SPEEDY Shrink's (3.20) explosive pace might easily have the bookmakers running for cover in Catterick's Lionweld Kennedy Sprint Handicap.
A low draw is no bad thing over the minimum distance at the track and everything has fallen nicely into place for Shrink, who has the class to wrap things up from the advantageous' stall one in the five-furlong dash.
Trainer Michael Dods' has done supremely well with filly, after twice winning with her since she arrived from Michael Bell's Newmarket stable.
The first victory came at Newcastle, the latest as recently as Thirsk's Monday evening meeting when Shrink (3.20) picked up a 6lb penalty for a relatively easy success.
It's hard to imagine anything other than another bold showing from the exciting four-year-old, who is currently at the peak of her powers and fully expected to complete a well-deserved hat-trick.
Four weeks ago Bryan Smart's stable was leaking oil, but that situation has changed during the past couple of weeks as his horses have hit top gear following their uncharacteristically tardy start.
Perhaps punters were a tad premature lumping on Bond Puccini (4.50) when making him favourite at Hamilton much earlier on this month. That effort came prior to the yard's purple patch, which combined with the soft surface at the Scottish venue was more than likely responsible for the gelding's defeat.
Bond Puccini now seems a much safer betting proposition in the Pen Hill Handicap, seeing as he's back on far more suitable ground, and like the rest of his stable-mates, is in the rudest of health. It's Macmillan Charity night at Pontefract where Coleorton Dancer (8.05) has a good in the feature event on the card, the Chancy Handicap.
Neil Callan's mount likes to be in the box seat throughout, tactics that work particularly well at the South Yorkshire course. In addition, it's also a stamina-sapping uphill mile, predicted to suit Coleorton Dancer's from-the-front run style.
Leading freelance Jamie Spencer's booking for Great View (8.35) might ultimately prove to be highly significant.
Spencer, on the mark with Waterline Twenty at Bath yesterday, and making a bold bid to become this year's champion jockey, looks the ideal rider for Great View, who prefers to come with a long and sustained challenge at the end of his races.
The nap vote belongs to Time To Relax (2.30) in the opening Enabled Day Selling Stakes at Wolverhampton.
A good case can be made for his main market opponent, previous track and trip scorer, Blue Empire, however Time To Relax has the superior turf form, which if happens to coverts to the all-weather circuit, makes John Quinn's gelding something of a racing certainty.
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