With York done and dusted we’re through another of the top flat meetings for the season and for a couple of weeks it looks quiet on home shores until group action returns at Haydock in the sprint cup.
This Wednesday we have a bit of everything, some flat turf, synthetic and national hunt racing so there is something for everyone and my first interest comes over at Carlisle.
3.30
Samarkand looked as unlucky a loser as they come last time out at Newcastle and looks worth a chance here to gain some compensation.
Held up amongst runners he was noticeably travelling strongly heading into the final two but he was stuck behind a lot of runners and simply had no where to go.
Inside the final furlong his position had not improved and it wasn’t until the final 100 yards he finally was able to switch out for a run, he finished off well but the winner was long gone and he had far too much to do. He was well backed that day as if a big run was expected and it was a good return to form given his come back run.
He is a half brother to 2 mile winner Fictional Account so this step up in trip could well be on the radar, he does face conditions more testing than he has had to in his career so far but being by Saddler’s Wells it may not pose a problem.
He is still unexposed and looks as if he has more to offer yet and this looks a good opportunity for him now he is back to form.
3.40
One thing this race certainly shouldn’t be lacking for is pace, Idler, Daddy Warbucks, Rusty Rock and Half A Billion all candidates to take up the running.
Lady Layla may find this race more to her liking than last time out at Wolverhampton where she was chasing the winner home in vain from off the pace.
The winner that day Majestic Zafeen was always well placed close to the pace and on turning in had a good 3 length advantage which the chasers could never quite pull back fast enough.
She finished her race off well though running on and closing all the time to line but could not get there in time and she seemed to have some running in her still.
It is not always the easiest track to come from off the pace but with conditions soft and potentially a bit too much pace on up front she could find these horses coming back to her unlike last time out and she looks worth a chance to build on her latest effort.
7.40
At Wolverhampton in the evening the Mahmood Al Zarooni trained Grizzle looks worth a chance at his first try upped in trip.
His breeding does not scream for it but given his latest run this looks like the right step from the trainer.
He was always close up chasing the pace but between 4 and 3 out he was pushed a long and looking outpaced and when in the home straight in contention he just seemed very one paced all the way home.
He stayed on all the time into third place but he never looked like he would be a danger and just seemed to struggle to change gear.
His only career win to date came at end of last season on the pollytrack at Lingfield and he could be the type to do better on the synthetic surfaces as opposed to turf.
He is a half brother to a horse named Graymalkin who is a multiple dirt winner in the UAE as well as a winner on the tapeta at Meydan and this surface coupled with a step up in trip may just bring the best out of him.
3.30 - Samarkand (nap)
3.40 - Lady Layla (ew)
7.40 - Grizzle