Latin Lover, so unlucky earlier this week, over six furlongs of fast ground Catterick, is strongly-fancied to go one better in another compelling, fiercely-competitive nursery at ‘good to firm’ Sandown today, under the same jockey, George Wood.
Harry Eustace’s charge, a strapping Starspangledbanner colt, finished strongly at the North Yorkshire course but failed by a short-head to beat our winning selection, I’m A Gambler, one more stride would have made a difference!
Blinkers are back on Latin Lover and over the Esher ‘dash’, which involves a tough climb to the famous winning post, he’ll have every chance of using natural speed but it will doubtless be tough.
On my time-handicap several are bound to be ‘on the premises’ but the main danger seems to be Mick Channon-trained bottom-weight, Whistledown, for one very good reason, his rapidly-aspiring female apprentice Rose Dawes claims full allowance of 7lbs.
Throughout the years I’ve always made a note of useful apprentices with a view to taking advantage in two-year-old handicaps; Rose is good as I’ve seen since spotting, and monitoring, the definitive ‘pocket rocket’ go through the ranks, Hollie Doyle!
Channon, to his eternal credit, always gives jockeys a chance to make their wayand, significantly, the ex-English soccer star is now booking Ms Lawes as often as possible; he’s obviously thinking on similar lines to myself and I’m looking forward to this frenetic sprint immensely.
Experience is key to making profit from juveniles but Charles Hills-trained Hersilia contests the eight-runner Maiden Stakes over five furlongs on ‘good to firm’ Brighton on the back of a sole outing at Newbury seven weeks ago. Obviously I know what goes on at this particular Berkshire yard having spent twelve years advising/handicapping for Charles’ legendary father, Barry, who still calls me, almost on a daily basis.
The incredible 84-year-old octogenarian remains 100% compos mentis and has enjoyed recent ‘Faringdon’ successes, five on the trot last week!
Although dropping back in trip Hersilia is expected to go well and he’s another worth supporting each-way, with three places on offer.
There is also a ‘summer-jumping’ fixture for jumpers on ‘good’ Worcester where consistent, hitherto luckless Senesational will surely end a vexing sequence of seconds in a shallow-looking Maiden Hurdle over nigh on three miles; Sam Twiston-Davies’ regular mount has a ton in hand, again!
‘Aidan O’Brien will win the St Leger’ said a respected ‘face’ in a private conversation four ays ago but, with which one!
Watch this space, I’m determined to find i!
Selections, Worcester, 2.40 Senesational; Brighton, 2.50 Hersilia (e.w); Sandown, 4.50 Latin Lover (e.w).
Jeffrey Ross, horse-racing correspondent for WMN since 1983 when winning the most prestigious racing journalist award, Sporting Life Naps Table, before winning it a record number of six times collectively in the Racing Post, the current ‘trade’ paper, including 2019