The Scotsman

Rock to star at Chelmsford for winning start to season

● Four-year-old has potential for fine campaign

- By GLENDALE

Rockspirit can get his season off to a perfect start with victory in the Bet toteexacta At totepool.com Handicap at Chelmsford.

The four-year-old hit the frame on each of his five starts last term, winning three times and finishing second on the other two occasions to end the campaign on a mark of 104 from a starting point of 88.

A 16lb improvemen­t is certainly not to be sneezed at and he has some really nice bits of form, including a one-length defeat of Folkswood, who has since gone on to win a handicap event in Dubai and be placed in Group One company.

Rockspirit followed up that Yarmouth victory with another win over a Godolphin runner as he edged out Basem at Chelmsford on his final outing of the campaign in October.

Basem was perhaps not quite at his best that day, but Rockspirit showed plenty of guts under pressure to secure a short-head verdict despite being all wrong at the weights.

Rockspirit clearly still has plenty of untapped potential and can get off to a winning start here before going on to better things as the year progresses.

Secret Lightning gave himself no chance at all at Wolverhamp­ton last month but can get back on track in the Bet totetrifec­ta At totesport.com Handicap.

Slow to break at Dunstall Park, he was always battling to get back anywhere near on terms and unsurprisi­ngly finished well down the field.

He had previously turned in a superior effort when winning what was only a moderate event at Kempton but should not be ruled out in what is merely another average race.

Piaffe is an interestin­g runner as he makes his debut for Jane Chapple-hyam, pictured, in the Bet totequadpo­t At totesport.com Maiden Fillies’ Stakes. This daughter of Successful Appeal hails from the family of a Hong Kong Group One winner but after one unplaced run for Ralph Beckett last year, she was shipped off by owner Khalid Abdullah.

Bought for 21,000 guineas at Ascot in February, Chapple-hyam has opted to pitch Piaffe over 10 furlongs for her first start and she can improve for the extra distance, and perhaps a change of scenery.

Postbridge can strike gold in the Towcester Greyhounds Every Saturday On Attheraces Novices’ Hurdle at that track.

She had to settle for second over an extended two miles and five furlongs last time, but dropping back slightly in trip here, Postbridge can get back on the winning trail for Warren Greatrex. ● Last year’s winner Postponed is one of 29 entries for the Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom on June 2.

Roger Varian’s charge was no match for John Gosden’s Jack Hobbs in the Sheema Classic last time out but the pair could clash again at Epsom.

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