Harrow set to be top of the class again
Andrew Balding’s Harrow can turn the tables on Blue Trail in the Woodford Reserve Cardinal Conditions Stakes at Chelmsford tomorrow.
Run as part of the ‘Road to the Kentucky Derby’, it is unlikely the winner will be heading to Churchill Downs. But a decent field has been assembled. Three of the six runners in this all met last time out at Kempton and there was very little between them.
Charlie Appleby’s Blue Trail continued his progression by getting the verdict by a nose from Harrow, with John and Thady Gosden’s Find just a head back in third.
Find appeared to get the run of the race that day, being nearer to the pace, while Blue Trail and Harrow came from the rear of the field.
Blue Trail then took an inside course, using the cutaway to great effect and saving ground, but Harrow’s rider David Probert had to go around the field. With Harrow now having a run under his belt the Tattersall Stakes third can gain his revenge.
The booking of William Buick on Cuban Breeze in the WoodfordReserveRyeHandicap catches the eye.
The four-year-old has won two of her last three, rising 8lb in the process, and connections clearly feel there is more to come from the David Evans-trained inmate to go to the trouble of engaging Buick.
Paul and Oliver Cole’s Tartarus had clearly been showing plenty at home as he was only sent off at 3-1 for his recent debut despite taking on an odds-on shot.
Plenty wrong, as he got very warm and ran green, but he still had enough ability to finish second to the favourite.
You would imagine he should have learned plenty and this son of Ruler Of The World can go one better in the Betway Median Auction Maiden at Lingfield.
It has taken a while for the penny to fully drop for Balding’s Sir Henry Cotton but now it has he can continue to progress in the Watch Racing Free Online At Coral Handicap. He showed glimpses at two that there was some ability but since being gelded he has come of age.
The handicapper was kind enough to drop him 5lb for finishing fourth at Southwell first time back and he was then second at Wolverhampton before returning there to win comfortably. He can defy a 2lb rise.
Good ground should aid Rikoboy’s chance in the Lewis Badges Limited Handicap Chase at Warwick.
Dr Richard Newland’s sixyear-old would have finished second to subsequent Champion Chase runner-up Funambule Sivola earlier in the season at Ascot but for falling at the last.
It has not been plain sailing since, but possibly the ground has been too soft for him and he should be fresher than most.