Applause set to make it a rapid double
Mick Easterby can toast back-to-back victories with Rapid Applause when he goes for gold at Musselburgh.
The Sheriff Hutton handler was caught unawares by the six-year-old at Beverley last week when he absolutely bolted up in a five-furlong handicap.
Easterby did not expect Rapid Applause to win on the Westwood, but win he did as the former Irish resident stormed home by nearly two lengths.
The manner in which that race was competed aided Rapid Applause in no uncertain terms, but perhaps more compelling was the fact jockey Nathan Evans never once needed to get serious.
Rapid Applause must shoulder a 6lb penalty in this five-furlong handicap, but that still gives him the look of a very well treated horse as he was rated as highly as 110 in what has so far been a nomadic career.
Gilded Hour looks interesting in the seven-furlong fillies’ handicap at Chepstow.
Ralph Beckett’s three-year-old makes her handicap debut on a mark of 76, but she might be a wee bit better than that.
After all, she showed flashes of ability as a juvenile, having finished in the money at Kempton and at Doncaster, and was hardly disgraced at the firstnamed venue upon her return to the fray.
Gilded Hour was beaten four lengths into third in a seven-furlong novice stakes on April 18, but that was a pretty hot affair as the winner, Il Primo Sole, looks sharp for the John Gosden team.
And with runner-up Major Partnership, who was considered good enough to be given an entry in the Dante, no slouch, either, Gilded Hour’s performance deserves to be upgraded.
She was also too keen for her own good at Kempton, so jockey Oisin Murphy will be desperate to get her nice and relaxed in what is a weaker race.
Arctic Sea can be trusted to run with purpose in a one-mile handicap at Lingfield.
Paul Cole’s inmate has been in fair form this year, but he has not quite convinced that he is at his best over a mile and a quarter. (216) J Portman 9-10 ................ R Hornby 109 (16) R Beckett 9-10 ......................... O Murphy 56 (115) J Flint 9-7 (D) ........... W Cox (5) 115 (9) A Balding 9-4 (D) .................. D Probert 67 (149) R Hannon 9-3 (D) ....................... P Dobbs 45 (27) W Kittow 8-12 ............. K Shoemark 84 (11) David Loughnane 8-12 (C) .......... Fran Berry 94 (18) Miss K George 8-6 ....... Rhiain Ingram (5) 92 BETTING: 9-4 Gilded Hour, 7-2 Great Shot Sam, 4 Fire Orchid, 5 Goodnight Girl, 12 Polly’s Gold, Milan Reef, 14 Isabella Mayson, 20 Pastamakesufaster.
12-1 Pulled hard, chased leaders on outside went 2nd over 1f out, no impression and weakened into 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 4l behind Il Primo Sole at Kempton 7f Novice Stakes (3yo) (5) pol in Apr. 7-1 Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, kept on well, 2nd of 10, 1l behind No More Thrills at Lingfield 7f 3yo flls hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Apr. 4-1fav Tracked leaders, switched right 2f out, led entering final furlong, ridden and ran on, won at Lingfield 7f 2yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Dec beating Corazon Espinado by 1/2l, 11 ran. 16-1 Chased leaders, every chance over 1f out, weakened well inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 2 3/4l behind Awesometank at Newmarket 7f 2yo fll hcp (2) gs in Sep. K Ryan 9-2 ........................... T Queally (35) M Johnston 9-2 (BF) .... Daniel Tudhope (15) B Smart 9-2 .............................................. G Lee (15) K Dalgleish 8-11 .............. C Beasley (15) Rebecca Bastiman 8-11 ....... Phil Dennis (3) R Fahey 8-11 ............................... P Hanagan (15) D O’Meara 8-11 ................................. S James BETTING: 7-4 Deep Intrigue, 7-2 Moojim, 5 Nicki’s Angel, 7 Ahlan Bil Emarati, 8 Josiebond, 10 Oxygenic, 14 Don’t Tell Dandy. ROYAL BRAVE (34) Rebecca Bastiman 7 9-11 (CD3) .... Daniel Tudhope RAPID APPLAUSE (8)MWEasterby69-11(D) .... NathanEvans LONGROOM (195) N Wilson 6 9-10 (CD3) ................. C Beasley HAROME (45) Roger Fell 4 9-7 (D2) ....................... T Hamilton LANDING NIGHT (35) Rebecca Menzies 6 9-7 (CD) . R Scott (3) FETHIYE BOY (41) D Loughnane 4 9-6 (D4) .............. A Mullen LYDIATE LADY (15) E Alston 6 9-6 (D7) . Rachel Richardson (3) PEARL ACCLAIM (22)DCGriffiths89-4(CD) ............... DAllan SUWAAN (7) Mrs R Carr 4 9-3 (CD) ......................... J P Sullivan TANASOQ (8) P Midgley 5 9-3 ................................... P Makin TOMMY G (34) J Goldie 5 9-2 (BF) .................... Phil Dennis (3) LEXINGTON PLACE (15) Mrs R Carr 8 9-1 (CD) .......... J Garritty PEA SHOOTER (20) B Ellison 9 8-12 (CD) ..... Ben Robinson (5) LADY CRISTAL (97) K Burke 4 8-6 (CD) .................. P Hanagan BETTING: 9-2 Tommy G, 5 Lydiate Lady, 6 Rapid Applause, 15-2 Tanasoq, 8 Suwaan, 10 Pearl Acclaim, 12 Lady Cristal, Pea Shooter, 14 Others. (275) Mrs R Carr 4 9-7 ............ J P Sullivan (32) J J Quinn 4 9-5 (D) ...... Daniel Tudhope (185) E Alston 4 9-4 (D) ..................... J Hart (52) Roger Fell 6 9-4 ....... T Hamilton (204) K Dalgleish 5 9-3 ...................... G Lee (43) K Ryan 4 9-3 ......................................... T Eaves (37) K Dalgleish 4 9-3 ...................... C Beasley (6)KDalgleish59-2(D) ................... JoshQuinn(7) (204) Mrs L Normile 8 9-2 (D4)... J Gormley (5) (13) R Fahey 7 9-1 ........... P Hanagan (9) I Jardine 4 9-0 (D) ........ P Mulrennan (51) Rebecca Bastiman 5 8-13 (D)..Phil Dennis (3) BETTING: 5 Kodicat, 11-2 Royal Connoisseur, 7 Crazy Tornado, Cobalty Isle, 8 Sureyoutoldme, Chickenfortea, 10 Royal Duchess, 11 Zoravan, Acadian Angel, 12 Others.
7-1 Soon behind, headway over 1f out, never on terms, 4th of 5, 4l behind Mythical Spirit at Chelmsford City 6f fll hcp (5) pol in Mar. 10-1 Towards rear far side, 15th of 19, 14l behind Mr Orange at Thirsk 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gs in Apr. 25-1 Tracked leader, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 10, 2 1/2l behind It Must Be Faith at Wolverhampton 6f hcap 0-70 (5) in Mar. 25-1 Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, carried left over 1f out, soon switched right, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Jay Kay at Ayr 1m hcp 0-85 (4) hvy in Oct. 7-2 Led until over 3f out, rallied over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 6th of 7, 10l behind Quick Look at Catterick 6f hcp 0-80 (4) sft in Oct. (8) D O’Meara 4 10-4 ......... Daniel Tudhope (202) Mrs L Normile 6 10-2 (D) ..J Gormley (5) (13) M Dods 4 10-0 ....................... P Mulrennan (231) B Smart 4 10-0 .............................. G Lee (213) R M Smith 8 9-12 (D) .................. Nathan Evans (38) K Dalgleish 4 9-9 ............................ J P Sullivan (200) K Dalgleish 5 9-4 .............. R Scott (3) (196) R M Smith 4 9-4 (D) ................. D Allan (32) O Pears 4 9-1 .............................. A Mullen (237) S Crisford 3 8-8 ............................. P Hanagan BETTING: 11-8 Trading Point, 5 Al Ozzdi, 7 Royal Regent, 8 Forever A Lady, 10 Helovaplan, 12 Mooltazem, 14 Chinese Spirit, 16 Ce La Vie, 20 Others. HAYMARKET (181) R M Smith 9 9-9 (CD) ................... P Makin INTIWIN (181) Miss L Perratt 6 9-7 (BF) ...................... D Nolan RAVENHOE (3) M Johnston 5 9-7 (D) ......... Andrew Breslin (7) ADVENTUREMAN (13) Mrs R Carr 6 9-5 (C) ........... J P Sullivan GHOSTLY ARC (9) N Wilson 6 9-3 (CD) .................... P Hanagan GONE WITH THE WIND (25) Rebecca Bastiman 7 9-1 (D2) ...J Hart QUIET MOMENT (169) K Dalgleish 4 9-1 ............... R Scott (3) MY VALENTINO (40) Mrs D Sayer 5 8-13 ....................... S Gray NEW ABBEY ANGEL (43) K Dalgleish 5 8-13 .................. G Lee STARDRIFTER (170) Miss L Perratt 6 8-11 (BF, D) ..... A Mullen SIYAHAMBA (142) B Smart 4 8-9 ................. Harry Russell (7) COLOUR CONTRAST (38) I Jardine 5 8-9 ............ J Gormley (5) MOUNT CHEIRON (25) Mrs Barclay 7 8-7 (D2) ...Rachel Richardson (3) PALACE BALL (15) M W Easterby 4 8-7 ............. Nathan Evans BETTING: 5 New Abbey Angel, 11-2 Adventureman, 6 Stardrifter, 7 Intiwin, 8 Quiet Moment, Ravenhoe, 10 Gone With The Wind, 12 My Valentino, 14 Others.
4-1 Took keen hold, raced wide close up, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, carried head awkwardly and kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Raakid at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) in Mar.
9-2 Led and set steady pace, headed over 2f out, lost 2nd inside final furlong, kept on, 4th of 12, 4l behind Street Poet at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) in Apr. 5-2fav Held up towards rear, headway near side of group over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 2nd last strides and closed, not reach winner, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Pitch High at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-50 (7) in Nov.