STRAIGHT SHOT (Kempton 3.50 p.m.) Manduro gelding made an encouraging start to his career when sixth of 16 in an above-average Wood Ditton maiden at Newmarket last month, keeping on well despite showing inexperience. This could be slightly weaker than the second division of this mile maiden race (4.20) and from a nice draw in six, he could run into a place at least.
CAPITOL GAIN (Kempton 4.20 p.m.) Also started out in the Wood Ditton and showed excellent speed to lead during the middle section of the race before weakening into eighth, not far behind his stable-companion. Improvement is anticipated, but he has a fair bit to make up on fourth-placed Hill Street and also starts from the worst draw (14 of 14). Best watched this time.
SHEARIAN (Newmarket 4.25 p.m.) Promising Royal Applause colt has been shaping nicely at home. From a good Canadian family on the dam’s side, he will probably be better for this initial experience.
SMOOTHTALKINRASCAL (same race) Very sharp Kodiac colt looked the probable winner of his debut in a customarily strong maiden at Newbury last month, but tired a little and hung left late on. The only one of these to have raced so far, he can take advantage and collect this time.
NELSON’S BAY (Newmarket 5.35 p.m.) Son of Needwood Blade clicked second time out as a juvenile, beating a couple of Godolphin runners at Beverley, form which has worked out quite well. This race is filled with lightly-raced probable improvers, but Nelson’s Bay has been working well and looks a fair each-way prospect.
ELUSIVITY (Newmarket 3.45 p.m.) Very progressive throughout a busy three-year-old season, winning twice and in the frame in all his other nine starts. Began this year with a creditable sixth over a furlong more on this course, and should be fitter now. No ground worries, so should represent a decent each-way chance.
ARCHBISHOP (Newmarket 5.30 p.m.) Excellent debut win last summer at Sandown indicated above average ability and even though he was slightly disappointing when sixth in a York Group 3 he remains a bright prospect. Working well and could be a handicap blot on 88. Good bet.
YAZDI (Thirsk 5.35 p.m.) Unfancied in the market when third on debut at Newmarket and the pleasing nature of the run should be taken into the context of the subsequent 11-length Doncaster success of the fifth horse home. Will be hard to keep out of the winner’s circle.
MADAME ST CLAIR (Goodwood 5.15 p.m.) Steady progress as a three-year-old looks like being improved upon in her second season. She was fourth on her Wolverhampton return, but was stopped in her run at least a couple of times, so needs to be marked up slightly higher on that. Good each-way chances.
BAIRAM (Doncaster 6.25 p.m.) First run for this gelded son of the very fast and brilliantly-bred new young stallion Haatef. Has shaped nicely at home, but like many of our debutants, will probably benefit from the experience.
HOMETOWN GLORY (Wolverhampton 2.10 p.m.) For a long way on his recent Newmarket debut, Hometown Glory looked a big threat to stable-mate Cogito, the eventual winner. He worked very promisingly both before and since that run and comes to Wolverhampton with a degree of stable confidence. Good chance for that first win.
EDRAAQ (Lingfield 5.10 p.m.) Dubai Destination gelding shaped with a little promise when unplaced behind Derby hope Bonfire at Salisbury last autumn. Has a small each-way claim in a run-of-the-mill maiden race for the track.
TITUS MILLS (Kempton 3.10 p.m.) The switch of this meeting to Kempton from Ascot might not suit everyone, but after his promising comeback after 18 months’ absence went so well at Newmarket, it is helpful for the four-year-old. It was always going to be tough on only his fourth lifetime start to cope with stakes performers with an experience and probably fitness edge, but he shaped nicely and should progress again. Once more he will be one of the outsiders, but he worked nicely last week and could be something of a surprise package.
RUBY GLASS (Yarmouth 3.10 p.m.) After three runs in maidens, the gelded son of Red Clubs starts his career in handicaps off a fair mark of just 60. Still, that mark heads the weights in this modest affair. He has shown enough at home to suggest he will be competitive here although he will need to cope with the ground. This is his first attempt at less than nine furlongs, and that also should help his cause. Each-way hopes.
MISSISSIPPI (Kempton 3.15 p.m.) Once-raced Exceed and Excel gelding was in midfield on sole start for Dermot Weld’s stable in a decent maiden race on the Curragh last summer. Has shaped with promise on the home gallops and further encouragement comes from older half-brother Maarek, a smart sprinter in Ireland especially this spring. Nice draw also suggests a big run.
BALLESTEROS (Sandown 1.15 p.m.) Late summer/autumn brought a hat-trick for the son of Tomba, who is proven on this ground and should be much sharper for his run in a hot race at Newmarket last week. A stiff 5f is probably ideal, so this one ticks all the boxes for maximum confidence.
Burano, the high-class Dalakhani colt who gained his initial success in the Listed Meydan Classic over a mile on turf for the Brian Meehan stable during the recent Dubai Carnival, has been entered for the of Tattersalls Guineas Horses in Training sale on 4th May AS A WILD CARD ENTRY LOT 66.
http://www.tattersalls.com/news_article.php?id=124
Burano(Lot 66), who ended his spell in Dubai with a UAE rating of 107, adapted very well to the Dubai turf, but did not take to the Tapeta all-weather track. Even so he still had some smart performers behind him when he was 8th of 14 behind Kentucky Derby hope Daddy Long Legs on Tapeta in the UAE Derby.
Pedigree-wise there is plenty to like about Burano (Lot 66), who is not only a son of a brilliant Aga Khan bred and raced Arc winner, but he is also from a top Aga Khan female family, the branch that produced champion Kalanisi.
Tattersalls, the Newmarket auction house rightly regarded as Europe’s prime market for top-quality bloodstock, describe Burano(Lot 66) in their pre-sale publicity as “heading the strong team of Wild card entries”. At home as a two-year-old, Burano ran to a high level of form in top maiden company. In winning the Meydan Classic, he got the better of last year’s Group 3 Acomb Stakes winner Entifaadha.
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© 2011 Brian Meehan at Manton