The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Preening looks good to get it right this time
Fanshawe’s filly worth another chance after coming up short as Distaff favourite
PREENING
can recoup Sandown losses by taking Listed honours in the Markerstudy British EBF Valiant Stakes at Ascot.
James Fanshawe’s lightly-raced filly was sent off the 5-2 favourite for the Coral Distaff at her first attempt at this level but could only manage to take third place behind Awesometank.
She had attracted good market support on the back of a convincing victory in a handicap over the mile at Sandown last month in what was only her second start since returning after a 211-day break.
She may have come up a little short but she is clearly worth a second chance at Listed company on what will only be her sixth race.
ATTY PERSSE
sets a good standard for the rest to aim at in the JGR Handicap.
It might be that Roger Charlton’s four-year-old never quite hits the heights that were hoped of him in his early days, but that does not mean he has not paid his way – far from it.
His best moment came in the King George V Stakes at the Royal fixture last year, but things did not go plan after that at Newmarket and York, when the St Leger had been in the mix.
Gelded over the winter, he ran an excellent race to be third in the Old Newton Cup on his comeback at Haydock earlier this month and will have conditions to suit, off basically the same mark.
DREAM OF HONOUR
has obvious claims in the Unlimited Free Race Replays At sportinglife.com EBF Novice Stakes at Thirsk.
Richard Fahey’s colt was a seemingly unfancied 33-1 shot on his racecourse debut at York earlier in the month, but belied those odds with an excellent effort to finish a never-nearer third.
The son of Dream Ahead showed signs of his inexperience in the early stages before charging home, shaping as though he would improve significantly for the outing.
If that does prove to be the case, he should prove very hard to beat in this lesser grade.
SELECTIONS ASCOT:
1.50 Ceratonia, 2.25 Lost In Alaska, 3.00 Mancini, 3.35 PREENING (NAP), 4.10 Atty Persse, 4.45 Vibrant Chords, 5.15 Awesome.
2.00 Dream Of Honour, 2.35 Albanita, 3.10 Super Major, 3.45 Prince Elzaam, 4.20 Iron Sky, 4.55 Roys Dream, 5.25 Life For Rent.
DOUBLE: Preening and Atty Persse
THIRSK: