Step up can pay off for Immortal

RACING: Fellowes’ charge should relish extra trip at Lingfield

IMMORTAL BELOVED can be the darling of Lingfield in the Follow At The Races On Twitter Handicap.

Charlie Fellowes’ filly needed every yard of Sandown’s mile and six furlongs to break her duck on her third racecourse start and handicap debut.

It therefore makes obvious sense that she moves up to an extended two miles as she seeks to follow up.

The three-year-old is taking on a field full of much more experienced campaigners, but is clearly unexposed and can take advantage of the weight she receives from all but one of her elders.

Immortal Beloved improved dramatically from her first to second start, having never got seriously involved when a distant sixth of eight on her Newmarket debut in early June but then beaten only a head in second at Haydock less than three weeks later.

Those two efforts were over a mile and a half and after she had stayed on so well in the second, Fellowes moved her up two furlongs at Sandown.

Victory there looked unlikely until she produced another telling late rattle, and this time reeled in an odds-on favourite by three-quarters of a length.

That was a useful performance, and she should be ready to go again after a month’s break to recover.

If the extra distance brings about further improvement, as can be fairly anticipated, Immortal Beloved has a fine chance of the follow-up success.

LITTLE BECKY is another threeyear-old filly who is stepping up in trip and may be able to double her winning tally in the opening Sky Sports Racing On Virgin 535 Fillies’ Handicap.

She was a debut winner over seven furlongs on Kempton’s Polytrack in October, and was then just outspeeded when runner-up over a mile at Yarmouth on her return for a first turf start in July.

The forecast easier ground here may well help keep her in touch, and the extra two furlongs seems sure to help.

Bath’s highly-competitive eightrace card looks fiendish in places but BOBBY ON THE BEAT offers hope for the punters.

Michael Bell’s juvenile has a fine opportunity to make his experience count in the EBF Novice Median Auction Stakes.

SELECTIONS

BATH: 2.00 Who Told Jo Jo, 2.30 Bobby On The Beat, 3.00 Veleta, 3.30 Arafi, 4.00 Sri Sene Power, 4.35 With Pleasure, 5.05 Arthalot, 5.40 Essgee Nics.

LINGFIELD: 2.10 Little Becky, 2.40 Amtiyaz, 3.10 IMMORTAL BELOVED (NAP), 3.40 Asadjumeirah , 4.10 Silent Queen, 4.45 Gilt Edge, 5.15 Lippy Lady, 5.45 Mister Freeze.

DOUBLE: Immortal Beloved and Bobby On The Beat.

Charlie Fellowes: Trains Immortal Beloved.