Philadelphia Park 01 January 2009
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RISQUE'S DEAR produced an improved effort with Fergal Lynch on board for the first time on her latest start. She has needed plenty of time to find any sort of form, but finally seems to be getting her act together now and Lynch keeps the ride. Preppy Princess is the obvious danger in a race which few can be realistically fancied. She holds Li'l Ava Lou on her two latest runs.
SHAPEZ has started to get his act together in recent starts and came from some way back to win a claimer last time. It's not impossible that he might have more to offer. Tanganiyika returns to claiming company and must have an obvious form chance after battling home to win a stakes race on his most recent appearance. He seems happier on dirt than he was on turf at previous tracks. Top Of The Town ran respectably in this grade last time.
Down to this grade for the first time, TREASURE MOUNTAIN led everywhere but the last few strides here on his latest appearance. He drops back from six to five and a half furlongs here and that may just work in his favour. Storms Past may pose the likeliest threat, having battled on well to win his maiden claimer two starts ago, before disappointing in better grade afterwards. Naked Nues makes his Philadelphia debut.
BIBLICAL SCHOLAR has won three of his last four starts and may be able to keep up the good work in this open contest. He has stacks of experience and seems to be running as well as ever, despite his rising years. Beck And Call makes a belated first trip to Philadelphia and would not be out of this if repeating form of his couple of wins at Suffolk Downs in the summer. This may be tougher than Jackie Lad cares for, but you can't fault his consistency.
NEEDTOGETPAID looked a likely future winner when making late gains to finish second in an identical event on his debut last month. With the excellent Jose Flores keeping the mount, he may have enough improvement in him to land the spoils here. Count The Gold has been struggling to get home so far, but has still shown enough to suggest that he should get involved. Tumbleweed would not need to be anything too special to make an impact on his debut.
DREAMS INCLUDED looks as if she may appreciate this move back up to six furlongs and she should certainly benefit from a return to claiming company. Northernstaraglow showed more sparkle under a keen front-running ride last time and could help tee the race up for a finisher - like the selection - if she sets off at that speed again. Spicy McHaggis looks the other to consider on recent form.
WINCAT takes a sizeable drop in grade back into allowance company, having given a fine account of himself in a Grade 2 at Gulfstream Park back in February. Off the course since, he has presumably had a fairly serious problem and his fitness must clearly be taken on trust, but the gelding represents a powerful barn and could be tough to beat. Twopunchestogo was most impressive when scoring in similar company in October. He has plenty of pace and looks the one most likely to pick up the pieces should the favourite flop. Mister Nobody is the other to consider.
Honest Appeal has something to prove after a disappointing effort over six and a half furlongs here last time, albeit in a higher grade, so the verdict goes to the limited but consistent CREVE COEUR who was a decent third over 6f here in this grade last month. Thisonesforsam is another with possibilities.
