Fun and games in store with Shenanigans in the Fleur de Lys
– Shenanigans can cause a stir in the Listed Fleur De Lys Fillies’ Stakes at Lingfield today.
Roger Varian’s four-year-old is one of several in the fast-track qualifier feature who have been campaigned at the same level on turf of late.
Shenanigans, last seen on her travels in Cologne, has a convincing profile at a fair price in what is unsurprisingly a highly competitive event.
She was below her best and did not reward favourite backers when only eighth of 10 in the Preis des Casino Baden-Baden, run on soft ground.
She has had a month’s break, though, and if she returns to her most consistent previous form it should be good enough.
Shenanigans will be racing at Lingfield for the first time, but has been effective on Kempton’s Polytrack.
Dropping back 200m from her
London
German excursion to 1600m, she has much in her favour.
They will be racing 1000m further half an hour later, and Stream Song fits the bill in another Listed event - the River Eden Fillies’ Stakes.
John Gosden’s daughter of Mastercraftsman is switched to the all-weather for the first time - as are several of her opponents.
Stream Song kicked off her three-year-old campaign with a narrow handicap victory over 2000m as an even-money favourite at Windsor in April.
She has raced only twice since, though.
Pitched in at Listed level, with cheekpieces fitted for the first time, she was no match for the likes of Sea Of Class when she finished a 12-length last of six at Newbury in May.
But there is nothing of that calibre here, of course, and after an encouraging comeback third in a valuable Newmarket handicap at the start of last month, Stream Song is a prime contender for this new environment.
We are in lower grade on the Tapeta up at Newcastle.
But the Follow Top Tipster Templegate at Sun Racing Handicap is a decent contest, in which Thello catches the eye near the bottom of the weights.
Jim Goldie’s six-year-old receives upwards of 1kg from all but one in the field, and faces one or two who have been struggling to show their best.
Thello went close over 200m shorter at this course two weeks ago and has decent prospects of going one better this time.
In the closing Betway Handicap, Skyva will not shirk the issue. Brian Ellison’s gelding has cheekpieces on for the first time to make sure of that, and he has every right to be in the thick of it again.
It may be worth waiting till the last at Wolverhampton too, and putting some faith in Walk On Walter to come good again.
The three-year-old has had just one run for Jonathan Portman, since switching from David Simcock, and there was enough in his five-length sixth of 11 in an Epsom handicap to be optimistic about a third victory of the season soon.
Course specialist Black Art is Lingfield (UK) Thur Race 1 @ 14:30 back at Sedgefield for his fencing and seasonal debut in the Magnificent Six Ladies Of Nortonthorpe Mills Chase.
Sue Smith’s six-year-old showed some initial bumper promise when with Emma Lavelle and, switched up north, quickly established a rapport with this track over hurdles.
After finishing an encouraging runner-up in a novice, he took two January handicaps and then ended a fruitful campaign with a solid fifth up in trip to 4000m in a more valuable event.
Smith inmates are rarely slow to graduate to chasing and, back to 3300m, Black Art can make a winning return.
Donald McCain’s Same Circus is a tough mare with abundant stamina and she can give weight away all round first time out in the Breeders Cup Exclusive To Attheraces Handicap Hurdle. –