Two out of three at Lingfield on Wednesday kept us ticking over nicely. Sometimes it is nice to thumb through the form book at these smaller midweek meetings and back something at short odds. I am not a great fan of odds-on betting but there are a couple of favourites at Leicester on Thursday that are crying out for a win double.
Last year, Sir Michael Stoute used the conditions race on this card to re-launch the career of Telescope. It was only an egg and spoon race but Ryan Moore rode him out to a 24-length victory. It was quite refreshing to see a horse unleashed like that rather than being tip-toed over the line with the jockey risking a neck injury in search of non-existent dangers.
Tomorrow it is the turn of Arod to see if he is in that sort of class following his fine fourth place in the Epsom Derby. He won a Windsor maiden by five lengths before finishing second in the Dante at York. That race was won by subsequent French Derby winner The Grey Gatsby, although I stand by my claim that it is no longer a “Derby” as it is run over a mile and a quarter.
Arod ran well at Epsom without ever threatening to win and now reverts to a mile and a quarter. Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam insists that the colt really wants fast ground and he should get that on Thursday. With only two rivals, the danger has to be some kind of silly crawl but Spencer should be able to steer him home in front.
The double can be rounded off nicely by Perfect Persuasion in the fillies’ handicap half an hour later. As my regular followers will know, William Haggas is in terrific form and this filly ought to have added another victory last time out. Ryan Moore was guilty of giving her too much to do at Kempton and she ran on bravely from an impossible position to finish third. I don’t like to criticise Moore too often because he is about the best around at the moment and he can make amends tomorrow.
The main threat may come from Roger Varian’s Laftah who won well enough last time. She races in a hood but seems genuine enough but Perfect Persuasion should have her measure.
Arod 3.25 Leicester @4-11 Paddy Power
Perfect Persuasion 3.55 Leicester @8-11 Paddy Power
