Thoughts and Analysis on today’s runners
A busy day for the team with four runners at three different meetings. Fronsac is up first at Lingfield in the 3.25 a seven and a half furlong handicap. He will be partnered by Josephine Gordon. The gelding has become more and more professional after being difficult early on in his career and didn’t run badly last time out in a race where they went very quick early and he was the only horse that sat near the pace who didn’t finish too far away from the winner. On that basis the slight drop in trip should be fine.
Balata Bay is probably the most consistent in the field and sets the standard as he has run well on several occasions in this sort of grade. The well bred Narak could step up in handicap company, his trainer is certainly not averse to campaigning a horse in this manner. Fancy Flyer won a weak contest last time out but has improved gradually with each start and another step forward could see him posing a threat. Tanqeeb starts out for new connections and may step forward.
Fronsac will be led up by James Pulley and overseen by Andy Williams. He is normally ridden at home by Lauren Webb. He is owned and was bred by Gary and Lesley Middlebrook who have successfully developed the family.
Chamomile is next up in the 3.55 over at Chelmsford. Robbie Downey has his first ride for the yard in the one mile novice race. We have been impressed with Robbie’s horsemanship from a far and he looks a rising talent. Chamomile is a filly with a nice pedigree and should stay further in due course. She will qualify for a mark after this run and should find her level in handicaps. Her draw isn’t the most helpful.
First time out winner Toronado Queen probably just sets the standard but improvement is likely from New Angel who was a runner up on debut. Serenading was also a runner up last time and should be able to get involved. Bustaan is a well bred newcomer to note and there is a bit to like about the pedigree of Perfect Number.
Chamomile will be led up Ilse Belien and overseen by travelling manager Shaun Johnson. Jenny Hughes has put a lot of work into developing this filly recently. She is owned by Gary and Lesley Middlebrook and was purchased as a yearling at the Tattersalls yearling sales. She was bred by Rabbah Bloodstock.
Back at Lingfield the game Chitra bids for win number six in the 4.35. Kieran Shoemark rides her for the first time in the six furlong handicap. The game filly won here over five earlier in the summer and looked right back to form at Goodwood last time out when just touched off by an unexposed filly.
This is a tight little race despite it featuring just five runners. Shorter Skirt has struggled a bit since a winning at Newbury earlier in the summer but that sort of performance would see her posing a threat. However, the unknown quantity is the lightly raced Whisper Aloud who has won two of her three novice races and tackles handicap company for the first time.
Chitra will be led up by James Pulley and overseen by Andy Williams. She is normally ridden at home by Shaun Johnson. She is owned and was bred by Gary and Lesley Middlebrook. She failed make a modest reserve at the sales and is a fine example of the type of horse that can be purchased by putting in the work at the sales. Click the link to learn more about yearling sales.
The final runner of the day is Involved in the 5.00 at Chester. Richard Kingscote, who is the go to rider at the track is in the saddle for the ten furlong contest. After a winter campaign he was gelded and given a break. He is lightly raced and this is actually his first run on turf. He has a reasonable draw in five at a track where early position matters more than most.
The well drawn course and distance winner Medalla De Oro is probably as good a starting point as any in a tight handicap. A case can be made for Scofflaw who has not been helped by the draw but won here last month in a similar race. Kaser is another who could be competitive if he is able to bring his all weather form to the turf.
Involved will be led up by Yard Manager Lauren Webb. He will race in the colours of Peter Onslow who bred Involved at Sanfield Stud.