Race 5
SMOKIN’ COD is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she had her consistency rewarded with a victory last time out over seven furlongs, albeit by just a neck. She struck the front at the 200M mark, from some way back to record her second career win and from draw six, she is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
SNAPPY JIM raced up with the pace and was only grabbed in the shadow of the post for a short-head second last time out over seven furlongs and the form of that race has been franked. The gelding has a wideish draw eight, but could emerge as the biggest threat to the top choice.
BOADELLE is a 5yr old mare who is seldom far off the action, finishing second last time out over seven furlongs, just a neck back from the winner. She is drawn one inside the latter and should be involved in the finish.
Race 6
The day’s value bet, GIDDY UP GIDLEIGH showed solid improvement to win his maiden race last time out over five furlongs by one and a half lengths. He finished the best, despite hanging out at the top of the home straight. The gelding has a handy draw three and will be having his peak run after returning from a 17 week break and could prove hard to topple.
Two 3yr old fillies could chase him home, with PRETTY VEGAS getting the nod for second spot. She won over five furlongs on debut putting six and a half lengths between herself and the opposition and could be just about anything. She struck the front entering the home straight and the result of the race was never in doubt from that point. She would have learnt from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected and with 3kgs being taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice, she should be right up there when they hit the line.
DANCEENUFF was returning from a 16-week spell when winning her last start over five furlongs by 1.8L. She showed plenty of toe that day and whilst draw wide in gate twelve, she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
Race 7
Although KIPTANUI is recorded as finishing seventh last time out over nine furlongs, he was only just under two lengths off the winner and that was at a stronger center. He did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight that day and with better luck in running today, he looks to be the one that they all have to beat, notwithstanding a wide draw nine.
SCARLET PRINCE had to weave his way through traffic in the home straight from some way back when finishing fourth in his latest outing over ten furlongs, 5.8L behind the victor, so that effort is best ignored. The gelding gets a kinder draw five and should be viewed as a big runner here.
ELVEENA is a 5yr old mare taking males, but she has cracked pole position and followed up her penultimate run victory over a mile with an eighth place finish next time out over the same trip, 4.8L back from the winner. She raced three wide without cover in that contest, but still managed to stay on well over the latter stages, suggesting that she should have no issue with the step up in distance.
Race 8
SHALOOK is a 3yr old filly taking on boys, but she missed out on her hat-trick after two victories over six furlongs when finishing eighth last time out when stepping up to seven furlongs, 7.8L adrift of the winner, but she had to be eased at the 100M pole and the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. She will have to negotiate a wide gate twelve, but she should do better here over what appears to be a more suitable trip.
ZELAGO has won two of his last four starts, the latest over six furlongs by just under a length. He raced just behind the leaders that day, before kicking clear at the top of the home stretch. The gelding has pulled a useful draw four and should turn in another honest performance today. SMILER MARSHALL showed marked improvement to win his last start over today’s trip by just over a length and a half. He showed plenty of early speed that day and from a cozy gate three and with having the services of a 2kg claiming apprentice, he could prove hard to reel in.