Saint to go marching in
SAINT Equiano bolted up on his latest visit to Ayr and will take plenty of beating on his return to the track.
Having run well in defeat twice at Ayr in June, the Keith Dalgleish-trained gelding finished third at Chester.
After a couple months off, the four-year-old returned to Ayr for the Western meeting a couple of weeks ago and turned what looked a competitive handicap into a procession, dominating his rivals from the front.
Given the manner of the victory, it is no surprise the assessor has handed him an 8lb rise.
However, that may not be enough to stop him following up if he is in similar mood.
Dalgleish loves a winner at Ayr and is also fancied to strike gold with I’m Improving in the Weatherbys Hamilton Handicap.
This three-year-old looked quite an exciting prospect after rounding off his juvenile campaign with a runaway victory at Redcar.
He still appeared a little green when fourth on his reappearance at Wetherby and he was rightly prominent in the market on his next start at Carlisle.
Fitted with a hood for the first time, I’m Improving ran with the choke out and consequently failed to get over a mile and three furlongs on what is a stiff track.
Back at a mile and a quarter on a flatter surface, if he is a little more tractable Dalgleish’s charge looks sure to make his presence felt.
The Roger Varian-trained Augenblick rates the best bet at Kempton’s evening fixture.
The daughter of Epaulette made a winning start to her racing career here last October and a decisive victory at Newcastle the following month ensured he headed for a winter break two from two.