Time is right for Scale to strike
Time Scale can get back on the winning trail by bagging a first Group Three success in Salisbury’s Shadwell Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes tomorrow.
Ralph Beckett’s charge was unplaced on her racecourse bow back in June, but then took a massive leap forward to breeze home by six lengths at Chepstow next time out – an effort which earned a swift step up to Listed company.
The daughter of Charm Spirit duly bridged that gap in class when powering home by three and th re e-quarter lengths in the Empress Stakes, booking her ticket for the Duchess of Cambridge in the process.
Time Scale was well fancied for that heat, but eventually had to settle for fourth behind Royal Ascot winner Dandalla – with runner-up Fev Rover going on to win a French Group Two, while third-placed Santosha is a subsequent Group Three scorer.
Clearly the form more than stacks up – and given Time Scale raced most prominently of the quartet, she could well have been closer had she shown a little more restraint.
She sticks at six furlongs here – and having shown decent form on varying ground, Time Scale does not appear to have any obvious chinks in her armour.
While her case is clear, a little more faith may be required to support Bimble in the European Blood stock News EBF “Lochsong” Fillies’ Handicap.
A well-beaten fourth on her only juvenile outing, Bimble’s run was not totally without promise, and she certainly put her best foot forward when returned to action at Goodwood in June.
Lining up in a six-furlong maiden event, Bimble travelled powerfully throughout before showing a nice change of gear to assert in the final furlong and go on to win by three and three-quarter lengths.
A couple of those in behind have subsequently gone on to victory, so there is some merit in the form, and a starting mark of 82 gives trainer Henry Candy something to work with.
Simon and Ed Crisford could be in for a good afternoon at Haydock, with both Ostilio and Without A Fight fancied to hit the mark.
Os ti lio has not go this head in front since winning a French Group Two back in October 2018, but he may be able to make the most of switching back to seven furlongs in the Betfair EBF Conditions Stakes.
He was just edged out by D’bai over course and distance on his seasonal reappearance, racing a bit keenly on what was his first start in 342 days, and it looked as though moving back up to a mile would be right up his street next time at Thirsk.