Zebelle, decisive debut winner for Amy Murphy’s yard at Ripon seven weeks ago under Martin Harley, reappears in a seven-runner Fillies’ Novice Stakes over five furlongs of similar ‘good’ Thirsk ground today for ‘new’, extremely formidable trainer/jockey combination, George Boughey and Jack Mitchell!
Obviously this Profitable filly has been sold but the present owner, Sheikh Abdullh Alsabar, has definitely acquired a useful juvenile which should be capable of following up on a track that is similar to the ‘Garden Of Yorkshire’ course with early speed an absolute requirement; she hit the gate and was never headed, achieving a solid time-handicap mark, with a three-quarters of a length success.
Lucy Lou has a decisive edge in experience and comes out similarly but a modicum of improvement by Zebelle should be enough to preserve an unbeaten record. Most interesting and I’m looking forward to this intriguing dash and unearthing the ‘politics!’
Course and distance winner Mytilda, denied another winning opportunity when a late scratching earlier week, is favoured at the weights in a Conditions Stakes at ‘good to firm’ Musselburgh, another ‘favourite’ venue which also places emphasis on ‘early toe’ to hold a position.
Mytilda was winning at the sixth attempt last month when beating strong-finishing Hi Meh Darling two lengths; the runner-up needs to be closely monitored!
A tongue-tie contributed to victory and ex-jockey, now a Northern-based trainer, Philip Makin, is expecting this Kodiac filly to supplement gains.
Philip’s able assistant is attractive, now retired female jockey Sammy Jo Bell and they seem to be doing well; worth noting with such unique experience.
Ex-apprentice champion jockey Darryll Holland has assembled a quality team from his training yard and once-raced Suanni should not be opposed under Angus Villiers in a shallow-looking Novice Stakes over six furlongs of ‘good to firm’ Brighton.
Angus, an absolute natural, claims 5lbs apprentice allowance off the Lethal Force colt and they must not be opposed because Suanni, a 20/1 chance, was extremely unlucky under William Buick eleven days ago.
Two-year-old form is usually reliable at this stage and five naps on the trot proved we are on the right track!.
Selections, Thirsk, 1.35 Zebelle; Brighton, 2.25 Suanni; Musselburgh, 2.35 Mytilda.
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