Eesha Meesh, third and fourth respectively in two races over six furlongs on Kempton polytrack last month, under Dylan Hogan, attempts extra distance on Wolverhampton tapeta tonight, ridden by recently-crowned Champion apprentice Marco Ghiani; you can bet Marco Botti’s charge will be a popular choice.
On my time-handicap this Farhh filly comes out clear best-in by virtue of a 5lbs allowance (which equates to two and a half lengths!) and justifies support in the twelve-runner Novice Stakes over seven furlongs; hopefully a wide draw of ten might just temper enthusiasm!
So often we mention ‘you can’t beat the draw’ but Marco is a wizard from starting stalls and Eesha Meesh has sufficient class, and early toe, to take issue as the field races down the far side. It’s fascinating to watch races formulate in a fast-run three/four furlongs stretch.
Ghiani will ‘track’ in a prominent outside slot before making his move entering the straight and pouncing on Eesha Meesh; no surprise if Jack Mitchell adopts similar tactics on the obvious once-raced TH danger, Atlantic Heart, a Twilight Son filly which I’ll be playing as an each-way saver.
Half an hour later Haunted Dream takes on seven rivals in a Nursery Handicap under Champion jockey Oisin Murphy; last week Ed Dunlop’s charge landed our nap in a 2-y-o handicap over ten furlongs on Chelmsford polytrack, mount of Tom Marquand, when achieving a career-best.
I’m not one for following up winning naps and indeed Haunted Dream is burdened with a 6lbs penalty, (which equates to three lengths!) but such was the ease of the Oasis Dream gelding’s success it’s very likely he’ll supplement those gains and I’ll bet he does!
Good, recent form at this back-end stage is like gold dust, extremely valuable; several old-timers, way back in time, would often double their stakes given prices offered by bookies were ultra-generous. They never knew about all-weather racing, just muddy, nigh unraceable conditions in October/November!
Thrice-raced Ollie Pears-trained maiden Outsmart and Ben Robinson team up for a fourth time in an eight-runner Novices Stakes over nine furlongs and look a gilt-edged each-way proposition with three places on offer.
A ‘professional special’ each-way patent will be my main play; never more than three. Don’t forget we are ‘investing’ and not gambling.
Tremendous ‘Super-Saturday’ in prospect, click on at mid-day tomorrow.
Selections, Wolverhampton, 6.00 Eesha Meesh (e.w); 6.30 Haunted Dream (e.w); 7.00 Outsmart (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