Cherry Leaf could well supplement gains of Stuart Williams, with 2016 winner, Belle Mare Page, in the Maiden Fillies Stakes over five furlongs of Wolverhampton tapeta today; the former shaped encouragingly on debut seven weeks ago and her shrewd Newmarket-based trainer must never be underestimated.
Strange how so many trainers target similar races so often, Williams obviously knows what is required for moderate events at Dunstall Park and we're expecting Cherry Leaf to be on the premises under Stuart's proficient apprentice, Aaron Jones, claiming 3lbs allowance.
Obviously Cherry Leaf, ninth to Pavillon over six furlongs (beaten only four lengths!), needs to improve but multi-raced duo, Bithynia and Hathfa, aren't progressing, Bellevarde hasn't been out for 69 days and a clutch of others are either declared to get a handicap mark or nigh on useless.
Cherry Leaf, by Kheleyf, out of an Inchinor mare, is bred for speed and at the likely odds is worth chancing each-way with three places available.
As for Bithynia, our nap the last twice, she is drawn wide. It would be vexing to see her finally come good but racing again only five days after another lame effort smacks of panic by trainer David Evans. Let's hope I'm not eating those words.
Over the years it's paid off big-time following unlucky racehorses but between them Bithynia and Hathfa have raced sixteen times; unlucky doesn't come into it.
Darebin should win the aged Maiden Stakes over twelve furlongs, by process of elimination, and default; can't find semblance of a danger to this half-decent winning hurdler.
Dreaming Of Paris for the fourteen-runner aged Maiden Fillies' Stakes over a mile of Kempton polytrack; the way things have gone this first fortnight of the New Year I'm Dreaming of a winner!
The dreaded losing run always comes along and only hard work will get our ship back on course. Dreaming Of Paris looked obvious at first glance and even moreso after scrutiny of the rest, which includes seven un-raced.
William Haggas won't be Dreaming if Paris doesn't land my nap.
Wolverhampton
10.25 Cherry Leaf (e.w)
11.00 Darebin; Kempton
2.20 Dreaming Of Paris (nap)