Bath preview: Rock Lobster a tasty bet to follow-up
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Rock Lobster looked miles ahead of the assessor when scoring last time out and can make light for a penalty to follow-up in the 1m 2f handicap on this evening’s card at Bath (18.05).
The Ed Dunlop trained gelding opened his account in runway style at Chelmsford nine days ago when fitted with the cheekpieces for the first, travelling strongly throughout and leading on the bit three from home before surging clear to win by six lengths.
It was a most taking display, and one which suggested Rock Lobster needed keeping firmly onside.
The three-year-old is clearly going the right way, and after just seven starts remains relatively unexposed and showed have plenty more to offer.
It’s certainly no surprise that connections have decided to turn out Rock Lobster quickly under a 6lb penalty, as the son of Bahamian Bounty is due to race off 9lb higher in future engagements once his revised mark kicks in.
Off a rating of 75, Rock Lobster is 3lb well-in at the weights and that is going to make him very difficult to beat providing this race doesn’t come too quickly.
In the 5f handicap (17.00), Catalinas Diamond holds major claims of landing the spoils for a second year in succession.
The Pat Murphy trained mare is a dual winner over course and distance, and one of those successes came in this 12 months ago where she ran on well to score readily by 1 1/4 lengths off a mark of 55 on good-to-soft ground,
Catalinas Diamond has since posted a number of solid efforts, and got back to winning ways over course and distance four starts back when coming with her customary late challenge to get up close home and score by a neck off a rating of 52.
Although now 4lb higher in the weights, the seven-year-old is just 1lb higher than when winning this last year and remains well-treated on the pick of her form.
Catalinas Diamond also comes into the contest on the back of two decent runs at the track and looks primed to make a bold defence of her crown.
Selections:
16.25: Shine Likeadiamond
17.00: Catalinas Diamond (NB)
17.35: Lightning Charlie
18.05: Rock Lobster (NAP)
18.35: Cape Rosie
19.05: British Embassy
19.35: Highlife Dancer
