DENIS READY FOR COMBAT
Trainer Denis Coakley enjoyed success in the Victoria Cup three years ago with Gabriel’s Lad and
HORS DE COMBAT (ascot, nap, 4.00) could be about to repeat that today.
Formerly trained by James Fanshawe, the six-year- old is well acclimatised to the rough and tumble of big-field handicaps — he was third in a 30-runner Britannia Handicap over a mile earlier in his career.
That performance was recorded a month after his last victory at newmarket in 2014 — and he hasn’t won in 19 starts since.
However, one of the gelding’s best career efforts was achieved over seven furlongs at newmarket a couple of summers back so today’s drop in trip may prove a masterstroke by Coakley, who has also shrewdly snapped up the services of Jim Crowley.
Hors De Combat arrives on the back of a fine run at Bath behind Lincoln runner-up Oh This is Us and looks a sporting nap in a tasty handicap.
The epsom trials bandwagon rolls on to Lingfield this afternoon and aidan O’Brien, fresh from a fine week at Chester, holds a typically strong hand. POCKETFULLOFDREAMS (Lingfield, 1.55) faces competition from newcastle maiden winner The Sky is Blazing, but the selection ran a fine race in defeat at navan when overhauled by a classy rival close to home and she can gain compensation for a couple of narrow defeats.
it almost goes without saying that Ballydoyle representative Sir John Lavery will take some beating in the Betfred Derby Trial, but a lack of an outing and limited experience may render him a little vulnerable and i like the booking of richard Kingscote for SOFIA’S ROCK (Lingfield, 2.30).
Kingscote is typically an excellent judge of pace and, as he is likely to race prominently aboard Sofia’s rock — who made all to win at Leicester in a strong time a fortnight ago — he could prove the perfect ally on a horse that is thriving.