Surfing The Sand

ROCKET SET TO BLAST OFF IN LISTED FEATURE

By Simon Mapletoft

RICHIE’S ROCKET can make a seamless transition from maiden to Listed company in Saturday’s feature race, the BetMGM Spring Cup Stakes (3.10) at Lingfield - live on Sky Sports Racing.

Ralph Beckett’s colt went into plenty of notebooks when trouncing his opposition from the front over course and distance in late November, giving the impression that he can develop into a triple-digit performer as the year progresses.

Hector Crouch, who was third on him on his Newmarket debut, expects the son of New Bay to prove himself up to stakes class in a renewal that lacks strength in depth.

The danger could be Jamie Osborne’s terrier-like gelding Ten Carat Harry, who completed a five-timer on Trials Day at Newcastle last month and promises to be just as effective over 7f on this sharper track. Indeed, a big run from the Gosforth Park runner-up Lord Harcourt on Friday would further boost his prospects.

Irish raider Star Strewn is another interesting contender after bolting up on her debut for Ado McGuinness over 7f at Dundalk, albeit in an ordinary race. She possesses a high cruising speed, which could put her in the thick of things in a modest renewal under her 5lb fillies’ allowance.

2.12 Friday - BetMGM AWC 3 Year Old Trial Handicap (6f)

A 160,000 guineas yearling, HORACE WALLACE made a strong impression when dominating a 6f Wolverhampton novice at the start of the month and has been laid out for this by his trainer Richard Fahey. A good-looking son of Blue Point, he remains a work in progress but is drawn to attack off a relative featherweight, and he may just steal a march on his main rivals who all have wide berths to overcome.

The lightning-fast Henrythenate has been a revelation for Stuart Williams, winning back-to-back 5f handicaps at Lingfield off marks of 65 and 73. Raised a further 8lb for his latest romp, he remains open to progress but must prove himself over 6f having raced exclusively over the minimum distance.

Former champion trainer Mick Appleby had the progressive Mr Juggles entered in the Listed Spring Cup at Lingfield on Saturday but has opted for this handicap instead. This is a contrasting test to the one he passed at Southwell last time, however, and a wide draw in stall 10 won’t help his prospects of completing a hat-trick.

Ashley Lewis’s 5lb allowance will be a help to Ed Walker’s Lord Harcourt, who beat all but Ten Carat Harry in the 3YO Trial at Newcastle last month. A dual nursery winner over course and distance, he hasn’t looked back since being gelded and is a player, too.

2.42 Friday - BetMGM AWC Fillies And Mares Trial Handicap (7f)

PARTY BEAR was developing an improving profile until her saddle slipped at Newcastle last time, but she can get back on track in what looks a modest distaff trial.

Karl Burke’s filly confirmed the promise of her Kempton run when landing a course-and-distance handicap at the end of January and remains only 3lb higher. A handy sort, she looks well enough drawn in stall 5 to travel on the heels of the leaders and can reverse Newcastle form with Mereside Diva and Brazilian Rose, who has been dealt a difficult starting position in stall 11.

Penelope Valentine took a course-and-distance handicap in November and has since won over the extended mile at Wolverhampton. James Owen’s filly has now won four of her 16 starts on synthetics, but a 6lb higher mark demands more.

Top-weight Bridget’s View has left Ed Walker since taking a fillies’ handicap at Southwell in December - when beating subsequent Newcastle Trial winner Stateira - but she disappointed at that track last time and so now has something to prove on debut for Stuart Williams off a mark some 9lb higher than the one she won off.

3.12 Friday - Midnite AWC Sprint Trial Handicap (6f)

I expected Ferrous to win the Listed Kachy Stakes at the end of January, but he could only finish fourth to dead-heaters Diligent Harry and Completely Random and now steps back into a handicap giving weight away to some exciting rivals.

Jack Channon’s grey may just be sharper for that first outing since September, but in EL BODON (NAP) he's clashing with a lightly-raced five-year-old who looks like a stakes horse in the making following back-to-back Class 2 handicap wins at Kempton this winter.

Runner-up in the Greenham as a three-year-old, Jane Chapple-Hyam’s gelding remains unbeaten in three starts on the All-Weather and can take full advantage of the 3lb he gets from Ferrous from a decent stalking draw in stall 5.

Amo Racing’s Lakers has posted two cracking efforts over 6f at Southwell but needs a career best on a track that will present him with a markedly different test. He’s useful but may be seen to better effect over the straight 6f at Newcastle come Finals Day.

3.45 Friday - Midnite AWC Marathon Trial Handicap (2m)

Roaring Legend took a big step back in the right direction at Wolverhampton a few weeks ago when finishing second to the in-form Ribble Vibe over 2m on his debut for Olly Murphy, in a race that could provide the key to this outcome.

The six-year-old finished in front of three of Friday’s rivals and so looks certain to give a strong account of himself here, despite the potential anchor of 9st 12lb. He won this race last year for Hugo Palmer but returns off an 8lb higher mark.

It’s interesting that George Boughey continues to persevere over this trip with BRASIL POWER, who possesses a telling turn of foot for a stayer and finished right on the heels of Roaring Legend and Enemy at Wolverhampton.

Returning to the track he won over back in December, Billy Loughnane’s mount has the credentials to turn the tables on slightly better terms. What’s more, he lowered the colours of last weekend’s Class 2 winner Paradias at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day.

Solarize, still a work in progress, has produced his best form at a lower level and now tries this trip for the first time, while equine millionaire Enemy has never won at this distance and Ralph Beckett’s Anniversary is posed a tough question on this All-Weather debut, having been away from the track since June.

4.20 Friday - Midnite AWC Middle Distance Trial Handicap (1m2f)

What a remarkable horse BEYLERBEYI (NB) is. Last autumn’s Cesarewitch winner has switched seamlessly to middle distances this winter and produced two impressive performances in defeat, firstly on Trials Day at Newcastle and then at Kempton Park last month.

He only just failed to catch track-specialist Whitcombe Rockstar over 11f on the Polytrack and should have no problem with this sharper test, as he’s won over the extended 9f around Wolverhampton.

Beylerbeyi would be a big player in the Marathon final, the newly-named Easter Plate, so it’s significant that Ian Williams chooses to target the Classic instead. There’s no doubt 10f at Newcastle will suit him even better, but I expect him to prove too strong for these opponents.

David O’Meara’s Duke’s Command won a course-and-distance handicap off a 3lb lower rating in December and built on that when third in the Listed Quebec Stakes at this track on New Year’s Eve, ridden on both occasions by Billy Loughnane who forsakes him for Beylerbeyi.

4.53 Friday - BetMGM AWC Mile Trial Handicap (1m)

With three wins from seven All-Weather starts on his CV, Kevin Ryan’s APIARIST arrives at Lingfield with a major chance of enhancing his claims for Finals Day come Good Friday.

He beat subsequent dual Listed winner Royal Zabeel at Southwell a year ago and made the frame in a valuable heritage handicap at Ascot in October before returning with another fine effort in last month’s trial at Newcastle.

Apiarist travelled like a dream that day and would have got much closer to the winner Witch Hunter had he not been squeezed for room in the final furlong. He now reappears off an unchanged mark, but with Jack Callan taking off an invaluable 5lb.

Though producing his best form on more conventional tracks, he can post a power-packed finish if he’s well enough placed to get a slingshot off the home bend, and so rates a danger to all.

Popmaster is keeping busy after a near miss over 7f at Kempton on Wednesday, and with proven form at a good level at this track he looks sure to give his running once again, with Ashley Lewis again taking off 5lb. Richard Hannon had some strong options but goes with Eupator, who is 15lb higher than for the first of two wins at Wolverhampton and needs to settle better than he did there last time out.

OSCAR OUT TO MAINTAIN HORSE OF THE YEAR LEAD

Record-equalling Aisling Oscar will be the headline act at Southwell on Saturday night when he lines up for the Midnite A Next Generation Betting App Handicap (7.00) - live on Sky Sports Racing.

Adrian Keatley’s gelding - whose course-and-distance success earlier this month equalled the record for eight successive handicap wins - faces 11 rivals in the 1m contest, with promising claimer Connor Whiteley taking off 7lb.

Aisling Oscar’s winning streak came to an end at Newcastle two weeks ago when he was caught close home by Francesi, though the win was enough to keep him at the top of the Horse of the Year table in his quest to scoop his owners £100,000.

Keatley told me: “It would be amazing to see him win again, but he’s up another 4lb which makes it tougher. It’s all about putting more points on the board to stay on top. We still have three more runs in March that count, so we’re in a strong position.”

Aisling Oscar is one point ahead of his Gosforth Park victor Francesi on 233 points, with Ben Haslam’s Yorkshire Glory moving into third place on 218 points after his fifth win of the season on Tuesday at Southwell.

Haslam’s improving Middleham Park stayer Wicksey completed his February hat-trick that night to guarantee a share of more than £40,000 with Al Najashi (Ollie Sangster) and Beauzon (Ian Williams) in the monthly bonus competition.

EYECATCHERS

HOMER STOKES

David and Nicola Barron’s gelding was unlucky not to win a 7f classified stakes at Southwell on Tuesday - the second time he’s finished runner-up in two starts at that level. A triple course-and-distance winner, he got trapped behind horses, including the eventual winner, before flying at the death. Compensation awaits.

ZAIN PRIMUS

John Butler’s newcomer stuck well to his task against previous winners Factual and Majestic Dane in a 7f novice at Newcastle last week. A scopey sort, this 90,000 guineas yearling appears to have enough speed for sprinting on this evidence. He’s out of a 6f winner on the sand, so don’t be surprised to see him drop back in trip on his second start.

SKIP TO VICTORY

Dylan Cunha’s filly was overlooked in the betting in a 5f novice at Southwell on Tuesday but put up a gutsy performance to split the 80-rated Hayynah and short-priced favourite Mehmas Engine. It was a big improvement on her debut run over course and distance, when she was well backed, and this daughter of a 5f All-Weather winner can be placed to optimum effect.

STATION X

Bryan Smart’s four-year-old had been gelded over the winter and made a striking All-Weather debut in a 6f handicap at Southwell on Friday night, beating all bar the in-form Star Chorus. A dual winner on testing ground, the grey travelled smoothly across the Tapeta and can go one better off just a pound higher mark next time.

Follow @SimonMapletoft