Golden Chapter is (again!) napped when this once-raced Danehill Dancer filly takes on seven rivals for a 3-y-o Maiden Fillies’ Stakes over ten furlongs of Lingfield polytrack today; that was the case for a similar race last week but trainer Ralph Beckett withdrew her overnight.
Mine is not to wonder why, just reveal an obvious time-handicap chance based on a promising fifth (of eight) to Mandrell over a mile on Kempton ‘poly’ ten weeks ago; Golden Chapter was backed into favouritism!
Coming back after a break isn’t a problem nowadays and the fact Golden Chapter has prpobably ‘worked’ since being withdrawn means fitness cewrtainly wont be at issue. Graham Gibbons has been boooked, few better.
Jockeyship is key to success, ‘Gibbo’ rates highly but for the forthcoming campaign Beckett will be retaining Irish champion jockey, Fran Berry, none better!
What a prospect, watching Berry and doesn’t it just make you realise how prestigious it is for these high-profile jockeys to rider in England despite the moderate prize-money on offer during most weekday meetings.
Four newcomers face Golden Chapter, including well-regarded Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned Malhama, by New Approach and trained by Roger Varian whose Newmarket string is vast.
Quality-wise the all-weather scene is suddenly looking a deal more competitive, this is an intriguing race which I’ll be monitoring closely.
We’ve also been looking at the Champion Hurdle, which ‘kicks off’ Cheltenham a fortnight on Tuesday, and one keeps springing out of the ante-post lists, Camping Ground, he’s a monster price and worth chancing, after all Nicky Henderson hopes to run five!
Talk about throwing mud at the wall and hope some sticks.
Apparently Nicky doesn’t rate any of them good enough!
Kempton stages it’s obligatory ‘Wednesday-nighter’ and we fancying Patron Of Explores in the opening Apprentice Handicap under talented Paul Muir who looked tidy when winning last week, half an hour later Mystic Blaze shouldn’t be extended, never mind beaten, in the Maiden Stakes over a mile of polytrack. A good day is in the offing!