Ffos Las and Musselburgh previews: Summersault can leave rivals in a spin
Published:
David Metcalf | July 19, 2016
Summersault has a super chance at Ffos Las
Summersault caught the eye last time out and can cash-in on a slight ease in grade to land the 6f handicap on today’s card at Ffos Las (17.00).
The Jamie Osborne trained gelding returned to form on turf debut at Windsor four starts back when showing plenty of pace to chase the leaders before running on strongly to score cosily by two lengths off a mark of 62.
Summersault was then far from disgraced in his next two outings before finishing a fine fourth of 11 to Golden Wedding over 7f at Newbury 12 days ago.
The five-year-old took a keen hold in midfield but travelled strongly and kept on well to be beaten 2 1/4 lengths.
This is arguably a weaker contest, the drop back to 6f looks sure to suit, and Summersault has also since been dropped 1lb and is now just 3lb higher than when last victorious.
It also looks significant that George Baker, who rode him last time out, is once again in the saddle as he also rode Outrage in his last outing and has presumably chosen Summersault over that rival.
Warrior primed for battle
Blenheim Warrior showed a good attitude when scoring last time out and can make light of a rise in the weights to follow-up in the 1m 6f handicap (16.00).
Trained by the in-form Richard Hughes, the four-year-old has raised his game since going handicapping and after finishing third at Newbury opened his account over 1m 4f at Salisbury last month with a game head success.
After being held-up at the rear, Blenheim Warrior travelled strongly into the contest to take up the running three from home and found plenty when pressed to score with a bit more in hand than the winning margin suggests.
The gelding only just seemed to be doing enough to get the job done and a 4lb rise could well be on the lenient side.
Blenheim Warrior also looks the type who may well have more to offer now stepped up in trip, and unlike his rivals remains lightly-raced and unexposed.
Ffos Las selections
14.00: Naval Warfare
14.30: Burguillos
15.00: Raising Sand
15.30: Pastoral Star
16.00: Blenheim Warrior (NB)
16.30: Go Amber Go
17.00: Summersault (NAP)
Neuf Des Coeurs makes plenty of appeal at Musselburgh
Neuf Des Coeurs looks decent value to take advantage of a drop in the weights and land the spoils in the 1m 4f handicap on today’s card at Musselburgh (15.45).
The mare was a duly winner last year when trained by Keith Dalgleish and the last of those successes came over course and distance where she scored easily by by 3 1/2 lengths off a mark of 64.
Neuf Des Coeurs got hit with a 6lb rise for that victory and subsequently failed to trouble to trouble the judged in her next five starts.
The five-year-old then moved to Iain Jardine for the start of this campaign and has gradually worked her way back to form for her new handler.
Several of those outings have been over course and distance and Neuf Des Coeurs hinted that her time was near when staying on to finish a never nearer 1 1/2 length third of 12 to Henry Smith at the track 11 days ago.
The daughter of Champs Elysses is able to race in this off an unchanged mark of 58, 6lb lower than when last successful, and that gives her major claims at the weights if taking another step forward.
Always Resolute tough to beat
Always Resolute has been in terrific form this season and can defy top weight to land another success in the 2m handicap (16.45).
The Brian Ellsion trained five-year-old has won three of his four starts and the manner of his victory last time out at Chester when staying on strongly to forge clear in the closing stages and score by 1 1/2 lengths suggests he may have even more to offer.
Although now 5lb higher in the weights, connections have offset the rise but putting up 7lb claimer Ben Robinson to do the steering.
He gave Always Resolute a peach of a ride when scoring at Doncaster three starts back, and taking his claim into account the selection is effectively running off 2lb lower than when winning at Chester and looks weighted to go in again.
Musselburgh selections
14.15: La Havrese
14.45: Copper Baked
15.15: Lydia’s Place
15.45: Neuf Des Coeurs (NAP)
16.15: Novinophobia
16.45: Always Resolute (NB)
17.15: Majestic Manannan
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