TimeformBlog

The opening contest at Exeter looks an eminently winnable one, with the John Ferguson-trained [b]Printmaker[/b] taken to make a winning debut over hurdles. The four-year-old was fairly useful at up to a mile and a quarter on the Flat in Ireland and he should take a fair amount of stopping here if translating anything like that ability to his new profession, particularly with his yard in good form (fired in a brace of winners yesterday). Ferguson has done well with horses of a similar profile previously and, with question marks over plenty of his rivals, Printmaker looks more than capable of going close. [b]Hello Stranger[/b] has done nothing wrong in his short career to date, comprising just the two runs, and he is taken to confirm himself as being well treated on what will represent...

[b]Oddysey[/b] looks the one to side with in the 15:05. The daughter of Acclamation belatedly confirmed the promise she showed on debut last year when posting an improved effort to get off the mark in a heavy-ground, C&D apprentice event under this rider last week. The emphasis on stamina suited her that day, so any ease in the ground will only add credence to her claims, and given that she races off the same mark once again she has to rate a strong contender to make it two victories in a row. One hour later on the card, [b]Dubai Dynamo[/b] is taken to build upon the his excellent runner-up effort at Ripon last Monday with success here. Ruth Carr's gelding stuck to his task in resolute fashion when beaten only a neck that day, attempting to concede 17 lb to his eventual conqueror Satanic...

[b]Head Space[/b] is a horse on an upward curve, having won two of his last three starts, and he should be thereabouts once again this afternoon (14:30, Ayr). The way he travelled over course and distance last time suggested he was a horse well in advance of his mark. Head Space is duly top-rated for this afternoon's contest and he should go well with conditions in his favour. His hold-up tactics sometimes mean that a fast early pace is required, but that looks rather likely in this race. [b]Al Muheer[/b] was only beaten by the narrowest of margins on Saturday at Haydock and a reproduction of that level of form should definitely be enough for him to go close again in what looks a competitive handicap at Ripon (19:50) this evening. Al Muheer tends to take his races well, so the two-day...

[b]Best Lover[/b] was better than ever on return from a year off when making it 2 from 2 over fences at Wetherby (2m) in November. Possible he has more to offer in this sphere and big player, as should stay longer trip. [b]Categorical[/b] put a couple of laboured efforts behind him when losing out narrowly at Newcastle (3m) last month. Return to shorter no problem, but yet to win off a mark this high. [b]Diamond Frontier[/b] got back to winning ways second time up for this yard at Wetherby (2m) in December. Stays this far, but bounce back called for now sporting a tongue strap after suffering a breathing problem last time. [b]Charingworth[/b] is a quirky sort who was on one of his 'going' days when getting up late at Wetherby (2m) in December. Equally effective at this trip, but...

[b]Neptune Equeste[/b]r was suited by stamina test when winning over 3½m at Haydock in November. Has raced lazily when well beaten in stronger races last twice but cheekpieces on to perk him up now and this a lot easier. [b]Abbeybraney[/b] has been seen only 3 times since winning novice for Howard Johnson in December 2009. Going well when falling over National fences on return but poor run at Haydock since, leaving Nicky Richards after. [b]Mister Marker[/b] is a thorough stayer who was third in Borders National at Kelso in December. Decent effort back over hurdles since and no reason he won't give another good account of himself. [b]Lockstown[/b] recorded back-to-back wins at Newcastle and Carlisle in November. Further progress when second (2½ lengths in front of Mister Marker)...

[b]Ockey de Neulliac[/b] has been in good form this autumn, landing seller and claimer over hurdles. Found life tougher in handicaps both starts since last win and improvement needed returned to fences off higher chasing mark. [b]Primrose Time[/b] got back to winning ways when landing 17f handicap chase at Kelso last month. Handicapper taken dim view and raised her 11 lb as a result and all best form has come over shorter. [b]Alexander Oats[/b] improved when opening chasing account over C&D in February. However, ran no sort of race on reappearance back over C&D earlier this month and bit to prove now. [b]Et Maintenant[/b] has not won since April 2010 but came close to taking advantage of slipping mark when runner-up over C&D last time. Never been the most consistent, but claims...

Judged on their achievements to date, the front two in the market for the nursery at Ayr (14:45) are the wrong way round. The Richard Fahey-trained Trumpet Voluntary currently heads the betting after making a winning debut at Carlisle last month and he's certainly open to improvement, but the chances are he didn't achieve as much as Tim Easterby's [b]Deepsand[/b] did opening his account at Redcar, something that isn't really reflected in the marks the two have been allotted. At the prices today, Deepsand looks well worth taking to prove that the handicapper has let him in lightly. John Dunlop's [b]Mountain Range[/b] has long looked the sort to relish a mile and a half, but he got no chance to demonstrate the point on his first start over the trip at Newmarket last time, when a poor position...

[b]Alejandro[/b] has won three times this year, taking small steps forward on each occasion, and wasn't disgraced when mid-field in a valuable event at Doncaster last time. He looks one of the more likely sorts. [b]Hexagonal[/b] is an Irish raider who has yet to win a race but has run creditably more often than not. Six furlongs and beyond is going to suit him best, though. [b]Kool Henry[/b] is a front runner who has been placed on all four of his starts since getting off the mark over five furlongs at Newcastle in June. He was beaten almost four lengths by Ponty Acclaim at Ripon last time, though, and has work to do here. [b]Powerful Wind[/b] recorded a fourth victory when making all in a five-furlong nursery at Warwick last month. This is much tougher, however, and he's unproven...

[b]John Lightbody[/b] looked a useful prospect when beating Iceni Girl on debut at Sandown and is worth backing to get back on track in the minor event over a mile at Ayr (14:50). John Lightbody was upped in class for his second start, in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket, but he never looked comfortable against better company and on firmer ground than at Sandown. However, the fact that trainer Mark Johnston thought him good enough to be pitched into a Group 2 is more than significant and he can bounce back here with his sights considerably lowered. [b]Bu Naaji[/b] is another who has looked promising, showing himself to be most progressive when winning his last two starts and giving the impression that he still had something in reserve when winning a Salisbury nursery in August. The...