Alpha beater
ALPHA DELPHINI can make the most of having his sights lowered by claiming a third victory at Beverley in the Eddie And Violet Smith Conditions Stakes.
Bryan Smart’s speedball shed his maiden tag on the Westwood a couple of years ago and produced what was comfortably a career-best performance at the time when landing the Beverley Bullet last summer.
He has unsurprisingly found life a little tougher since, locking horns with some of the best sprinters around on several occasions.
The six-year-old was last seen defending his Beverley Bullet crown and was far from disgraced in finishing seventh – beaten just a couple of lengths by subsequent Group Three winner Take Cover – after breaking from widest of all.
Alpha Delphini is more favourably positioned in stall three for this six-runner contest and is well treated by the conditions of the race.
He would certainly prefer quicker conditions, but his considerable class should see him through. Kohinur is Newmarket-based trainer Hugo Palmer’s only runner on the card and the hint should be taken.
The daughter of Dubawi was beaten just half a length into second on her racecourse debut on the July Course and the form is rock solid with the third (Gold Star), fourth (Ouja) and sixth (Turnpike Trip) all winning since.
Kohinur actually met Ouja again at Kempton in early August and was a warm order to confirm her superiority, but was ultimately wellbeaten in third and perhaps the slow pace and switch to the all-weather did not see her to best effect.
Back on turf in testing conditions, the Beverley Interactive Maiden Fillies’ Stakes is likely to be more attritional, which should suit a filly who looks to have more staying power than speed.
Unified rates the best bet on the Polytrack at Lingfield.
Clive Cox’s filly was runner-up here on her introduction and after further efforts at Newbury and Windsor, she struck gold for the first time with a narrow success on fast ground at Bath.
With soft ground prevailing in most parts of the country, it is no surprise to see her revert to an artificial surface for the Happy 80th Birthday Eddie Childs Handicap and an opening mark of 74 looks fair.
Marchingontogether can rediscover the winning trail in the Bet Totejackpot At Betfred.com Novice Auction Stakes at Chelmsford.
The Windsor Castle Stakes proved too much too soon, but she has been given plenty of time since and can hopefully start to repay what was doubtless a significant investment from Sheikh Fahad’s team.
The Weatherbys Racing Diaries Handicap Chase is the most valuable race on a decent jumping card at Warwick.
Several recent winners are in contention, and preference is for Sonneofpresenting.
The Kim Bailey-trained sevenyear-old is three from four over fences this year.