Backers of Beckett’s Brasca braced for a bash at Chelmsford
– Trainer Ralph Beckett’s two-year-olds have ended the season in fine form and he can notch another winner in the juvenile division with Brasca in the Novice Stakes at Chelmsford.
The Nathaniel colt holds an entry in the 2019 Derby, which admittedly looks a little fanciful based on the evidence seen to date so far.
Second of four on his only run, he was beaten quite comfortably by Mark Johnston’s Desert Friend, who has since defied a penalty at Kempton.
The irony will not be lost on Beckett that Brasca faces another Johnston youngster, Themaxwecan, who himself will try to carry a penalty to victory having beaten Beckett’s Skymax on his debut.
Beckett should have a decent line on what sort of mark Brasca will need to run to to beat Themaxwecan, and the fact that he is
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happy to take him on must mean he feels he will come out on top.
Chitra has been on an upward curve in the last two months, winning three of her last five starts and finishing second in the other two.
She has gone up 7kg for her efforts, but is clearly still on the upgrade.
The Daniel Kubler-trained filly can prove the point by putting her rivals to the sword in the Nursery Handicap.
Glendevon is the one to be with in the Irish Lotto Handicap for trainer Richard Hughes and jockey Jamie Spencer.
The three-year-old ran a nice race on his return from a 91-day break – during which time he was gelded - when second over this course and distance last month.
That was his first try at the 2000m trip and he goes handicapping now for the first time.
Sure to be sharper for the experience, it will be interesting to see how he goes, as he has some decent bits of form to his name.
Things have not gone entirely smoothly since Moon Racer took the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in 2015 but he has plenty of ability and looks the one to be on in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Newbury.
The David Pipe-trained nineyear-old has been restricted to just eight starts since his famous win but demonstrated his talent by winning on his latest outing at Ayr in April.
He can carry on from where he left off in the spring.
Drinks Interval can continue her excellent run of form in the Bud Booth Mares’ Chase at Market Rasen.
The six-year-old has already surpassed her achievements over hurdles since having her attention switched to fences, winning three of her four starts over the larger obstacles.
She bolted up on her latest appearance at Chepstow and has earned this step up to Listed class.
Elkstone won in good style over 4800m on his first visit to Kempton and can double up when Chelmsford (UK) Thur Race 1 @ 19:15 he returns to more familiar surroundings in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
Caroline Bailey’s seven-yearold has only been out of the first four once in seven races at Market Rasen, but this will be the longest trip he has tried. Judged on his Kempton run, it should be right up his street.
Informateur can confirm the promise of his first outing for six months when second at Hexham four weeks ago by opening his account in the Novices’ Hurdle at Sedgefield.
The Sue Smith-trained fiveyear-old only went down by half a length to the odds-on favourite Simply The Betts, despite making a mistake at the final flight.
The first two drew 21 lengths of the third to suggest the form should at least be good enough to take this prize. –