TimeformBlog

[b]Petella[/b] won twice last season and now back on her last winning mark. Not seen to best effect when fifth at Musselburgh recently (sent off favourite) and better expected on this stiffer course. [b]Descaro[/b] won twice in 2011 but has left the impression he's merely been going through the motions of late. Is potentially well handicapped if a first-time hood helps get his mind back on job, though. [b]Jawaab[/b] is potentially well treated and promise when placed on both starts for new yard in recent weeks, second to Looks Like Rain over 2m at Wolverhampton last time. Obvious chance off same mark. [b]Grand Art[/b] was twice successful over hurdles in 2011 and back to winning ways on Flat when scoring by 5 lengths at Musselburgh (2m) last week. Player under penalty if turning...

Handicap debutante [b]Josh's Dreamway[/b] (15:00) makes plenty of appeal in the two-mile-three-furlong Betfair Hurdle Series Qualifier at Exeter as she's Timeform top-rated who has a 'p' (open to improvement) still attached to her master figure. A fairly useful bumper performer (won first two outings prior to fourth in listed event), Josh's Dreamway has shaped as if better than her finishing position in maiden/novice hurdles so far and strikes as the type to do much better now handicapping off a BHA rating of 100. The step up in trip isn't expected to pose a problem (her half-sister stayed 21f over timber) and she looks very intriguing with the Jeremy Scott yard ending last month in such fine form. Owing to parts of the course being frozen overnight, Newcastle will have to pass a second...

[b]Et Maintenant[/b] has not won since April 2010 but best effort this season from slipping mark when runner-up at Ayr last time. Never been the most consistent but obvious chance if backing that up. [b]Playing The Field[/b] is not one to rely on but took advantage of handicapper's leniency when getting off mark over C&D last month, having enough in hand that temperament wasn't tested. This tougher back up 10 lb. [b]Ballycarron Lad[/b] got off the mark at the third time of asking over fences at Carlisle (3m) in March. Laboured fourth of 7 back from 9 months at Ayr last month, but should at least be sharper now. [b]Milans Man[/b] is a point winner who was successful twice at up to 25f over hurdles. Nothing like so good over fences for Howard Johnson last season and yet to show anything...

[b]Tyrone House[/b] got back on the up when edging out another progressive rival on reappearance at Wetherby (2½m) last month. Longer trip no problem, but another career best required to defy new mark. [b]Fabalu[/b] took well to fences in 2009/10, winning twice at up to 3¼m. Tired badly on return from 21 months off at Ffos Las in December, and hard to gauge how much ability he retains. [b]Categorical[/b] gained 2 of 4 chase wins over shorter at this venue. Stays this far, but not his usual consistent self since a pleasing return in October, running a lifeless race back here last time. [b]Rolecarr[/b] is a real mudlark who gamely registered second chase win at Kelso (25f) last month. More on plate to follow-up, but unlikely to be far away with ideal conditions remaining in place. [b]Eyre...

[b]Signor Sassi[/b] (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 [b]Sansili[/b] (16.40) can break his duck on the Flat at Bath. He scored for the third time in four starts...

There was enough to like about the performance of [b]Bikini Babe[/b] (18.00) at Goodwood last week to think she could get back to winning ways dropped in grade at Kempton this evening. Bikini Babe has just a 2009 Sandown maiden win to her name, but was twice placed in Group 3s last season, and has been given a real chance by the handicapper ahead of what looks her easiest assignment for some time. Effective on polytrack, she has the services of apprentice Daryl Byrne in the saddle taking 3 lb off tonight, and the Young Irishman has quickly made a name for himself since joining Mark Johnston's yard at the start of the year. There's a bit of 'will he, won't he?' surrounding [b]Planetoid[/b] (20.00) who has been a non-runner several times in the last few weeks. He is due to run at Kempton...

[b]Timeform look back at the weekend's best racing...[/b] The main event so far as British racing is concerned last weekend took place at[b] Newcastle[/b] where Europe's most valuable staying handicap, the Northumberland Plate, went the way of the Reg Hollinshead-trained [b]Tominator[/b], who relished a truly-run race at two miles, travelling smoothly to beat Montaff by a length and three quarters. The card at Newcastle opened with the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes over six furlongs, which provided Roger Charlton's Genki with a first pattern-race success. [b]Newmarket[/b] also played host to a good-quality meeting on Saturday and the feature event there was the Group 3 Criterion Stakes over seven furlongs. The Richard Hannon-trained Libranno came out on top, showing a likeable attitude,...

[b]Timeform look ahead to the weekend's best racing in Britain and Ireland, which inculdes the historic Northumberland Plate Handicap at Newcastle and the Irish Derby at the Curragh...[/b] The best of the British meetings set to take place on Saturday is the one at[b] Newcastle[/b], where the feature event is the two-mile Northumberland Plate, due off at 15:05. The present favourite is last year's winner Overturn, who has secured a good draw for a front runner and will have the assistance of 5-lb claimer Henry Brooke who is better known for his NH exploits. Though obviously dangerous to dismiss bearing in mind his high-class hurdling form, [b]Overturn[/b] doesn't look particularly well treated any more on the basis of his efforts on the level. Other major contenders include Activate,...