Afton to make Sweet music
Flying fillies take centre stage at Bath on Tuesday, where Sweet Afton could represent a little value in the Listed EBF Lansdown Fillies’ Stakes.
Five furlongs on top of the ground at this unique racecourse is sure to make for an exciting spectacle and punters must be sure not to blink or the action will pass them by.
William Haggas is set to unleash Enticing, who commands plenty of respect having been considered speedy enough to warrant a place in the Nunthorpe Stakes as a juvenile.
However, three-year-old fillies often struggle against their elders and she has the added burden of a 7lb penalty to contend with as a result of her success in the Molecomb Stakes last year.
Sweet Afton does have a few pounds to find with the principals, but Malcolm Saunders has few peers when it comes to coaxing improvement from her type.
She is likely to improve on last year’s efforts now she has had the benefit of another winter, and would not need to improve an awful lot on a two-length fourth to Osterhase to get involved.
That effort came last summer but Sweet Afton ran a mighty race to finish fourth of 12 in a red-hot handicap against the boys at Newbury recently.
Clive Cox has also proven adept at placing his sprinters to advantage and looks to be working the magic with Cuppacocoa.
This daughter of Bertolini landed the odds twice last season and it would be disappointing if she fails to enjoy at least as profitable a campaign this time around.
Reappearing at Nottingham recently, Cuppacocoa stuck on in grand style to get within three lengths of the principals.
She clearly loves to hear her hooves rattle, is a two-time course-and-distance winner and must go close with the talented Philip Robinson in the plate.
All-weather action is staged at Southwell and Wolverhampton, with Karl Burke’s Thunderwing taken to score at the former.
He has failed to win since his juvenile days but is sure to appreciate a big drop in class in the betdirectpoker.com 50,000 Freeroll Claiming Stakes.
Tipsy Prince finished last year with a rattle – notching twice in competitive handicaps – and signalled he still has plenty to offer when reappearing at Lingfield in April.
David Pinder’s charge stayed on really well without threatening the principals on that occasion but looks certain to be competitive with that sharpener behind him.
He takes in the Sponsor A Race By Calling 0870 220 2442 Handicap at Dunstall Park and can prove the point by regaining the winning thread.
Ice Crystal looks set to make a bold bid as he goes in search of a hat-trick in the Join WBX.COM for £150 In Free Bets Handicap Chase at Wincanton.
Kahlil Burke’s 10-year-old must find further improvement to maintain his winning run but loves fast ground and is in exemplary form.
Sedgefield host the fifth card of the day, on which Calculaite holds a great chance in the bet365.com Handicap Hurdle.
