IN-FORM trainer Michael Dods has found a golden opportunity to strike at Beverley with both Rotuma (3.15) and Jedeydd (3.45).
Dods, who knocked in a cracking 186-1 double with Divine Spirit and Balakiref at Ayr on Saturday, and followed up in similar vein with Society Music (3-1) and Petana (20-1) at Musselburgh yesterday, has his Denton-near-Darlington stable in fantastic fettle.
Rotuma ran really well on his penultimate outing at Newcastle, where he just got the better of Compton Dragon in a driving finish. He then went to Chester and although not disgraced, was probably anchored by his 8lb penalty, along with being forced wide on the home turn.
Now 3lb lower in the weights, and on a track that will suit far better, Rotuma seems sure to give his supporters a terrific run for their money in the mile-and-a-quarter totequadpot Stakes.
In the following the Minster Enclosure Handicap, Jedeydd arguably has even better prospects.
On a point of handicapping the selection must have every chance because he's dropped a whopping 24lbs since the start of last season.
Such a dramatic free-fall in the weights has come as a result of a series of disappointing performances, however there were positive signs that the trend was about to come to an abrupt halt when Jedeydd finished fourth over course and distance last time out.
Considering Michael's representative had to contend with the impossible "coffin box" draw in stall one that day, it was a particularly creditable effort and the time appears right to end his losing streak which agonisingly stretches way back to July 2002.
Not a great deal to get excited about Brighton unless Ziet s'Alsace (4.30) decides to put her best foot forward. Tony Carroll's filly has stacks of ability, unfortunately she's not the most consistent of individuals and lets the side down too many times to be considered as a serious betting proposition.
In her defence, when Zeit d'Alsace does get on the score-sheet her win odds are normally pretty generous, so bearing in mind the diabolically low-standard of opposition lining up for the Edgar's Cool Water Handicap, a bob or two each-way might yet pay the afternoon's expenses.
Best bet of the evening at Newbury, Trois Etoiles (8.30), should make a bold bid to open her account in the Telebetting Handicap over seven furlongs.
The John Hills-trained filly, a beautifully bred daughter of Grand Lodge, made pleasing late headway to snatch fifth spot on her reappearance at Haydock 19 days ago. The value of that contest has already been franked by the subsequent success of the fourth-placed horse, Majorca, at Thirsk, a victory strongly suggesting Trios Etoiles is capable of following suit.
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