Rambuso Creek, almost a shock 18/1 winner on debut three weeks ago, is strongly-fancied to go one better and confirm placings with another ‘first-up’ runner, Ravenglass, in the thirteen-runner Novice Stakes over six furlongs of ‘good’ ground Carlisle this afternoon; should be fascinating.
Kevin Ryan’s charge charged through over a similar distance to join issue with subsequent nursery winner, Hamaki, on the Pontefract hill only to give best in the very last strides where the Tagula colt went down by a head; Ravenglass, following a tardy start under Paul Hanagan, improved considerably from halfway and was four lengths from the principals.
The distance was considerable but Richard Fahey, now back in form, would not be renewing rivalry without being convinced about Ravenglass, drawn ten places closer to the far rail in stall three. Will the draw be a factor?
This stiff-ish right-hander has never been a draw issue; action is usually confined to far side unless ground conditions are soft which is unlikely; we’re promised a ‘bank holiday’ heatwave!
This class 4 dash isn’t a two-horse race because Nigel Tinkler-trained Another Investment comes out similarly on the time-handicap, virtue of a useful effort earlier this month when a close seventh to stable companion Maybe Even Never, a 125/1 shocker when beating our big-priced nap Raydoun, aaarrggh!.
The actual time-figure indicates it was no fluke however and so, mid-stream, I’ve decided this ‘Investment’ is the value as an each-way selection. Form of the North Yorkshire form needs closely monitoring, take note.
Running in tandem will be a seven-race fixture, Chelmsford, where Kingdom Girl will not be a surprise if causing one in the opening Fillies Restricted Novice Stakes over seven furlongs of pristine polytrack on this excellent, well-maintained racecourse.
Kingdom Girl shaped well on her Newmarket debut last month but then got bogged down on ‘heavy’ Goodwood; sympathy of Hollie Doyle on that occasion may well benefit Shane Kelly aboard the Kingman filly, which is a follow up selection.
We enjoyed another ‘full house’ Tuesday, second in six days, although somewhat shorter odds than the 300/1 ‘trixie’ last week. They all count!
Epsom Derby third, Hurricane Lane, is now odds-on for the St Leger next month, only eighteen have been declared at the latest stage but will Charlie Appleby’s charge get nearly two miles? Don’t bet on it!
Yesterday jockeys voted 72% to carry on with the ‘one meeting a day’ rule and Shadwell’s Jim Crowley summed up the decision superbly when he mentioned ‘the volume of traffic nowadays is the major problem’ or words to that effect. It says it ll
Selections, Chelmsford, 1.45 Kingdom Girl (e.w); Ffos Las, 2.00 Bazalgette (e.w); Carlisle, 2.40 Another Investment (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