Bath and Lingfield previews: Just Isla weighted to strike
Published:
David Metcalf | July 20, 2016
Just Isla can get back to winning ways at Bath
Just Isla looks decent value to take advantage of a drop in the weights to land the 1m handicap on today’s card at Bath (16.10).
The mare won twice last summer when trained by Michael Blanshard, landing a 7f contest at Lingfield off 59 and a 1m handicap at Kempton off 58.
Just Isla got put up to 62 after the latter and, after failing to trouble the judge in her next three starts, spent a lengthy 199 days on the sidelines.
Although well beaten on return to action at Lingfield, the six-year-old was held-up at the rear and never got involved before being eased towards the finish.
It was a very tender introduction back, and she also shaped better than the bare result suggested last time out at Brighton when finishing eighth.
Those runs should have put the daughter of Halling spot on and, having been dropped 2lb, she is now able to race off 55.
That gives Just Isla major claims from a handicapping perspective on her first start for in-form trainer John Flint.
Horizons poised to follow-up
Dawn Horizons scored in terrific style last time out and can cash-in on what looks a lenient mark to follow-up in the 1m 3f handicap (14.40).
The William Haggas trained filly shaped with bags of promise on debut when fifth of 13 to Shall We in a warm maiden at Salisbury, and duly improved for the experience when easily beating Withhold by 3 3/4 lengths at Doncaster last month.
Dawn Horizons only had to be nudged out to draw clear and win with tons in hand and it was a most taking performance which suggested she needed keeping firmly onside.
An opening handicap mark of 82 may seriously underestimate her ability and it will be disappointing if Dawn Horizons doesn’t take this en route to better things.
Bath selections
14.10: Masterson
14.40: Dawn Horizons (NB)
15.10: Consulting
15.40: Barroche
16.10: Just Isla (NAP)
16.40: The Greedy Boy
17.10: Verus Delicia
17.45: Lucky Diva
Quality Art to turn on the style at Lingfield
Quality Art can capitalise on a drop in the weights to score an overdue success in the 5f handicap on today’s card at Lingfield (16.50).
The Simon Hodgson trained gelding was in tremendous form last year when winning five of his eight starts, with the last of those successes coming at Wolverhampton off a mark of 68.
Quality Art got put up to 74 for that victory but, following a long losing run, is now able to race off a reduced rating of 62.
It gives the eight-year-old major claims at the weights and he comes into the contest on the back of a string of solid efforts.
Those runs suggests his time is near and Quality Art now returns to a venue which he runs well.
The veteran has won once and been placed four times in nine runs over course and distance, and this is a weak class 6 contest which represents a great opportunity for Quality Art to get his head back in front.
Plage can collect for in-form Williams
Trainer Stuart Williams is in good form at present and Belle Mare Plage looks value to provide him with another winner in the 6f handicap (14.50).
The filly has a good record on the all-weather at the venue, having run two solid races to be in the frame before opening her account two starts back when staying on strongly to land a 5f maiden by 1/2 a length off an official rating of 67.
Belle Mare Plage was then off the track for 134 days, before finishing a well beaten fifth over 7f on soft ground at the track where she raced wide off the pack and made headway two from home before weakening approaching the last.
The going and trip seemed all against her that day and the three-year-old looks sure to strip much fitter for this outing.
Belle Mare Plage has also since been dropped 2lb to a mark of 63 and that makes her look nicely treated on the pick of her form now back to a more suitable trip and returned to the artificial surface.
Lingfield selections
13.50: Woodukheleyfit
14.20: Salieri
14.50: Belle Mare Plage (NB)
15.20: Turanga Leela
15.50: Lily Edge
16.20: Executor
16.50: Quality Art (NAP)
17.20: Sky of Stars
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