Ace can come up trumps

SPANISH ACE looked a likely sort early in his career and although things have not exactly worked out to plan, he should be up to the task at Warwick today.

A smart juvenile who finished second in a Curragh Group Two, the six-year-old failed to hit the expected heights and his first three seasons produced just two wins and two places from 23 starts.

Milton Bradley’s charge looked to have picked up last season when he joined the stable of the ‘sprint king’ as the horse proceeded to win his first two starts for his new yard, scoring over the minimum trip at Warwick and Folkestone.

However, things soon settled down to normal and the rest of the season proved a big disappointment.

Spanish Ace is obviously at his best when returning from a break and his first run for seven months – over five furlongs at Bath – saw him romp home by two lengths from Willhewiz.

He gave the impression there was a still a little more to come that day, so a 6lb penalty might not be enough to stop him following up in the Derek Crutchley “Lifetime In Racing” Handicap.

The handicapper seemed to have the measure of Dream Theme by the end of last season, but Barry Hills looks to have found the ideal opportunity for the Distant Music colt to open his 2007 campaign with a win in the betterbet.com Conditions Stakes.