Fine Form
Velvet Goldmine NO – 5.50
looks to have been found a decent opportunity to open her account at the fourth time of asking in the RMG Proudly Supports Teenage Cancer Trust Handicap at Nottingham.
Down the field on her only juvenile appearance at Newmarket, Ed Walker’s filly has fared far better in two starts at three, finishing third at Newbury and then a short head second to Doodling as a hot favourite at Bath.
She would have almost certainly won that race had she not pulled so fiercely during the early exchanges and she should be seen in a better light in handicap company off a very workable opening perch of 69.
Walker has a decent strike rate at Colwick Park with 16 per cent of his runners going in and this speedy filly can do her bit to improve that in what does not look the strongest of handicaps.
Porth Eilian NO – 4.45
has been making steady progress this season and looks the one to be on in the Hospitality At Nottingham Racecourse Fillies’ Handicap earlier on the same card.
Ed Bethell’s filly has delivered improved performances with every visit to the racecourse this season and has struck twice in her last three outings at Hamilton and Beverley.
It was on her latest start at the Yorkshire venue, when she gave weight and a beating on rattling fast ground to Sandy Craic, that her form took a sizeable step forward.
With virtually identical conditions likely at the east midlands venue, she can continue her upward momentum against a small field who have more questions to answer than she does.
A solid case can be made for
Blue Prince SL – 7.51
in the Highclere Castle Gin Handicap over a mile at Salisbury as much on his own claims as on the weaknesses of the others in the field.
A winner here at Salisbury two runs back over a furlong shorter, he backed it up with a similar level of performance over a mile on the all-weather at Kempton, finishing a length and a half third to Grizedale after coming from further back than seemed ideal.
None of the other three contenders can match that level of consistency with George Boughey reaching for the headgear for the disappointing Celeborn and Allegresse tried in cheekpieces after failing to beat a single horse in three starts this year.
That leaves Arctic Thunder who does not seem at his best and is far from certain to appreciate the fast ground and makes Blue Prince a confident pick.
Kaaranah WL – 6.30
has already won three times at Wolverhampton and can strike Dunstall Park gold again in the Free Digital Racecard At raceday-ready.com Handicap.
He is up 3lb for his last success a month ago but that rise does not look insurmountable.
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