PEAK District can exploit his considerably lower rating on the all-weather by winning the Winthrop Handicap at Lingfield today.
Kevin Ryan has done a smashing job with this fiveyear- old, who was purchased from a Southwell claimer in April. Peak District has since finished runner-up on two outings for his new connections. The first of which was over course and distance, when he got to within a length and a quarter of the reopposing Lochstar, who is now 7lb higher for that triumph.
Ryan’s new recruit then excelled in a fiercelycompetitive York handicap, in which he again claimed the silver medal. Peak District held a rating of 92 that day – in contrast to his mark of 85 on the sand.
The Danehill entire’s form in Ireland, where he was considered good enough to compete at Group Three level, is also worthy of close scrutiny when assessing his claims in this five-furlong dash. The trainer’s daughter, Amy Ryan, gets on well with Peak District and they could prove a formidable partnership in Surrey.
Bertie Vista will never get a better opportunity with which to snap his winless hex than at Wolverhampton.
The Tim Easterby-trained three-year-old is winless in 17 attempts, and is no doubt a source of much frustration at Habton Grange.
He has, however, been set some fairly stiff assignments over the years, and is far from a complete no-hoper – as evidenced by a solid run of placed efforts in 2008.
Bertie Vista’s most recent effort in selling company at Pontefract was not too shabby, either, as he fared quite gamely to finish fourth. With Easterby’s representative having slithered down to a careerlow mark, the Betdaq Poker Handicap at Dunstall Park could be his for the taking.
Carmela Maria can provide Windsor punters with an early fillip in the Starlight Children’s Foundation Fillies’ Handicap. Stuart Williams’ four-year-old is in decent nick this summer, and appears to be nicely bubbling up to the surface for this 10-furlong event.
Confidence can firstly be derived from her two most recent starts at Folkestone and Warwick, where she has finished second and third respectively. The Medicean filly is also reasonably weighted off a perch of 61, especially if her Folkestone effort is factored into the equation. Carmela Maria has yet to win on the grass, she is one of the most unexposed members of this line-up.
She should also be in her element on a fast surface and around this not unduly testing circuit. Rocky’s Pride is well worth looking out for later on the card. Jeremy Noseda’s juvenile made its debut at Goodwood this month when second behind Mohtashem.
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