Whiteandblue has the beating of eleven rivals in a shallow Median Auction Maiden Stakes over six furlongs of Southwell tapeta this afternoon but unfortunately readers of this column will be tired of me mentioning Brian Smart’s charge positively given this Fountain Of Youth filly has failed to win from eight starts; she is consistent however and on the time-handicap comes out clear best-in (again!) and the stable apprentice Gianluca Sanna claims the full 7lbs apprentice allowance, again!
In my sporting days, football, tennis, cricket, one was saddled with the nickname ‘Bostik’ and though in horse-racing that could be interpreted as stubborn and indeed stupid I’ve found following definitive time-figures trhrough thick and thin often brings reward.
Judged on several marks posted under Sanna there’s no doubt this represents a gilt-edged opportunity even though both Shyn Saw Gyi (Hollie Doyle) and Tidewell, mount of Connor Beasley, are progressive types, sure to be ‘on the premises’ in what looks an intriguing dash.
Whiteandblue, a creditable fourth over the minimum trip on this course four weeks ago, will definitely win a race and is just the type of ‘serial loser’ I’d have owned all those years ago with a view to plundering the betting ring. There’s also another saying, ‘there’s no fool like an old fool!’
Rest of a seven-race programme comprises handicaps, it’s a similar situation at Newcastle and so focus is switched to Wetherby where three set-weight hurdle races make for obvious chances of backing winners; Message Personnel looks booked for the winners’ enclosure after the Juvenile Hurdle over two miles of a forecast ‘soft’ surface and indeed this Dan Skelton-trained Saints Des Saints gelding might just aspire to a Cheltenham spin during the ‘Festival’ in a few weeks.
Message Personnel, a winner in France and doubtless an expensive proposition, ran well on Prestbury Park last month and has the beating of possible favourite, Graystone, from Paul Nicholls’ yard which has been uncharacteristically quiet these past few weeks.
Over the same course and distance an hour or later we’re confronted with two divisions of Novices’ Hurdle which look within capabilities of Limetree Boy and Where’s Hector respectively; both come up to basic median requirement and so today I’ll stretch to an each-way ‘yankee!’
For your information Shishkin didn’t ‘break the clock’ at Ascot last week has been flattered by the official BHA rating given since.
Selections, Wetherby, 1.10 Message Personnel; 2.45 Limetree Boy (e.w); 3.15 Where’s Hector (e.w); Southwell, 1.55 Whiteandblue (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