One time guineas horse now finding his level in handicaps
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ALTHOUGH the National Hunt season in now accelerating through the gears, I'd like to give the first mention in this article to one of the heroine's of the Flat calendar this year.
Snow Fairy, expertly trained and ridden by Ed Dunlop and Ryan Moore respectively, landed a famous win at the weekend when routing her opposition in Japan's Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup, landing well over £1 million in prize money.
For a filly that was beaten nineteen lengths in a Listed race as a juvenile, she has done miraculously well this year in winning three Group 1 and finishing second and fourth in two others. What's just as astonishing is her true love for pilot Ryan Moore – he's ridden her three times and they have won three Group 1 together!
As a footnote to the story of Snow Fairy this year, it's worth mentioning that the filly whom she relegated to second in the Epsom Oaks, David Lanigan's Meeznah, will stay in training next year and could pick up a nice prize as she's a big filly with plenty of scope.
Onto more immediate things and here's hoping we can add to Gilsland's win for this column at 9/2 on Saturday just passed.
The second race at Lingfield (12.50) on Wednesday, a six furlong maiden, doesn't look too bad a race but there could be a potentially smart horse unleashed by the name of Fastest Magician.
Trainer Jeremy Noseda and jockey George Baker are one of my favourite combinations on the all-weather and they team up here with the unraced half-brother to very decent dirt horse Awesome Act.
To be quite frank, the selection here is the archetypal 'unknown quantity' but it could just be that his breeding and trainer/jockey partnership almalgate to produce a very attractive performance first time out. In all honesty, the reason for him being selected as a betting proposition is that despite it being an ok field, there doesn't look to be any stand-out horses.
Daffydowndilly is a reasonable horse in her own right, whilst Palais Glide could be a nice horse but I'm sure Fastest Magician's owner, diamond magnate Charles E Fipke, will be mightily disappointed if his horse doesn't go close – as he has his own initials displayed on the jockey's silks!
Selection number two, and hopefully the second leg of the treble, could be a nice price.
John Best is another of my favourite all-weather maestro's and he saddles one time 2000 Guineas runner Elspeth's Boy in the seven furlong 0-85 handicap (2.20). It was no surprise that this horse was last in the first Classic of the season, but he's beginning to find his level now and was an encouraging sixth of thirteen behind the in-form Nazreef last time.
The selection has had five starts in his life and is the winner of one, which is an identical profile to his stablemate Arctic Lynx, who handsomely won a competitive handicap at this track on Saturday, therefore I'm inclined to think there's more to come from this son of dirt specialist Tiznow.
I believe his chance is compounded by a good draw in three and a quality jockey on board in Luke Morris and for me he must be backed at anything over 5-1. Likely dangers I would assume are Lowther, who is coming back to something like his best and was just slightly ahead of Elspeth's Boy last time, Regeneration, Urban Space and Hatta Stream.
Finally, I'm going to tip up a horse who is as much about context as he is about latent ability.
The 2.50 at Lingfield looks a very intriguing race from a betting point of view and it one of those occasions when no matter how bad each horse in the race is, they can be given a squeak regards getting into the frame.
Let's be clear, this isn't the safest betting race in the history of the turf, but on the other hand it features a possible improver, with a top jockey on in the shape of Rustic Deacon, whose trainer Willie Musson had a 6/1 winner over hurdles a week ago.
The likely favourite, Fashionable Gal, is from a stable that I have been known to hero-worship but the fact that this filly was beaten seven lengths at 15/8 last time would be a sign that caution is advised. To many, she will still be a betting proposition as the horse that beat her, Colour Scheme, could make up into a nice individual, but I would prefer to look for value to get into the frame, especially as we're likely to get three places for our money.
Pertuis has a modicum of ability and Princess Runner could improve but I just feel it's worth taking heed of the jockey booking on Rustic Deacon and chancing that he has enough ability to lay down a challenge here.
Selections Summary
Wednesday, November 17:
12.50 – Lingfield – Fastest Magician
2.20 – Lingfield – Elspeth's Boy
2.50 – Lingfield – Rustic Deacon
