Woven has Ayr contest all stitched up
Michael Dods has had his string firing on all cylinders this month and looks well placed to add to his tally with Woven in the Racing TV Profits Returned To Racing Handicap at Ayr tomorrow.
The Darlington-based trainer has been banging in the winners across the country in recent weeks, with Azure Blue’s Group Two triumph in the Duke of York Stakes the obvious highlight.
Woven may not be in that class, but he is consistent in his grade and his recent reappearance victory at Doncaster suggested he is is very much as good as ever.
The seven-year-old was rated as high as 95 a few seasons ago and while he has only won three times, including once in Dubai, he has been placed on a further 13 occasions, the highlight being his second in the Ayr Silver Cup.
He made the most of an attractive mark of 83 when recovering from a tardy start to win going away on Town Moor little over a fortnight ago and he is capable of defying a 6lb rise now for his in-form stable.
Dods could also be on the scoresheet in the race prior when Berry Edge lines up in the Join Racing TV Now Handicap.
The five-year-old was beaten less than two lengths on his return over track and trip earlier this month and has the chance to build on that off the same rating having now blown away the cobwebs.
Brighton punters should put their faith in Seattle King in the John Price Handicap.
The son of Kingman was highly tried as a two-yearold when trained by Ralph Beckett, competing at Listed and Group Two level, and began life in handicaps for Phil McEntee with a mark in the high 80s.
A string of fairly uninspiring efforts saw his rating drop like a stone, though, and he now appears to have found his level – winning for the for the first time in almost two years here last month from a lowly perch of just 52.
After finishing fourth on his next start, Seattle King notched a second win at Brighton three weeks ago when rated 54 and is now up to 58.
There is a question mark over whether he is as effective at this 12 furlong trip as he is over a mile and a quarter, but he will take some stopping if his stamina does last out over the extra distance.
Eve Johnson Houghton’s Bishop’s Crown will not be winning out of turn if he can lift the Tasia Staker Restricted Novice Stakes.
The gelded son of Havana Gold has been placed on three of his four starts to date, most recently filling the runner-up spot in heavy ground at Goodwood on his three-year-old debut. Back on a sounder surface, he appears to have been found an excellent opportunity to break his duck.