TimeformBlog

[b]Chasing Dreams[/b] got off mark at the second time of asking in 5f Catterick maiden late last month, easing clear to beat Megaleka 4 lengths. Definitely more to come from this one. [b]Scentpastparadise[/b] Won a Beverley maiden at the end of July and followed up in a 6f Redcar nursery. Ran no sort of race in valuable sales at York last time but this a more realistic assignment [b]Lady Poppy[/b] won a Catterick maiden in June and a York nursery in July (both 5f). Respectable fourth at Thirsk on penultimate start and not disgraced in face of stiff task last time. [b]Bispham Green[/b] is yet to win but progressed steadily since contesting nurseries, runner-up for the third start running when going down by only ½ lengths to The Taj at Ascot (5f) last time. Should go well again. [b]Rhagori...

In the opener at Musselburgh (14:00), [b]Christmas Light[/b] stands out to get punters off to a winning start. She won a handicap at Redcar off a BHA mark of 68 last term when trained by David O'Meara and caught the eye last week when returning to that kind of form on only her second start for Brian Ellison, short-headed by Locantanks in a Beverley handicap. The winner that day defied a penalty to score at Ripon on Saturday and Christmas Light will be hard to beat off a 2 lb lower mark here. [b]Griffin Point[/b] (19:35, Ffos Las) had been showing little, and slipping down the weights, before a set of blinkers changed her fortunes last time. She travelled smoothly and showed a much better attitude than she had previously this year when chasing home in-form Festival Dance in a five-furlong...

[b]Big Wave[/b] (14:40) looks by far the least exposed of the six runners that go to post for the second race of the afternoon at Lingfield, and he should be able to follow up his Yarmouth victory with another win here. Big Wave looks potentially well treated on his handicap debut after impressing in a maiden last time out, racing freely in the early stages before showing improvement to quicken clear over a furlong out. His rivals don't quite match up to his standard this afternoon, and the jockey booking of Richard Hughes (38% strike rate when teaming up with Jane Chapple-hyam in the last five seasons) makes him a solid selection. The 15:00 at Musselburgh looks to be between [b]Le Chat d'Or[/b] and Nadeen, both of whom were last time out winners, but slight preference is for the former...

[b]Key Cutter[/b] landed a gamble in first-time cheekpieces at Leicester (3m) last month, finding more than is often the case. Raised 10 lb for that, and may be taken on for the lead here, so needs to find extra. [b]Safari Adventures[/b] is winless since June 2010, and no longer as consistent as he once was. Below form on recent starts, although not asked to lead last twice, and return to front-running tactics anticipated. [b]Or de Grugy[/b] has been a mixed bag since winning at Kelso (25f) in October 2010, and usually reserves best efforts for that venue. Ran a shocker at Perth in August when last seen, and not hard to oppose again. [b]Fred Bojangles[/b] is a free-going sort who was well handled by Lucy Alexander when winning over 2½m here in November. Well below that form on...

This afternoon's card at Plumpton is a good one and the most interesting bet looks to be [b]Cinderella Rose[/b] (13:40). Kim Bailey's runner is still only lightly raced, but she possesses a good strike-rate of three wins from seven starts and was fully entitled to have needed her recent return from a year off. Much better can be expected this afternoon and, although she does have to prove herself under softer conditions than previously, the form of her yard is certainly another positive for her. [b]Aquilifer[/b] (14:00) has won four of his six starts at Lingfield and the Elaine Burke-trained runner can further enhance his record with success there this afternoon. A 3 lb rise for last month's victory means there's more required from today's mark, but, although the winning distance was...

[b]Higgy's Boy[/b] put 2 poor efforts behind him when third at Sandown 12 months ago, but looked hard work in doing so. Well held on next 2 runs and opposable on first start since leaving Nicky Henderson. [b]Beidh Tine Anseo[/b] was useful on the flat for Jim Bolger and really got his act together over hurdles early last term, winning 3 times. Shaped nicely on return from a break last month and leading claims. Cheekpieces back on. [b]King Fingal[/b] got off mark in this sphere when beating a couple of useful yardsticks over C&D in January. Good second at Market Rasen in April but not seen since flopping on the flat the following month. [b]Gentleman Jeff[/b] landed a maiden hurdle in first-time blinkers at Kilbeggan last September for Dermot Weld before joining current yard. Not...

Our first selection takes us to Nottingham, where the well-treated [b]Igoyougo[/b] (13:30) can kick-start the afternoon by taking the five- furlong handicap. His last two wins have both come off marks higher than today's and, although he has been largely disappointing this season, his second at Redcar last time was a good effort and one which suggested that he ought to be scoring sooner rather than later. Trainer Noel Wilson has saddled just the one runner at the track this year, which resulted in a win, and Igoyougo looks to have every chance of adding to that tally. The 15:25 at Haydock is where we find our second selection, namely [b]Perpetually[/b], who looks to have been found a good opportunity to add to his hurdling debut win at Huntingdon. He was a fair performer on the flat...