3 minute read
Menalippe has the opportunity to remind everyone of her ability in the talkSPORT Download The App Handicap at Newcastle.
James Ferguson's filly took some time to get the hang of things during her two-year-old season but slowly warmed to her duty as the year went on.
A step up in trip brought about significant improvement, with the daughter of Bungle Inthejungle getting off the mark in her first try at seven furlongs and she continued to run pleasingly at the distance, finishing second in her next start before notching up a second career success.
She was raised 5lb to a mark of 70 for that and was next seen finishing down the field at Newmarket on her final start of the season.
However, there is a good chance it was a case of the Rowley Mile proving not to Menalippe's liking rather than her rating being too high and she is backed to bounce back on reappearance, now upped in trip again to a mile.
Also at Gosforth Park, the booking of Paul Hanagan catches the eye aboard John Wainwright's Biplane in the talkSPORT Download The App Fillies' Handicap.
The all-weather regular rarely runs a stinker and it is interesting that the former champion jockey links up with the five-year-old for the first time since going close over track and trip last June.
That was just before Biplane racked up two quick victories and with her rating now down to a winning figure, she could be poised for a welcome return to the winner's enclosure.
Continuing on the all-weather, but at Lingfield, William Haggas' Sea Flawless could prove a cut above in the BetUK Over 40,000 Live Streamed Races Novice Stakes.
A 140,000 guineas sister to the Group Three-winning Al Aasy, the daughter of Sea The Stars created a taking impression when a three-and-a-quarter-length winner at Newcastle on debut and the way she was still full of running at the finish suggests the move up to 12 furlongs is well within range here.
Also at the Surrey venue, Covert Mission could secure the victory his consistency deserves in the Spreadex Sports Best Premier League Odds Handicap.
The course-and-distance winner is only 1lb higher than his last winning mark and his placed efforts at Southwell the last twice suggest a win is just around the corner.
Bobhopeornohope gets the nod in the feature event over the jumps at Ludlow – the £18,000 Boyne Cup.
Kim Bailey's charge is a dual course winner and is only a couple of pounds higher in the weights than when beating subsequent winner Volcano here in December.
Bobhopeornohope came up short but was certainly not disgraced when fourth in the Coral Trophy at Kempton on his latest appearance and and he can make the most of having his sights lowered.
Fix At All should be followed in the concluding Eddie Mapp Memorial Open Hunters' Chase.
Michael Scudamore's seven-year-old looked to be losing his way in handicaps, but a switch to the hunter chase sphere appears to have given him a new lease of life judged on a cosy course-and-distance success less than a fortnight ago.
Fix At All is difficult to oppose on his return to Shropshire with last year's winner and track regular Bletchley Castle lining up with a point to prove following a disappointing return at Southwell.
SELECTIONS:
LINGFIELD: 2.15 D Day Odette, 2.45 Sea Flawless, 3.15 Margaret's Fuchsia, 3.45 My Roxanne, 4.15 Navy Drums, 4.45 Covert Mission, 5.15 Come On Girl.
LUDLOW: 1.30 Stopherandgo, 2.00 Walk In Clover, 2.30 Space Voyage, 3.00 Bobhopeornohope, 3.30 Norley, 4.00 Dom Perry, 4.30 Fix At All.
NEWCASTLE: 5.30 Western Beat, 6.00 Elshaameq, 6.30 Biplane, 7.00 MENALIPPE (NAP), 7.30 Pockley, 8.00 Katar, 8.30 Glorious Rio.
DOUBLE: Menalippe and Covert Mission.