Hexham and Wolverhampton previews: Bescot Springs to bounce back
Published:
David Metcalf | May 24, 2016
Bescot Springs hot stuff at Hexham
Bescot Springs can take advantage of a drop in the weights to get back to winning ways in the 2m 7f handicap hurdle at Hexham today (17.00).
The Lucinda Russell trained gelding won over course and distance last September when digging deep to score by two lengths off a mark of 95 and went on to finish runner-up off higher marks on three occasions.
They included when beaten three lengths by Transient Bay in a class 4 contest at Ayr four starts back off 102, and the 11-year-old is now able to race in this lower grade class 5 affair off a reduced rating of 98.
That makes the veteran look nicely treated on the pick of his form, and the return to this venue is a big plus.
Bescott Springs has won twice and been placed once in six starts at the track, and this will be his first visit since last victorious.
The drying ground is also in Bescot Springs favour, and with Derek Fox in the saddle this weak looking contest represents and excellent opportunity for him to get his head back in front where it matters.
Pay The King too well-treated to ignore
In the 3m handicap chase (16.00), Pay The King can cash-in on a drop in the weights to land a long overdue success.
The gelding had some useful form over hurdles earlier in his career when trained by Paul Nicholls, and made a winning debut over the obstacles for Micky Hammond when scoring at this venue by a head off an official rating of 115.
Things haven’t gone to plan since that successes, with Pay The King managing to make the frame on just four occasions from 15 starts.
However, two of those have come in his latest three starts and the nine-year-old is now able to race off a career-low rating of 86.
That gives the son of King’s Theatre outstanding claims at the weights, and he has run his best races on the good ground which he now gets.
Pay The King also has the services of Joe Colliver in the saddle who is good value for his 3lb claim, and taking into account is simply too well-treated to ignore in this line-up and worth one last chance to capitalise on his plummeting mark.
Hexham selections:
14.00: Another Bill
14.30: Brother Scott
15.00: Taylor
15.30: Whatsthestoryman
16.00: Pay The King (NB)
16.30: William Money
17.00: Bescot Springs (NAP)
17.30: Lord Of Drums
Dommersen to dominate at Wolverhampton
Trainer John Gosden has a tremendous record with his runners at Wolverhamton, and Dommersen can further enhance it with victory in the 1m handicap on today’s card at the Midlands venue (17.15).
The Newmarket handler has a 36 per cent strike rate with his runners at the track in the past 12 months, saddling nine winners and seven placed horses from 25 runners.
In Dommersen he has an unexposed colt who shaped with promise on his sole start as a juvenile at Newmarket before scoring in good style on return to action over 7f at Lingfield last month.
After dwelling at the start, the three-year-old quickly made up the lost ground to race on the heels of the leaders and ran on strongly when produced inside the last to win by a cosy 1/2 a length from Banish.
The runner-up is a fair sort who has won since, and the third home Musdam has also gone on to taste success.
It gives the form a solid look, and Dommersen has been allotted an opening mark of 80 on the back of that success.
That could well be on the lenient side, especially as the son of Dutch Art looks sure to appreciate the step up in trip judged on the way he finished off the race at Lingfield.
Sweet on the chances of Zed Candy Girl
In the 1m handicap (17.45), Zed Candy Girl looks nicely treated on the pick of her form and decent value to land the spoils.
The Mark Loughnane trained mare is a three-time winner at the track, with the last of those successes coming 11 months ago over 7f off a mark of 62.
Zed Candy Girl has since posted a series of solid efforts, and took advantage of a drop in the weights to get back on the scoresheet at Kempton four starts back off 55.
Although now 4lb higher in the weights, Zed Candy Girl has shown that she can be competitive off her revised rating and remains 3lb lower than when last scoring at this venue.
The six-year-old should also get the strong pace she needs to be seen at her best in this line-up, and the booking of Adam Kirby to the steering suggests connections mean business as he has pulled off some notable gambles in the past when teaming up with the yard.
Wolverhampton selections:
14.15: Seaperle
14.45: Jumeirah Star
15.15: Line Sport
15.45: Come On Dave
16.15: Mystique Heights
16.45: Enchanted Moment
17.15: Dommersen (NAP)
17.45: Zed Candy Girl (NB)
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