies’ Handicap.

By Fastnet Rock, she got off the mark at the second attempt last season from a filly who has won both her starts since.

The fact Gosden has given her a Group One entry speaks volumes.

The Clarehaven handler should also be on the mark at Wolverhampton with Dhalam in the University of Wolverhampton Racing Maiden Stakes.