HART STOPPER FITS THE BILL
Hart Stopper can secure his own little piece of racing history by landing the Diomed Developments Optional Claiming Handicap at Yarmouth tomorrow.
The six-furlong event is the first of its type to be run in this country, with the British Horseracing Authority hoping to give more chances to horses rated in the 80s and 90s.
Stuart Williams clearly thinks Hart Stopper fits the bill perfectly and his recent narrow defeat at Newmarket certainly did nothing to detract from that impression.
On just his second start of the year, Hart Stopper was left behind at the start and was detached from the field before starting to cut through the field in the latter stages.
He failed by a head to make up the deficit, but with Jamie Spencer now taking over in the saddle, Hart Stopper makes plenty of appeal.
Prejudice is one to note as he makes his racecourse debut in the Bazuka/EBF Novice Stakes.
Luca Cumani’s charge is a full-brother to multiple Group One winner Postponed and if he has just a fraction of his sibling’s ability, he should be good enough.
Capla Rock made it third time lucky at Nottingham last month and can build on that in the first division of the Injured Jockeys Fund/EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes at Lingfield.
She looked decent on her initial outing, but a lacklustre second run was clearly down to soft ground, and she was a comfortable victor back on a sound surface.
Pegasus Kid can put a heavy defeat at Wolverhampton last time well behind him in the Bet & Watch At 188bet.co.uk Novice Stakes.
He could not improve on his initial third at Dunstall Park, as Berkshire Blue beat him 11 lengths into second in what was a bit of a muddling race.
The experience should not be lost on James Fanshawe’s runner, though.
India posted one of her better efforts when fourth on her latest run and might find Catterick’s Happy Retirement Susan Taylor Fillies’ Handicap a winnable opportunity.
Having just her second turf outing, this daughter of Poet’s Voice got rolling a little bit too late and should appreciate the extra half a furlong here.
SpringRomancethrives on the all-weather so Wolverhampton’s myracing. com For Free Wolverhampton Tips Handicap should be right up his street.
Meanwhile, Frankie Dettori will appeal against the 10-day ban he incurred at Newmarket last week.
The Italian finished second aboard Angel’s Hideaway in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, but was suspended after the stewards found him guilty of careless riding.
He was adjudged to have allowed his mount to shift right without sufficient correction in the Group Two heat, with Main Edition and La Pelosa among those suffering interference in behind.
Dettori was ‘devastated’ on being told of the suspension which currently rules him out of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the whole of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, where he counts Stradivarius and Without Parole among his likely mounts.
He said: “The appeal has gone in.”
He is due to be out of action from July 27 to August 5 inclusive.
Paul Struthers, chief executive of the Professional Jockeys Association, said the appeal would be against ‘both finding and penalty’.
He tweeted: “I can confirm an appeal has been submitted to @BHAPressOffice on behalf of @ FrankieDettori against the decision of the Stewards @ NewmarketRace – the appeal is against both finding and penalty. @McPhersonRacing will represent.”