April 7 – Redcar – Convergent – 84
Impressive on his only start as a juvenile over the same course, Karl Burke’s colt carried on where he left off with an equally dominant display on his seasonal bow and he looks a very smart prospect in the making. A relentless galloper with tons of scope and a long stride, the son of Fascinating Rock proved just as effective on the better ground and his time figure suggests he is an automatic pattern race performer in the making. A Guineas entry, he will more than likely skip the first Classic of the season in favour of the Dante at York and it would come as no surprise if he were to more than justify his place in that sort of line-up.
April 9 – Leopardstown – Himalayan Heights – 78
A competitive handicap turned into a bit of procession by Ger Lyons’ gelding and he looks one to keep firmly on side based on the evidence from the Dublin circuit. Noted going well turning for home, the four-year-old exhibited a smart turn of foot to pull well clear of his rivals and with both the overall time and final three furlong splits speaking favourably of his work, he deserves a shot at something more meaningful next time out. Long term, he appeals as one who could easily line-up in a Royal Ascot handicap – similar to Crystal Black last season.
April 11 – Newbury – Gethin – 80
Just an ordinary-looking maiden on paper beforehand, but the resulting speed figure suggests this 1m2f heat might prove above-average for this time of year and it deserves to be followed accordingly. The winner did really well to win in the manner he did considering how keen he was in the early stages and that suggests Owen Burrows’ grey has a big engine. Obviously, he will need to learn to settle better if he is going to take the step up in grade in future but providing he does go the right way, he can make up into a useful middle-distance performer.
April 12 – Newbury – Divina Grace – 83
A bit of a surprise result on paper, but Andrew Balding’s new recruit had managed to post some useful time figures based on our calculations last season, so maybe not the biggest shock this race has produced over the years. The one thing she had displayed several times last season was a good attitude and that willingness to battle once the gloves were off proved the key component here. Entitled to come forward from her first run since October, it would be dangerous to underestimate this performance and she can be seen to even better effect against her own sex further down the line. Of the rest, Tabletalk comes out of the race with great credit and he proved he wasn’t out of place at stakes level, while another chance can be afforded to Sunway, who probably needed the run more than connections originally thought.
April 12 – Newbury – Ebt’s Guard – 81
Probably not the most classiest renewal of the Spring Cup ever run but a competitive one all the same, and it was won in good style by a horse who showed a fair level of consistency in several big handicaps last season. Gelded in the interim, William Muir’s inmate exhibited all his usual battling traits to get the job done inside the final two furlongs and he looks just the type who should do well in similar races throughout the remainder of the campaign – The Hunt Cup being his most likely target in the short term.
April 12 – Thirsk – Paborus – 78
Sometimes the data tells only half of the story and that was the case with Ed Bethell’s inmate at the Yorkshire venue. An impressive winner of a Southwell handicap previously, the market spoke favourably prior to his first run for 177 days and he duly backed up the confidence in his direction beforehand with a performance of some merit. The way he travelled throughout the well run affair was the most striking aspect of his display and he also put the race to bed with a fair degree of ease. On this evidence, the four-year-old looks every inch a pattern race performance in waiting and he deserves to be followed accordingly throughout the season. Nice type.