Make It Raine – the farmers’ prayer (and that of the racecourse manager!) – is a topical tip for the Place Your Bets Handicap at Kenilworth tomorrow and she could be worth waiting for.
The Australian-bred sprang a 25-1 shock first time but she won with authority and it was no great surprise to see her favourite when she reappeared in a handicap last month. But she proved expensive and was beaten into seventh. Apparently, though, there was more to it than simply an experience-lacking first run out of the maidens.
‘She had to stand in the pens for quite a long time and she started playing up. She reared and Corne Orffer nearly came off,” relates Ridgemont manager Craig Carey. “She then missed the break and had to be chased up. That didn’t really work out but she has been going very well and I am expecting a big run.”
The Brett Crawford-trained filly is joint top weight, with Bernard Fayd’Herbe up, but she is likely to head the market again and she appeals strongly.
Prize Peg, who would otherwise be an obvious danger, is running for the first time for three and a half months. “She reared in the pens, hurt her back and had to be scratched (on April 5),” explains Mike Robinson. “She is working well but she hasn’t had a grass gallop so she might need it.”
Crawford’s Ring O’Var has strong claims in the first but preference is for Whose That Girl whose disappointing run last time may have been at least partly accounted for by being slightly shin sore afterwards.
The Snaith stable believe that well bred newcomer Figure Of Grey will need further but their Red Light Girl may make a winning debut 35 minutes later. “She just might need it but she is quick,” says Chris Snaith. The consistent Moulina has form good enough to win if Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount does proves to be in need of the outing.
Table Bay gets the vote in the 1 400m Juvenile Plate but watch out for stable companion Dancer who is much better than his disappointing Somerset run would lead you to believe. “Nothing really showed up,” says Joey Ramsden’s assistant Ricardo Sobotker, “but we have freshened him up for this.”
Hernando’s Promise is also better than the bare form of his last run would suggest because he clipped heels when second favourite against older horses.
Navasha has started either favourite or joint favourite for her last three starts and has gone close each time. She holds Come On Inn and should finally justify her market support in the mile maiden.
Michael Clower
