Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Ballinrobe, Bangor and Great Leighs

A mixed bag this evening, with the Irish track Ballinrobe staging a mixed meeting (3 flat races, 4 over hurdles), N.H. racing at Bangor and all-weather flat racing at Great Leighs. At the last-named track, Sir Mark Prescott appears to have another handicap good thing lined up in Master of Arts (Seb Sanders), who has won all his 5 starts this season and looks certain to start at prohibitive odds in the mile handicap for 3yo´s at 20.20. However this race does not look so easy, and top-weight Kafuu (Simon Callaghan/ Neil Callan) looks a worthy opponent. The promising Freddie Tylicki can win the apprentice handicap at 19.20 with German-bred Kangrina, while Evelyn May (Barry and Michael Hills) looks another short-priced favourite in the 2yo maiden at 20.50. At Bangor, trainer Evan Williams can land a double with Sheshali (Donal Fahy) in the conditional jockeys handicap hurdle at 19.30 and Chrysander (Paul Moloney) in the novice chase half an hour later, where he has only Ouzbeck to beat. Another trainer with double prospects is Nigel Twiston-Davies, who can take the novice hurdle at 20.30 with Distiller and the handicap chase at 21.00 with Apollo Creed, who has won 4 of his last 6 races; Paddy Brennan is the jockey on both occasions. Best bet at Ballinrobe should be the Aga Khan´s Zamiyla (John Oxx/ Fran Berry) n the maiden race over 1 1/2 miles at 20.40. She has finished second in decent company on both her starts so far and stands out in this company.