We bring you three selections from Bath and Nottingham on Wednesday…
We head to Bath for our first selection in the 5f Class 5 Vickers.Bet EBF Novice Stakes (3:27), where Dashing Harry is ready to break through for a maiden success. The colt ran very green on debut at Salisbury, pulling hard and beaten over twenty lengths, but showed considerable progression over the same course and distance on his second run. Although he took a keen hold again, the son of Harry Angel led from the start and only weakened in the closing stages to finish less than two lengths back in second.
The Clive Cox-trained juvenile appeared to enjoy the softer ground and it would be no surprise to see him continue an upward curve, especially with the assistance of seven pound claimer Oliver Timms. The yard have been struggling for winners but they’ve had three placed horses from their past five runners and this colt could be the one to break through.
SELECTION – DASHING HARRY – 6/1
With heavy ground already confirmed at Nottingham and further rainfall to come, the 1m½f Class 5 EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes (2:35) could turn into an attritional test. Although John and Thady Gosden’s Beeley is well-supported to win at the second time of asking, Lisbon Heat is preferred for the David O’Meara yard. The Lope De Vega filly plugged on dourly to finish four-and-a-half lengths fourth on debut over the same course and distance on soft ground and her breeding would suggest that the heavy ground will not pose an issue. The O’Meara team have put on a hood for the first time and she appears a fair price for a filly who already has course and distance form.
SELECTION – LISBON HEAT – 7/1
Although the George Boughey yard are not in great form (9% strike rate from the last fourteen days), Band Of Joy is a very attractive price in Nottingham’s 5f Class 4 Racing TV Extra Nursery Handicap (4:15). The Land Force filly returns to the minimum distance following a disappointing run behind Chinese Knot at Chepstow, but her proven stamina, having won over six furlongs at Lingfield, could be a benefit in tough conditions.
First-time cheekpieces have been applied and she has the assistance of William Buick, who rode Band Of Joy to victory at Windsor back in early July. Although the ground will be a question mark, 7/1 seems a bit long for a filly with two career wins.
SELECTION – BAND OF JOY – 7/1
