Dutch Uncle
I have headed off on holiday to South Africa for two weeks and the temperature is looking like getting up towards 34oc later on today. This afternoon I am captaining a cricket side that is taking on a team captained by the former Captain of South Africa Jacques Kallis. It promises to be a fun afternoon with a few well known faces appearing for both sides and I will report back on how it goes tomorrow.
It was fantastic to win with Zamjar at the end of December, he will have a short break now. We may well aim him at the 6f three year old sprint on All Weather finals day at Lingfield. He travels through his races very well and is a horse who has always shown plenty at home so it is nice to see him start to display that on the racecourse as well.
We have two runners this afternoon at Lingfield. The favourite has come out of Marwa’s Maiden at 1:10 but it still looks a tough ask for her from stall eight. Dubai Art is drawn well in stall one and he was one place behind Arnarson in a Newcastle Maiden that could have been ok for this time of year. He is likely to improve from that first start and will take the beating. If you were to go solely on the form book then current favourite La Guapita has six lengths in hand on Dubai Art through a form line with Doctor Bartolo but that could be misleading given Arnarson has more than likely improved on his second start and Dubai Art should improve for his debut. Our filly stepped up on her debut effort last time at Lingfield and found a little trouble up the home straight but she has a lot to find with the two better drawn principles. Outside of the front two there is not much depth to the race but the newcomer Blaze Of Glory could be interesting for the future given his half-sister has ability, draw nine will not be a help to him.
Dutch Uncle was slightly unlucky at Lingfield before Christmas when finishing third in a race run under identical conditions to this afternoon’s contest. He has a much better draw in stall three this afternoon and I will be disappointed if he does not go close as it looks to be slightly easier than his last race. We have kept him ticking over at home and he seems in good order, the way he finished last time suggests that the 1m2f trip around Lingfield should suit ideally. The main danger would look to be Starlit Cantata who has won over course and distance off of this mark before and has a valuable three pounds taken off of her back.
Believe It takes a step up in grade but he carries the feather weight of 8:1, Icebuster comes back off a break and his mark looks a little high whilst course and distance winner Elysian Prince also returns from a break and is five pounds higher than for his last win. The Gay Cavalier is tough and is another course and distance winner, if ready to go after a break he could have each way claims. Genuine Approval has been out of form whilst Exceeding Power has not won off of a mark this high and this trip could stretch his stamina.