Fine Form
Ewan Whillans is forging a reputation as a more than capable dual purpose operator and the Borders trainer can land his biggest win on the level with
Team Player NC – 3.15
in the Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.
It might be stretching things to describe the four-year-old as a plot given he has shown his hand pretty openly this season, winning two and finishing fifth off this mark in the Chester Cup.
But the curve of his form is very much upward and there are reasons to believe he could still have a bit in hand.
Team Player was with Gemma Tutty in North Yorkshire last season and the trainer did well with him winning two and never being out of the first three in six runs.
But his form since switching to Whillans in January suggests there is plenty more to come with a course and distance win off 14lb lower followed by a comfortable victory in the Queen’s Cup at Musselburgh in April.
Whillans might have sat on Team Player with his new mark of 92 but he decided to see what he had on his hands in the Chester Cup and was rewarded with minor place money as he stayed on well from off the pace after a terrible draw to finish fifth.
The upshot was his mark stayed the same but he showed he was capable of better which was the perfect preparation for a test back on the all-weather and first-time cheekpieces could see him improve again.
Alan King has his stable in fine form and
Believeitanducan NC – 2.40
could be the answer to the consolation race for the Pitmen’s Derby, the JenningsBet Festival Northumberland Vase Handicap.
A 5lb penalty for a three and a quarter lengths win at Chester after the weights came out may not be enough to stop him and the booking of William Buick indicates that the vibes at home since have been nothing but positive.
Ian Williams is another excellent dual code operator whose runners at Newcastle are always worth paying attention and his
Supido NC – 1.40
could go close in the opening Education Network Handicap.
The four-year-old Blue Point gelding was a ready winner at Chester off a 4lb lower mark but disappointed his trainer with a third off this mark back at the Roodee next time.
On that face of it that was a step back but his trainer was hoping he had made the cut for a handicap at Ascot which suggests he retains belief that there is juice in this mark.
Tuco Salamanca NC – 3.45
won with any amount in hand at Kempton in March beating Knebworth, who reopposes on 6lb better terms, by a length and three quarters.
Since then he has finished sixth in a really hot handicap at York.
Returned to the sand off a 1lb lower mark he can repeat the impressive turn of foot he showed back in south west London to land the JenningsBet Over 200 Shops Nationwide Handicap.
At York,
Fortification YO – 2.25
looks a decent shout to defy a 3lb rise for a fast finishing third to Thunder Call in a red-hot sprint handicap at the Knavesmire last time out.
Brian Ellison’s gelding might be the type to graduate out of handicaps in time if he maintains a decent rate of progress this season and the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dash Handicap can go his way on route.
Half an hour earlier
Frankie’s Dream YO – 1.55
is another who can build on a decent run at the track last time out.
The gelding won a seven furlong handicap at the track off a 3lb lower mark last year and ran on well to close on the well-backed Point Of Contact over nine furlongs at the track on June 13.
Although it seems he might have needed every yard of that distance, the drop back to a mile may well allow him to preserve that finishing kick better and the trip of the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Mile Handicap looks perfect.
At the Curragh
Thundering On CU – 3.55
faces older rivals for the first time, faster ground than she encountered in the Oaks and steps back in trip to 10 furlongs in the Group One Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes.
But judged on her hugely impressive win at Epsom none of the above may stop her. While the admirable Estrange could make her pull out some stops Joseph O’Brien’s filly could be right out of the top drawer.
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