Luxor Flush shouldn’t be extended to build on an encouraging course and distance debut five weeks ago when contesting division one of the Novice Stakes over five furlongs of ‘good to firm’ Beverley this afternoon.
Veteran jockey Graham Lee was aboard Ollie Pear’s charge when the Footstepsinthesand gelding, a 33/1 shot, was ‘on the premises’ throughout, beaten only a neck by heavily-backed Eidikos; obviously Luxor Flush experienced a tough experience, hence considerable recovery time.
Ollie is a good horseman and was proficient in the saddle, I’ve plenty of respect for him and, of course, Lee, a real ‘favourite’ for this column; don’t oppose Luxor Flush.
Consistency often brings reward but, despite several placings from seven outings, and one or two time-figures which would win in selling grade, I’m overlooking Bay Breeze in division two; once-raced Lethal Vision, drawn one, did enough on York debut only ten days ago in a class 3 race to justify a speculative each-way punt.
Also William Haggas and Kevin Ryan, both with strong juvenile teams, field Ridicule (Hollie Doyle) and Sweet Glance (Kevin Stott); they will also surely be too good for Bay Breeze. I’ll bet Tim Easterby runs this Buratino colt in a seller.
Lethal Vision was a whopping 28/1 chance when lining up in a fiercely-competitive Novice Stakes over an extended five furlongs and his odds doubled after missing the break through greenness. The penny soon dropped however with this Lethal Force filly which made headway throughout (under Stott!) for a most encouraging ‘first day at school!’
A modicum of improvement puts Lethal Vision in the frame, especially if she ‘hits the gate’ from the best draw under sprint specialist Paul Mulrennan
Two fascinating two-year-old races will have my pacemaker racing and later what beats Tearaway Tilly in the concluiding ‘bumper’ at Kelso will win; tremendous debut at Stratford last month and ideally suited by conditions with fillies/maiden allowances.
Selections, Beverley, 1.00 Luxor Flush; 1.30 Lethal Vision (e.w); Kelso, 7.00 Tearway Tilly (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