Rotherwick’s rare chance

● Signs are good for Cole’s four year old

Rotherwick can poke his head in front at Newmarket for the first time in what feels like an eternity.

The Paul Cole-trained fouryear-old has continually finished in the frame during a busy career, but he has not won a race for nearly two years. Cole will be desperate to do something about that ahead of the NGK Spark Plugs Handicap over a mile and a quarter.

The signs look promising, too, as Rotherwick has rarely let the side down of late, with his recent second at Windsor on ground that was probably too soft of particular interest.

Inniscastle Lad had his measure that day, but the selection only went down by three-quarters of a length. A convincing winner over nine furlongs at Newmarket off just a 2lb lower mark is also pleasing, while the fact that champion jockey Jim Crowley is on board can only be seen as a good thing.

The feature race on the card, the Irish Stallion Farms “Bosra Sham” EBF Fillies’ Stakes, could go to Lagenda.

Andrew Balding’s youngster is the highest-rated horse in the field, but that is not without good reason as she finished runner-up in the Mill Reef at Newbury.

Lagenda then impressed at York last month when she got to within a length and a quarter of Sir Dancealot, who ended up running in the Racing Post Trophy, in the Rockingham.