Western Morning News (Saturday)
Wonderful Eagle can soar again
Philip Hobbs
WONDERFUL Eagle made a seamless switch to the allweather last month and can keep up the good work in the Liz And Izzy’s HOAP Podcast Handicap at Southwell.
Trained by Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, the five-year-old won two of his five hurdles starts over the winter before his handlers made the decision to move back to the level.
Having won three times on the Flat in Germany for Henk Grewe, it was not too surprising that Wonderful Eagle was game for the task over 14 furlongs at this track, showing a willing attitude on his first start for 104 days to win by half a length.
Wonderful Eagle would be expected to strip a bit fitter for the outing and while he must contend with a 3lb rise, edging up to an extended two miles should not be an issue given his National Hunt successes.
The form of Giudecca’s maiden win last September has worked out well and she is one for the short list in the Best Odds Guaranteed At Planet Sport Bet Fillies’ Handicap.
Placed on her first two starts for Sir Michael Stoute, this half-sister to Integral got off the mark at the third attempt with a cosy two-and-threequarter-length verdict back in September, with the second, third and fourth all subsequent winners. That victory came over seven furlongs but switching up to a mile here provides few concerns given her pedigree.
Blue Day takes the eye off a mark of 77 in the Download The Planet Sport Bet App Handicap.
Harry Charlton’s charge will be making his handicap bow in this contest after three fair runs as a juvenile, finishing fourth on the first two attempts before rounding off with a second place behind Jarraaf in October.
He finished half a length ahead of Moswaat, who went on to be placed in Listed company, making Blue Day an attractive proposition at this level.
Lingua Franca can pick up where she left off last term by winning the Burrows Mazda York Fillies’ Novice Stakes at Wetherby.
Beaten 11 lengths by dual Groupclass winner Darnation on debut, Lingua Franca was a winner at the second attempt when triumphing over a mile at Haydock in September.
The Study Of Man filly tackles an extra two furlongs now but she is bred to stay and trainer Sir Mark Prescott’s runners have been going well of late.
Extrication made a decent start for Roger Teal when third at Kempton earlier in the month after racing very keenly and keeping on at the finish.
He deserves more credit than his three-and-a-quarter-length defeat suggests and can build on that effort in the Join The Vickers.Bet Free Bet Club Novice Stakes.
Lakota Brave found 10 furlongs beyond him last time but back over a mile in the Paradiso Blinds Handicap at Bath, he can regain the winning thread.