The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Festival time at Wolverhampton
Festival Of Ages can get back on the winning trail with victory in the Betway Conditions Stakes at Wolverhampton.
Charlie Appleby’s charge was sidelined for the best part of a year and a half after winning a Newmarket maiden in the summer of 2017.
However, he was backed off the boards on his return from a near 500-day absence at Kempton in November and duly proved his ability remains very intact with a comfortable success.
He was a warm order to follow up when stepped up to an extended two miles at Newcastle last month and while favourite-backers had their fingers burnt, he was not disgraced in finishing second to Stargazer, who is a highclass stayer in his own right and something of a course specialist at Gosforth Park.
The handicapper was impressed enough to raise Festival Of Ages 4lb to a mark of 98 and with just four runs under his belt, there is every chance he has not reached the ceiling of ability just yet.
Last year’s winner Watersmeet is a serious rival in what promises to be an informative fast-track qualifier for the All-Weather Championships, but Appleby’s inmate gets the nod.
The Simon Crisford-trained Simple Thought will not be winning out of turn if coming good in the Betway Novice Stakes.
The daughter of Teofilo finished down the field on her only juvenile start at Newmarket, but shaped with far more promise as a three-year-old, placing on four of her five starts in 2018.
She produced what was arguably a career-best performance when beaten a length into second in a Kempton maiden on her latest outing and will not need to improve much - if at all - to go one better.
SELECTIONS:
FFOS LAS: 1.30 Steel Native, 2.05 Press Gang, 2.35 The Last Day, 3.05 Chief Brody, 3.40 Quantum Of Solace, 4.15 Get In The Queue.
FONTWELL: 1.20 Not Never, 1.55 So Lonely, 2.25 Cabragh, 2.55 Carrick Roads, 3.25 Mortens Leam, 4.00 Sky Full Of Stars.
WOLVERHAMPTON: 4.40 Macho Lady, 5.15 Carpet Time, 5.45 Secondo, 6.15
FESTIVAL OF AGES (nap), 6.45 Simple Thought, 7.15 Dragon Mall, 7.45 Bollihope.
DOUBLE: Festival Of Ages and Dragon Mall.
CASTLEGATE: Carrick Roads (Fontwell 2.55)