12 May 2008 Clifton-on-Teme - Upper Sapey
Touch Closer: a useful performer who should be thereabouts in the Novice Riders race
144 entries have been received for Sunday's Clifton-on-Teme meeting at Upper Sapey, near Bromyard. Soft ground has prevailed for most of the season but, after this week's sunshine, conditions are expected to firm up and there could be some surprise results.
The opening Members looks to be a match between Analan and Rusty Zaffaran. The former carries the colours of Great Whitley based owner/trainer/breeder Charlotte Banks, and he returned after a long absence to land a Maiden at Cold Harbour recently. Rusty Zaffaran is owned by Diana and Phillip Ralph, from Leigh Sinton, and they have entrusted his training to Andy Hobbs at Hanley Swan.
The undulating nature of the course at Upper Sapey does not suit all horses, but Rusty Zaffaran probably just has a slight edge although No Stranger or One Dawn, from James Jones' yard at Pendock, have already shown that they are capable of springing a surprise.
The Restricted could also fall to Hobbs with All Thyne Greats or Vaselli expected to line up. Vaselli has run some good races already this season but connections are adamant that he is a much better horse on this type of ground and they should know. Gulabill and Killnascully King come from in form stables and neither of them will go down without a fight.
Fantastic Champion finished second in the Novice Riders race at this meeting in 2007, and he should have little to fear from Earl of Buckingham and Philtre. Magicien likes to hear his hooves rattle but whether the ground will be firm enough for him to show his best remains to be seen, while Bucket Awl and Hambaphambili will give their supporters a good run for their money. Touch Closer is a useful performer in this type of event, but will need to keep in touch during the business end of the race.
Caught At Dawn is a course and distance winner, while Meggies Lad comes from a stable in form and the winner of the Mixed Open is expected to come from this pair.
Hobbs will be hoping for better performances from Olivier and Sparklinspirit who blotted their copybooks last time out. The former refused to start at the North Ledbury, while Sparklinspirit ran badly at Cold Harbour, but both horses have a winning chance in the Intermediate.
Equivocate and Inch Royal have had winning chances already this season, but the opposition in the first Maiden does not have form which matches theirs and the former gets the nod, as she would be the more consistent of the pair.
Quantocks Lastbrat and Riverdeepmountanhi are the selections in the second Maiden, although it will be interesting to see if the performance of Worth Waitin For lives up to its name.