TimeformBlog

Reg Hollinshead's Eastern Magic can go well at a very big price in what looks a competitive handicap at 15:30. He was the subject of a gamble on his latest start, suggesting there is much belief that he is a touch better than his current handicaps mark gives credit for, but he was hampered at a crucial stage and was unable to give his true running. A more truly-run contest this afternoon could bring about some improvement, and Eastern Magic should be capable of giving the market principals a lot to think about.

Bandanaman can reverse the form with Balamory Dan in the 15:50 at Sedgefield. The step up in trip of two furlongs should bring about sufficient improvement in Bandanaman, for he has recently shaped as if in need of further and lacked the pace to get on terms with Balamory Dan on that latest outing. He is still relatively lightly raced, having had just the four starts over hurdles to date, and he gives the impression there could be more to come. He has only been raised 3lb for his previous effort, which was a fairly good performance in its own right, and he heads into this racing off what seems a winnable mark. A P McCoy is booked for the ride, and Bandanaman should be able to overcome Balamory Dan and the others in what looks an average contest.

Buzkashi goes in the fillies' maiden (16:30) and should prove hard to beat having shown plenty of promise on debut, finishing in behind both John Gosden's Fallen For You, who is notably entered in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster on Friday, and Rythmic, who won her one and only subsequent start in impressive fashion. Buzkashi was a little outpaced on that occasion and was unable to land a blow racing over seven furlongs, but the step up in trip to a mile this afternoon should bring about sufficient improvement for a strong run, especially with that all-important racecourse experience behind her.

Recommendations
Back Eastern Magic @ 15.0 in the 15:30 at Leicester
Back Bandanaman@ 4.3 in the 15:50 at Sedgefield
Back Buzkashi @ 2.72 in the 16:30 at Leicester

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Humidor won four times in 2010 and was better than ever when going in again in first-time blinkers in a handicap at Goodwood in April. He has run respectably in pattern races the last twice and commands respect stepping down in grade.

Steps improved when a ready winner of a six-furlong handicap here in May and went in over five furlongs at Newmarket the following month. He was well held in a hot handicap last time and his task here isn't any easier on stiff enough terms.

Stone of Folca was a useful two-year-old and faced a very simple task when breaking his duck on his reappearance at Folkestone. He has been well held in better company since and didn't do enough in handicap last time to warrant consideration here.

Lui Rei is a useful performer on his day and was running well in defeat earlier in the season. He hasn't been at his best the last twice though and is better over further.

Mister Manannan is a strong-travelling sort who didn't build on a winning reappearance in 2010. He has been treading a similar path this time round and has something to prove with headgear removed after another modest effort last time.

Monsieur Joe is a speedy sort who scaled new heights when placed twice at Meydan earlier in the year. He hasn't quite been at that level back on these shores but still has leading claims on these terms.

Bathwick Bear was right back to his best when second in a five-furlong handicap at Chester in July. He has run creditably a couple of times since but faces no easy task in this company.

Pabusar was finally back to form when second in a big-field handicap at Newmarket in July. He was well held last time but has every chance on these terms if anywhere near his best.

Timeform 1-2-3:
1.    Humidor
2.    Monsieur Joe
3.    Pabusar

Timeform View: Humidor will find this slightly easier than the pattern races he has been contesting of late and is taken to get come out on top, possibly at the main expense of Monsieur Joe and Pabusar.

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Signor Sassi (14.20) has been a beaten favourite on his first two starts but can make it third time lucky in the opener at Newcastle. Sent off at 1.57 last time at Windsor, Signor Sassi was no match for Gary Moore's Shamahan, but that one looks a useful prospect and certainly among his rivals today that have previously raced there doesn't appear to be anything with the same promise. Signor Sassi's debut second at Newmarket looks very strong, as he just failed by a head to Gung Ho Jack, since a winner of a nursery off 79, while the third and fifth have won maidens in the meantime. If handling the softer conditions today, Signor Sassi seems sure to go close.

Thriving hurdler Sansili (16.40) can break his duck on the Flat at Bath. He scored for the third time in four starts over timber at Ffos Las recently, finding plenty and defying a mark of 110 in the process. Sansili is rated just 60 on the level and is down in grade having contested a competitive class 4 when last seen on the Flat in July. The in-form William Carson takes the ride.

Argaum (17.30) can supplement last week's success at Hereford in what looks a weak finale at Newton Abbot. The four-year-old seemed to be transformed by the application of a visor on Wednesday as he bounded clear, a couple of mistakes not halting him. The in-form Aodhagan Conlon's 5 lb claim offsets a large part of Argaum's penalty and he looks the one to beat with the return to a firmer surface unlikely to pose a problem.

Recommendations
Back Signor Sassi @ 2.58 Newcastle 14.20
Back Sansili @ 4.8 Bath 16.40
Back Argaum @ 2.14 Newton Abbot 17.30

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Maastricht showed marked improvement under an enterprising ride when getting off the mark at Beverley (8.5f) recently. Bred to stay this far, so could figure again under his penalty.

Glee was gradually progressive in nurseries since opening account at Goodwood (6f) in May. Stamina seemed stretched to limit over 1m last time, though, so doubts whether this test will suit.

Snowed In got back on track when leading close home in a 7f Wolverhampton claimer last month, but well beaten only previous try in a nursery and stamina far from assured upped markedly in trip here.

Shark In The Sea's first worthwhile form was when a keeping-on fifth in a 1m Kempton maiden last month. More emphasis on stamina sure to suit now going handicapping, so not ruled out if blinkers have positive effect.

Foster's Road failed to show any improvement returned to a more realistic level when mid-field in a 1m Kempton maiden last month. Mixed messages on pedigree regarding stamina for this test now switched to a handicap.

Accustomed put in an improved effort when runner-up in a 7.6f Lingfield maiden in July. Unsuited by steady pace in a Kempton nursery last time and better expected if stamina holds out over this longer trip.

Clean Bowled has shown a bit more when twice making frame at up to 8.6f in this headgear last month, but looked hard work in doing so and good deal more required now having stamina drawn out further.

Welsh Nayber achieved a good deal more than he had previously when not beaten far over 7f at Salisbury last month. Pedigree points to him staying this far, so no surprise if he figured on handicap bow.

Enjoying wasn't disgraced on either start in nurseries at up to 8.3f last month, but looks fully exposed and blinkers/longer trip need to have the desired effect.

Timeform 1-2-3:
1. Welsh Nayber
2. Shark In The Sea
3. Maastricht

Timeform View: Maastricht commands respect upped further in trip under his penalty, but Welsh Nayber and Shark In The Sea are a couple of likely improvers faced with a stiffer test now handicapping, Amanda Perrett's charge just preferred.

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It's big fields aplenty at Haydock Park where Lichfield trainer Ed McMahon could be set for a good afternoon. Beauty Pageant (13.40) can get us off to a flyer in the opening race which is likely to be fast and furious. An impressive winner at Bath last month when she had things sewn up a furlong out, this will be just her eighth start today, and, uncomplicated, she appeals as the type who has more to offer and could blow away her rivals from stall 1.

Mrs Greeley (16.30) belatedly tasted success at the eighth time of asking at Yarmouth last month and it may have done her the world of good to get her head in front. Back off a mark of 70 in a weak handicap she could follow up at Chepstow this afternoon. An earlier second to Cape Classic, since a winner off 75, at Salisbury, reads well in the context of today's race and Eve Johnson Houghton continues among the winners.

Staying will be the order of the day in the penultimate race at Kempton where Perception (20.50) looks primed to follow-up last year's victory under the in-form Fergus Sweeney. That was the mare's second success at the track, and she's likely to strip fitter for her first run in four months a fortnight ago having shown improved form over hurdles in a light campaign before that.

Recommendations
Back Beauty Pageant @ 4.5 Haydock Park 13.40
Back Mrs Greeley @ 3.4 Chepstow 16.30
Back Perception @ 7.7 Kempton 20.50

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Prime Exhibit was runner-up in 2010 Lincoln and ran a cracker when third at Wolverhampton on comeback in March. Bit more like it when fourth at York last time, and this represents a drop in class.

Naabegha was successful twice last year at up to 7f in France for Freddie Head. Just fair efforts in minor events this time round, and looks on a stiff-enough mark ahead of this British debut.

Roker Park is a hold-up sprinter who got off the mark for this yard at Catterick in June and improved when scoring at Chester the following month (6f). Will find this more suitable than 1m he tackled latest.

Free For All was much improved when making winning handicap debut at Lingfield (7f) on return from a year off. Deserves plenty of credit for faring best of the pacesetters at Epsom last time and considered.

Bawaardi was successful twice over this trip in spring, but found the going a fair bit tougher in handicaps with more depth since. Others arrive here in better heart.

Amitola is a lightly-raced sprinter who has returned badly out of sorts in 2 runs this year following an 8-month absence. Well-being now to prove, and never shaped as if in need of this far.

Everymanforhimself ended drought when winning 2 fibresand handicaps at up to 7f at the turn of the year. Patchy profile since, and still plenty high enough in the weights.

King Of Eden improved to bag 4 handicaps last year, and more of the same when taking first 2 races of new campaign. Form has rather flattened out since, but does stay this far and drying ground will suit.

Silver Rime won twice in 2010, and back-to-form third at Newcastle in May. Things not gone his way since, but probably in better heart than form figures suggest, and return to this trip will suit.

Karaka Jack has not taken long to find his feet for new yard, keeping on strongly to take big-field 7f York handicap in July. Just a respectable effort since over 1m off this mark, though.

Redvers was most progressive on initial switch to handicaps, bagging couple of weakly-contested events at up to 6f. Unsuited by drop to 5f last time, so not one to give up on now tackling 7f.

One Scoop Or Two is a prominent racer who won 4 times at around 1m during a purple patch last summer (2 here over 1m). Found the going tougher since, but nothing wrong with latest second at Chester.

Mujaadel landed a 7f Catterick handicap in May. Slow starts not helped cause since, but showed he's competitive off this mark when breaking on terms at Thirsk on penultimate start. Risky proposition.

Imaginary World's sole win came in 9.5f AW claimer in October. Made frame most starts since, but will to win called firmly into question since.

Timeform 1-2-3:
1. Free For All
2. Silver Rime
3. Prime Exhibit

Timeform View: Silver Rime has shaped better than the bare result of late, and along with Prime Exhibit commands respect, but there's a strong suspicion we haven't seen the best of the unexposed Free For All yet, so he gets the nod.

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Byrd In Hand can get us off to a good start this afternoon by taking what, admittedly, seems a fairly open handicap (14:10). John Bridger's four-year-old has appeared nine times this season, including a fine second in a nine-furlong handicap at Goodwood just four days ago where he looked the winner over a furlong out, and is now down to a mark below that of his latest victory. The drop back in trip to a mile this afternoon should be to his favour and he can see off the likes of Dannios, who has gone up significantly in the weights for his recent performances and could now be vulnerable.

Inetrobil and Pimpernel set the standard in the six-furlongs listed Dick Poole Stakes (15:50), but the unexposed Dreamwriter can improve past them and follow-up her ready maiden win at Newbury. That debut performance was extremely impressive, Dreamwriter showing a sharp turn of foot to come from last to first inside the final two furlongs, to rout a field of potentially useful maidens. Whilst she was the stable second-string on that occasion (Whimsical, who was the first, runs in the 15:15 at the same track today) there is every reason to believe that she is capable of winning at this level and, with further improvement to come, she can take this on the way to better things.

Planetoid got the better of A Boy Named Suzi when the pair met at Newmarket last time and can confirm superiority this evening in what looks to be a handicap of similar quality (19:40). Planetoid had to overcome a penalty that day and, despite idling once in the lead, he found extra in the closing stages, suggesting there's plenty more in the locker - connections certainly think so as the Cesarewitch, at Newmarket in October, is being touted as a possible target. With that in mind, Plantoid is a confident selection at track where he is already proven.

Recommendations
Back Byrd In Hand @ 6.6 in the 14:10 at Salisbury
Back Dreamwriter @ 3.6 in the 15:50 at Salisbury
Back Planetoid @ 3.7 in the 19:40 at Kempton

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Cockney Fire was typical of one from this stable in that she was fast out the blocks, winning twice over five furlongs in the spring. She was off three months prior to a lesser effort at this level at Newbury last time and this isn't any easier.

Dreamwriter is a scopey sort who belied apparent second-string status when a taking winner of a six-furlong Newbury maiden on debut 19 days ago. She is open to considerable improvement and tops the shortlist.

Elbe didn't need to be at her best when opening her account at Bath in July. She has finished third in a couple of minor events since, but has work to do with all of these on what she's achieved to date.

Inetrobil left the form of her Redcar maiden win well behind when filling the frame in a couple of pattern races on her second and third starts. She was disappointing in the Lowther at York last time, but this is easier.

Mary Fildes made a winning debut at Bath in July and showed much better form when third in a minor event over five furlongs at Newbury last time. She is open to further improvement stepping up in trip.

Miss Azeza has a pretty useful pedigree and there was a lot to like about the way she brushed a couple of experience rivals aside on debut at Ffos Las last month. There's every chance she'll leave that bare form well behind.

Misty Conquest has generally progressed in a steady fashion, winning at Nottingham and Pontefract prior to a solid third when her sights were raised at Newmarket. She was brushed aside at Longchamp last time, though.

Pimpernel has improved a chunk on each of her three starts, losing little in defeat at Doncaster prior to winning a seven-furlong nursery at Newmarket. She's a big player if the return to six furlongs doesn't inconvenience her.

Responsive got off the mark in a six-furlong maiden at Bath in June. She settled better when runner-up on her nursery debut at Ascot the following month, but there have been mixed messages from that form since.

Sajwah was well supported when making a winning debut in an ordinary maiden at Warwick. She disappointed in the Albany next time, but put that behind her when fifth in the Cherry Hinton. She was behind Inetrobil both times, however.

Timeform 1-2-3:
1.    Dreamwriter
2.    Inetrobil
3.    Pimpernel

Timeform View: Pimpernel and Inetrobil set the standard, but the latter's merit is pretty well established and the former may not be suited by the return to six furlongs, so the once-raced Dreamwriter is taken to improve past the pair.

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Gordon Elliott's superb record with his raiders from across the Irish Sea is well documented and if you look deeper you'll see that when the stable goes to the effort of booking AP McCoy the numbers are even more striking. The Champion Jockey has ridden nineteen winners from fifty-two rides for the yard and the pair team up on three occasions at Hereford this afternoon, their strongest chance arguably coming in the opener with Priors Gold (14.10). The dual hurdles winner has been ticking over nicely on the Flat following a cracking effort behind the well-touted Tom Horn at Bellewstown last month and appeals as a more solid proposition than Spirit Is Needed.

The colossal 900-mile round trip that Edgware Road (14.20) will undertake to Folkestone and back from Keith Dalgleish's South Lanarkshire base doesn't look like it will be a wasted journey, with the unexposed son of Selkirk holding strong claims in the first race. Stone last in a warm Newbury maiden in April for Roger Charlton, Edgware Road made a blistering start for his new yard four months on as he forged clear in a six-furlong maiden a bit closer to home at Hamilton. An opening mark of 65 likely underestimates Edgware Road, while today's extra furlong will suit as well.

Fast Shot (18.35) is at the top of his game and can give Tim Easterby another winner at Carlisle in the sprint handicap for three-year-olds this evening. He brings some strong form to the table, notably his defeat of York Glory and Shesastar at Doncaster last month, and went down narrowly to Roninski at Catterick last time, battling well but just not quite catching Bryan Smart's charge. Off the same mark of 78, Fast Shot's claims are obvious.

Recommendations
Back Priors Gold @ 2.24 Hereford 14.10
Back Edgware Road @ 4.0 Folkestone 14.20
Back Fast Shot @ 3.0 Carlisle 18.35

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Shooting Line is a half-brother to three winners, notably the smart performer Fairmile. He maintained his progressive profile when winning a mile maiden at Windsor on his reappearance in June and looks a major player on his handicap debut.

Secret Love got off the mark in a seven-furlong maiden at Lingfield in September. She was better than the bare result in a really strong mile-and-a-quarter listed race at Newbury on her reappearance, though made no impact back down at this trip at Royal Ascot last time.

Wiqaaya accomplished a simple task on her reappearance over seven-furlong at Wolverhampton in March. She achieved a lot more in turf handicaps on her next two starts and a lesser effort last time may have been down to testing ground.

Muntasib signed off 2010 with wins over seven furlongs at Lingfield and this track. He hasn't looked straightforward this season, though, hanging and finding little at Newbury last time.

General Synod showed ability on both of his starts at two and was a good second in a well-contested Newbury maiden on his reappearance in April. He hasn't matched that since and has proved expensive to follow (four times a beaten favourite).

Social Forum took his form to a new level when winning a maiden at Lingfield in February, the form of which has proved strong. It's easy enough to excuse his sole defeat since and he starts out for a new yard that is in good form.

If You Whisper won a seven-furlong maiden at Southwell in December. He improved when second of four on his handicap debut when last seen at Lingfield in January, but this is a tough enough race for his return to action.

Little Black Book largely held his form in turf handicaps after winner over a mile at Southwell in April, though wasn't at his best at Newmarket earlier in the month. He can probably be excused that run and his overall record is positive ahead of his polytrack debut.

Orange Ace is a useful-looking colt who struck at the second time of asking in a seven-furlong maiden here in November. He has never travelled on either start on turf this year and will likely appreciate the return to this track.

Taqaat shrugged off his rivals to make all in a seven-and-a-half furlong maiden at Beverley in May when still trained by Mark Johnston. He has been below form in handicaps the last twice, markedly so when making his debut for this yard last time.

Trumpington Street didn't need to improve when getting off the mark at Wolverhampton in July. He shaped as if still in form over a mile and a quarter at Newmarket last time and is far from out of this back down at a mile.

Switchback better all his previous efforts by some way when a head second to Queen of Cash in a course-and-distance handicap last time. He went down fighting that day and has every chance of going one better.

Point du Jour got off the mark at the seventeenth time of asking when winning a course-and-distance handicap earlier in the month. He is now taking on a better class of rival and isn't an obvious follow-up candidate.

Timeform 1-2-3:
1.    Switchback
2.    Shooting Line
3.    Little Black Book

Timeform View: Switchback and Shooting Line appeal as the pair to fight out the finish, with marginal preference for the former in receipt of a stone. Little Black Book had a valid excuse last time and should also be in the mix if taking to polytrack.

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