3 minute read
Stainsby Girl has the potential to outclass her rivals in the Kelso Betting Ring Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle at the Scottish track.
Formerly trained by Donald Whillans, for whom she won her last two outings, she was then bought by Nick Alexander having beaten a decent type of his in Elvis Mail on both outings.
Alexander then sent her to Haydock for what looked a very stiff assignment first time out in a valuable race on Betfair Chase day.
Somewhat out of character, she set off like a scalded cat and it looked like it would just be a matter of time before she fell in a hole.
However, with fluent jumping her call sign, nothing ever looked like getting on terms and she won well, keeping on strongly.
Next time out back at Haydock off a 5lb higher mark she again failed to settle, and this time she never got away from the field and finished fifth.
That was a better race than this one, though, and if she is allowed loose on the front-end again, she will take some pegging back.
Bavington Bob may bounce back to form in the Chairman's Cup Handicap Chase.
Still only eight, he was a really progressive staying chaser last season, rising in the handicap from a mark of 116 to 139.
His winning run came to an end in a valuable race at Haydock when third and he has been well beaten in two races this season.
Last year it seemed trainer Ann Hamilton barely trained a loser as she operated at such a high strike-rate, while things have been tougher this campaign.
There are signs the horses are creeping back into form, though, and with a little relief from the handicapper, he can trouble the judge.
The step up in trip should suit George Boughey's Mr Rascal in the talkSPORT Powered By Fans Handicap at Southwell.
He showed little in three runs in novice company but it was a different story went sent handicapping last time out.
A fair third at Newcastle off 62 over five furlongs, he was doing all his best work late and steps up to seven furlongs now.
His pedigree is all speed but his running style suggests he wants this trip.
William Muir and Chris Grassick's Mogok Valley has a very similar profile ahead of the talkSPORT Download The App Handicap.
He had actually shown a good bit more in novice company and maidens, but his second of nine at Kempton off 70 suggests he is capable of winning soon.
Andrew Balding's Copy Artist improved hugely from her first run to her second and will take all the beating in the It's Time To Turn To talkSPORT Fillies' Novice Stakes.
The No Nay Never filly was not totally disgraced on her debut in December, but made good late headway when beaten only a head at Chelmsford earlier this month.
She looked much more the finished article there and will take an awful lot of beating.
SELECTIONS:
KELSO: 12.30 Point Franklin, 1.00 Bashful, 1.30 Dragonfruit, 2.00 Galunggung, 2.30 Stainsby Girl, 3.00 Bavington Bob, 3.30 To The Limit.
PUNCHESTOWN: 12.10 Impaire Et Passe, 12.40 Ivasecret, 1.10 Bialystok, 1.40 Light Parade, 2.10 Glengouly, 2.40 Old Soul, 3.10 Notice To Close, 3.40 Bite That.
SOUTHWELL: 12.50 Zumaaty, 1.20 Mr Rascal, 1.50 COPY ARTIST (NAP), 2.20 Mogok Valley, 2.50 Win Win Power, 3.20 Westmorian, 3.50 Ehteyat.
DOUBLE: Copy Artist and Bavington Bob.