It’s not the most sparkling of
cards at Plumpton today, but there are winners to be had, and hopefully I’ve found
one whose claims are much clearer than some poor form figures would imply. The
horse in question is Southway Queen (16:40), who
has achieved very little under Rules, but who has a lowly mark as a result, and
several reasons for thinking improvement is in the offing. The mare is by
obscure West Country sire Morpeth, and an own-sister to Southway Star, who has won
7 times for trainer Susan Gardner having (like most by the sire) started off
with Jimmy Frost. Like her sister, Southway Queen
was well held in bumpers for the patient Frost yard and had one fruitless spin
over hurdles before moving on, and in the intervening years has been quite
successful in points, winning 2 and finishing second 4 times. A belated return
to timber this winter has seen her make the requisite appearances to gain a
handicap mark, and those runs came over inadequate trips, and without recourse
to a hard ride on either occasion. Suitably qualified, she now steps up to 21f
and gets the help of a tongue tie for the first time under Rules. Those factors
are likely to see considerable improvement, and the shrewd, but underrated
Gardner could see boost an already healthy 17% strike-rate in handicaps over
recent years.
The main danger, to my eyes at
least, is topweight Midnight Belle, who travelled notably well before failing
to stay 3m under a huge weight at Taunton last time. The winner of that
contest, Tarabela, followed up at Towcester yesterday, and it would be best to
mark that performance up. Lady of Geneva kept on stoutly in a 3¼m handicap at
Huntingdon last time, and may do better, but she clearly lacks pace, and this
sharp track and drop in trip aren’t sure to suit.
One who looks sure to be suited
by the nature of the Plumpton circuit, and indeed by a move away from heavy
ground is Tornado In Milan, who runs in the 2m
handicap hurdle at 15:10. Evan Williams’ Irish import looked a good prospect on
his bumper debut for Eoin Doyle, but his keen nature has prevented him from
building on that promise, for all he scored on his UK debut. He’s been hinting
at better in recent starts, though, and a third to the much-vaunted Mr Mole at
Taunton last time represented his best effort over hurdles. With runner-up Home
Run going close next time, and fourth-placed Marie des Anges bolting up over
fences, the form looks solid. That came in a hood, which is retained in a bid
to keep this excitable sort settled, and Tornado In Milan
is capable of running these ragged if ridden aggressively, which is admittedly
not usually the Paul Moloney way.
Of the opposition, Star of Massini
is still a maiden, and may prove flattered by getting the run of things at
Kempton last time, while it would be dangerous to assume that Right Stuff was
really back in the groove when winning a Flat claimer at Lingfield last time in
which sole serious opponent La Estrella wasn’t seen to best effect. Brody Bleu
is interesting on handicap bow for rookie handler Robert Walford, but the merit
of his easy point win a year ago is hard
to gauge (to put it kindly), and a long absence is hardly cause for optimism.
Recommendations:
Both At Plumpton
Back Southway Queen in the 16:50 @ [8.6] (NAP)
Back Tornado In Milan in the 15:10 @ [4.3] (NB)
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