Aqueduct 27 December 2014
Instructions
Please click on the “View Full Racecard & Odds” button to get the full racecard information.
This represents a marked drop in class for CONSTANTINE and it will be disappointing if he can't make an impact at this level. Oliver Rush is feared most, with Prince Raja rating best of the rest.
BROTHER RALPHIE was disappointing second time back after finishing third on his return. Horses can often suffer a bounce in such circumstances and he has a shot to reverse a recent decision with Blue Chips Only, who ran well when cut back to sprinting. Grandpa Len's recent form is sound but he is unproven at this trip.
MARBLE FALLS has hinted at ability in tougher maidens and may make good use of the inside post running in a maiden claimer for the first time. Aleander ran third on his local debut, has back class and is in a career-low spot. Qui C'est Moi is another of interest.
SNAKE PIT may have found Laurel's mile an insufficient test last month and he's better over two turns. The class dropper gets the rail for his local return. Golden Itiz is better than his last run and is respected, while Treasury Devil is also one to consider.
MAXIMUS MIKE ran evenly in a sprint first time off a claim by his current trainer and is likely to show more now stepping up to a mile. Face The Race is one of a few big class droppers in here and ran well last month. His connections are prepared to risk losing him in order to get a victory. No Nukes is another to consider.
Jeter has a better draw than last time when he shaped well, but WACO brings speed to a pretty paceless affair and that could give him the edge. He's contested the lead in three starts since a maiden score but hasn't quite got home. The cut back to six furlongs helps.
Bossy Boots didn't get home on her return, while Shotgun Love and Zucca are worth watching on debut. The speedy STONELY HEART has faded badly in her last two starts and trainer Bruce Levine runs her in blinkers for the first time. A fast workout recently may be a hint that the headgear will work and she gets the nod.
Erik The Red may improve second time back and is unexposed in routes, but the fitting of first-time blinkers might spark improvement in CHARGE NOW, who looked to have a bright future when he was pipped by a subsequent Grade 1 winner at Saratoga in the summer. He went off form after that but has worked really strongly for his return.
Tummel is much better than his second in a four-runner race last time suggests. Preference is still for CAY TO POMEROY, who showed he retains plenty of ability when third on his return. The speedster did finish behind Reggie D but it was his first start since July. His new trainer has a fine record with freshened runners and new claims.
