Irish Legend can benefit from shorter distance
IRISH Legend can reap his reward for a string of laudable efforts in good company by winning the Kube - Leicester’s Premier Event Hire Venue Handicap at the East Midlands course.
The Hugo Palmer-trained threeyear-old has strong claims on the evidence of his run at Royal Ascot when he was third to Foxes Tales in the Golden Gates Handicap over a mile and a quarter.
Since then, all his four races have been over further - but he has performed respectably on all occasions at Ascot twice, Goodwood and Kempton.
However, dropping back to the shorter distance looks the right way to go and can end in a return to winning ways.
Line Of Descent can hit the heights in the Leicester Racecourse Ideal Self-Hire Wedding Venue Handicap.
The three-year-old, trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, should also appreciate coming back in trip after finding a mile and three-quarters a shade too far on his latest start.
He went down by a length to seasoned campaigner Bollin Neil when he was running for just the fifth time.
His previous race had seen him make all at Hamilton to win for the first time, and he can recoup Musselburgh losses here.
Blue De Vega can repeat last year’s success at this meeting in the Leicester Racecourse Licenced For Civil Ceremonies Handicap.
Robert Cowell’s sprinter is 7lb lower than he was when taking the corresponding five-furlong handicap in 2020, but his form has been pretty good. He was third in the Gosforth Park Cup and won at Doncaster in August.
Having a second crack at seven furlongs may see Pretty Green get off the mark at the 11th attempt in the Vickers Best Odds Guaranteed Nursery Handicap at Brighton.
Her first attempt at that trip did not go to plan at Kempton when she was down the field, but a run over a mile here was then much better.
She led a long way from home after a slow start and was collared only in the final half a furlong, eventually finishing third.
Similar positive tactics can end in a first success for the Stuart Williams-trained filly.
Astrobrio can also open her account on the back of an encouraging run over this seven furlongs in the Vickers Bet Club - Bet £30 Get Restricted Maiden Stakes.
Having her second start, the Harry Eustace-trained youngster found only the much more experienced Zain Nibras a neck too strong at the line. That was a most promising effort and augurs well for the Garswood filly.
Aldbourne appeared to last out the mile well at Ffos Las last time despite being beaten and is worth another chance in the Unibet Nursery Handicap at Kempton.
Andrew Balding’s two-year-old stuck on well for third place behind Reelemin on his first try at the trip, and will be all the better for the effort after a 59-day break.