Rialto Magic never did win but patience, as ever, might just prove the ultimate virtue when this Monsieur Bond filly contests the three-year-old Maiden Auction Stakes over seven furlongs of Lingfield polytrack today; will she stay?
On the time-handicap Rialto Magic is our clear time-handicap choice but several efforts over this trip failed to bear fruit; her latest effort over six furlongs on Wolverhampton Tapeta (fastest all-weather track in the United Kingdom!) represented a return to form, ridden for the first time by talented apprentice, Shane Grey.
William Carson is back this time!
That's no problem because Carson has improved considerably during the last twelve months and rides a canny race.
Any one of four newcomers wouldn't need to be any "great shakes" but trainers are often loathe to win first-up as the programme book doesn't cater for the immediate future, so to speak; gone are the days when the next step would be a "maidens at closing" race which, of course, involved carry a penalty.
Why has the traditional progression been tampered with so unnecessarily?
Betting was the reason why most of us were attracted to horse-racing but changes have compromised the chance and now a high percentage of races are tight, boring handicaps; no-go areas for professionally-minded followers
With three places of offer, an in-form filly, and an outstanding opportunity in prospect, Rialto Magic justifies a serious each-way bet to nothing!
Pound for pound Graham Gibbons is about the best jockey and he'll be fancying his chances in twice-raced Qaffaal in the Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs of Southwell fibresand; it's a weak race but this expensive cast-off mighty just come really good in the hands over veteran trainer Mick Easterby whose yard is in tremendous form.