Following on from a busy few weeks on the service with highlights including Shantou Express (12/1), Blairgowrie, Dusart and Epatante in the Aintree Hurdle we are now locked and loaded for what promises to be the best month or two’s racing of the season as the Craven Meeting kicks off here in Newmarket on the Tuesday as well as our first 1.5pt runner in a while confirmed for this week!
Several horses have caught the eye in no uncertain terms however on the flat over the past week or two and these are well worth putting in your trackers for future engagements:
ALBERT BRIDGE (James Ferguson) – This Michael Buckley owned colt by Iffraaj shaped far better than the distance beaten suggests on debut at Kempton when held back by inexperience. Having traded as short as 5.8 in running he was checked and lost all momentum at a crucial stage when keeping on into what may well have been a place and with considerable improvement expected from his first to second start the James Ferguson yard feel he has what it takes to leave that debut form well behind in time.
ENCOURAGED (James Fanshawe) – This horse had a wasted spell over in Hong Kong where he failed to find his feet, but since being returned to the UK he shaped with bundles of promise on his stable debut for trainer James Fanshawe. The fact he was forced to switch around runners at the 2f pole that day under Silvestre De Sousa ultimately cost him the race in finishing a very close 2nd and with a 1lb rise looking a fair one, connections are confident he won’t be long in going one better.
SHADES OF SUMMER (James Tate) – This filly by Shamardal had been showing up well at home prior to her Newcastle debut, but was unfortunate to bump into a smart improver that day and having been in need of the experience the Tate yard feel she’ll have no issues in going one better next time out. She’s bred to be useful and is felt to be one of the better three-year old’s in the yard for the season ahead.
