TN can break duck and steal some Thunder
DOUBLE Spin can be expected to improve a deal for her debut effort when she reappears in the Winners Welcome At Matchbook Exchange Fillies’ Maiden Stakes at Kempton.
The daughter of Hard Spun has not been out since last June, but she showed a fair deal of promise on that occasion.
Having been slowly away, Frankie Dettori then rushed her up and she made rapid progress to lead with fully five furlongs to run.
Not surprisingly, having made such a big effort mid race, her effort petered out with two furlongs to go.
She could have been expected to fold tamely, but to her credit she was beaten only two and a quarter lengths into fourth.
The winner that day, James Tate’s Urban Fox, subsequently went on to finish third in the Group One Fillies’ Mile so the form reads very well indeed in the context of a maiden.
George Scott has his string in very good form and better can be expected of his Essential in the Matchbook Maiden over six furlongs. He made his debut a month ago at Chelmsford and while he was only fifth of eight, there was enough promise to suggest more can be expected next time out.
Amanda Perrett’s The Warrior ran a blinder on his first outing since July at Lingfield last month.
He is back out in the one-mile Matchbook Handicap and off the same mark, he must have a good chance.
Only beaten half a length into third, he has only had two runs on the all-weather so there could still be plenty to come.
Wishfull Dreaming has been off the track for over 100 days but on the form of his last run, he looks well treated in the Bathwick Tyres Bath Handicap Hurdle at Taunton.
Philip Hobbs’ six-year-old began the season with a win at Chepstow but could not follow up when upped in class at Cheltenham off a 7lb higher mark.
He then went to Sandown for a valuable Listed handicap and subsequent events have shown there was no disgrace in finishing fourth to Brain Power, who went well for a long way in the Champion Hurdle.
The handicapper has been kind enough to drop Wishfull Dreaming 2lb for that effort and the return to a decent surface is definitely in his favour.
High Secret is the pick in the Bathwick Tyres Bridgwater Novices’ Hurdle despite having to settle for third at Musselburgh last time out.
Paul Nicholls’ charge, who has a Flat rating of 95, made an excellent hurdles bow when winning by 10 lengths at this track back in January, overcoming a 466-day absence in the process.
He was pretty slick over his obstacles that day and showed a nice change of gear to easily pull clear on the run to the line.
He was then upped in class in Scotland but the task proved a little beyond him as perhaps his lack of experience just told a bit, so another dip back down the ladder here is certainly in his favour.
The Ditcheat team can also hit the mark at Southwell with Gibbes Bay in the Compare Horse Racing Odds @ bookies.com ``National Hunt’’ Maiden Hurdle.
He won an Ayr bumper last April, form which has worked out reasonably well, before chasing home Claimantakinforgan at Haydock under a penalty on his first start of the current campaign back in November.
The winner went on to finish third in the Champion Bumper last week so is obviously pretty smart, while he stood little chance as he came up against Finian’s Oscar on his hurdles bow.
Given a break since that run in December, Gibbes Bay will surely feel the benefit of better spring ground.
Oscar Star can make a winning bow in the Compare Bookmakers @ Bookmakers.co.uk Mares’ Standard National Hunt Flat Race.
Jamie Snowden’s charge hails from a fine jumping family and she can start in the best possible way here. TEAM Northumbria can break their Netball Superleague duck against Manchester Thunder tonight – given consistency across all four quarters.
That’s the verdict of top-flight rookie Tamsin Moala as the hosts go in search of a first win of the season in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
The Kiwi has already forged a potent partnership with fellow dual national Chiara Semple but service to the attacking circle has been patchy.
And as TN look to snap a fourgame losing streak, Moala said: “We just need to focus on our consistency – especially in the moments where it matters.
“We do that in spells but of course we have to be able to do that throughout the whole game.
“Manchester is an opportunity to kickstart the season and we must take our chance.”
Former champions Thunder are a shadow of the side that won the Superleague title twice in three seasons in 2012 and 2014.
But Karen Greig’s side already have two wins under their belt – and beat a Sirens side that dispatched TN with ease last Monday.
The pressure is on the rock-bottom hosts as they head into their second live TV clash of the 2017 campaign.
And Moala’s fellow shooter Georgia Rowe added that TN owe their loyal fans a win after a woeful start to the season.
“Of course we owe our fans,” said the Wales international. “The support at Sport Central is second to none and the people who come out and watch us every week are massively important.
“They’ve stuck with us through a tough start to the season and it’s time we repaid that backing.
“We need to give them more to shout about. We need to beat Manchester for the fans.”
TN have been working around the clock behind the scenes to replace injured skipper Katarina Cooper, and coach TeAroha Keenan has been in talks with former Sport Central favourite Fionnuala Toner in a bid to bolster the club’s centre court.
The Northern Ireland star could yet face Thunder tonight (7.45pm centre pass) with Northumbria University chiefs awaiting England Netball clearance.