‘Bel’ to ring true

Sannibel, in the form of her life, attempts to go one better in the Maiden Stakes over six furlongs of Wolverhampton polytrack tonight. I’ll bet she does! We napped this speedy four-year-old, Needwood Blade filly in a similar race at Kempton nine days back and only the heavily-backed, long odds-on shot, Cats Eyes was able to cope with her early natural pace. Unfortunately, the ‘jolly’ went right though with his effort an  beat ‘us’ half a length, with the rest four and a half lengths and upwards in arrears, always a good sign of solid form. Never miss out with a good bet. When a mare in form is involved at this time of year, get on! It’s a similar situation, just one time-handicap danger but Place The Face wouldn’t be in the same league as Cats Eyes and so I’ll definitely play an each-way ‘special,’ if all eight run. Disappointing to see Slatey Hen in the eight-runner ‘aged’ handicap over five furlongs, Rae Guest’s charge was hampered at a vital stage around Lingfield six days ago and went into the notebook. Ironically, she will be hard-pressed to beat well-handicapped, Grand Stitch if Declan Carroll’s charge runs up to his mark under stable-apprentice Neil Farley, who still claims 5lbs allowance. Earlier, Southwell stages a seven-race fibresand programme with several small fields which, of course, precludes in-running problems, the scourge of all-weather handicaps, at all tracks. 

 

Perhaps, Inpursuitoffreedom will prove the TH ‘special’ she appears to be in the four-runner Fillies’ Handicap over a mile of the ‘deep stuff,’ which is unique and tough when thoroughbreds begin to weaken. Half an hour later, six are declared for the Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs. Two un-raced, well-bred types, Colour Guard and Profile Storm from the yards of Mark Johnston/David Barron, respectively, will surely dominate an extremely moderate-looking quartet. Colour Guard is reckoned useful and is by the enormously-successful Shamardal, an outstanding miler that Johnston trained. Barron is the most feared trainer at this particular course, where he’s plundered consistently, since the all-weather track was introduced 23 years ago. It’s an intriguing situation. You’ll have to watch the market(s) but despite his colossal burden, I’ll side with four-year-old Colour Guard to beat the younger rival over what is a tough sprinting distance.

 

SELECTIONS

RACE 17 (#4) INPURSUITOFFREEDOM

RACE 20 (#1) COLOUR GUARD

RACE 24 (#5) GRAND STITCH (e.w.)

RACE 28 (#2) SANNIBEL (nap)