Kempton and Ripon previews: Anzhelika holds all the aces for Lanigan
Published:
David Metcalf | August 1, 2016
Anzhelika appeals on handicap debut at Kempton
Anzhelika impressed when scoring on her debut, and can take advantage of what looks a lenient mark to make a winning return to action in the 1m 3f handicap on today’s card at Kempton (16:00).
This David Lanigan trained filly showed a nice turn of foot to get up close home and beat Rateej by 3/4 of a length over 1m 2f at Salisbury, despite showing distinct signs of greenness.
It was a most taking display which suggested there was much better to come and an opening handicap mark of 77 looks lenient, given that Rateej was rated the same going into that contest.
The daughter of Galileo is certainly bred to be much better than it, and another plus is that her handler has a decent strike rate at the track.
Lanigan’s horses also usually come good at this time of the year and, with George Baker in the saddle, Anzhelika looks potentially a cut-above her rivals and can take this en route to better things.
Pinstripe fancied to open account
Pinstripe was not at his best last time out, but had previously shaped with plenty of promise, so looks decent value to notch a first career success in the 1m 4f handicap (17:00).
Trained by Luca Cumani, the colt shaped well on his return to action when a not knocked about sixth to the progressive Shabbah at Nottingham.
Pinstripe backed that up with an eye-catching staying on fourth to 14 Capanova in competitive class 5 affair at Haydock off a mark of 67.
He then seemed to find the soft ground against him when fourth at this venus, before racing far too freely when weakening to finish eighth at Wolverhampton.
The three-year-old has since been dropped another 2lb to 64, and that makes the son of Dansili look nicely treated on the pick of his form.
Pinstripe also now gets the services of an in-form Jamie Spencer on board for the first time this season; so, from a good draw in stall two, everything looks in place for a huge run.
Kempton selections
14.00: Zlatan
14.30: Born To Please
15.00: Scorching Heat
15.30: Poyle Emily
16.00: Anzhelika (NAP)
16.30: Mister Bob
17.00: Pinstripe (NB)
Excessable ready to roar at Ripon
Excessable can cash-in on a drop in the weights and class to land the 5f handicap on today’s card at Ripon (16:15).
The Tim Easterby trained colt created a huge impression when scoring on his debut over course and distance, travelling strongly on the heels of the leaders before taking up the running at the furlong marker and quickening clear to score by 3 1/2 lengths.
Excessable backed that up with a solid second in a decent contest at Beverley when going down by just a neck, and went on to finish a a cracking three-length fifth of 22 to Lathom in the valuable Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury to be rated 94.
Although yet to trouble the judge in four runs this season, the three-year-old shaped well on the second of those when seventh of 13 to Discreet Hero in a competitive class 3 affair at York off 85.
Excessable travelled well for much of the contest before being short of room and was not knocked about to be beaten 4 1/2 lengths.
The son of Sakhee’s Secret is now able to race off a reduced rating of just 78, and that gives Excessable major claims from a handicapping perspective in this lower grade class 4 affair now returned to the scene of his sole career success.
Eccleston weighted to deliver
Eccleston is back down to his last winning mark and looks the answer to the 6f handicap (15:45).
The David O’Meara trained gelding bagged a couple of big field handicaps last season, also running very well over course and distance when fourth of 13 to Don’t Touch in the valuable Great St Wilfrid Handicap.
Eccleston also posted a solid effort to finish sixth of 25 to Tatlisu in the Ayr Silver Cup off a mark of 96, and is now able to race in this less competitive affair off 91.
That is the same as when last successful at Thirsk 12 months ago, and Eccleston comes into the contest having shaped as if coming to the boil when third at Doncaster on his second start of the campaign.
If building on that the five-year-old looks weighted to take all the beating, and the booking of Silvestre De Sousa to do the steering suggest connections mean business.
Ripon selections
14.15: Bloomin Lovely
14.45: Cautionary Note
15.15: Absolute Zero
15.45: Eccleston (NB)
16.15: Excessable (NAP)
16.45: Withhold
17.15: Icefall
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