Jamie Spencer: This looks a good opportunity; he usually plies his trade in a higher grade
Spark Plug
This looks an open race, but Spark Plug is highest on official ratings and he comes here after a decent return to action when third to Steel Of Madrid in the Earl Of Sefton Stakes. He should go well but you can make a case for a lot of these and maybe Mount Logan, who won this race last season and who has been gelded since we last saw him, is the one to beat.
Summer Thunder
I haven’t sat on her and these races tend to take a lot of winning here, but she is a Street Cry filly out a 7f Listed race winner at two, so the pedigree is there.
Second Step
This looks a good opportunity for him. He usually plies his trade in a higher grade than this and he shaped very well for me when third in the John Porter on his return. It’s another close race on ratings though, and this promises to be a tactical affair as well. You would think Galapiat will go on, but the rest of us like to take a lead. Desert Encounter is a horse I know well and he was very impressive at Ascot, though he does carry a 3lb penalty for that win, and Barsanti is right up there on ratings, too.
Blakeney Point
This is a bit of a retrieval mission for him after disappointing in the Chester Cup, and maybe the trip was a bit too far for him there. His earlier defeat of Higher Power over 2m at Kempton reads very well, and he would have definite claims off this mark if returning to that form. Batts Rock is 2lb out of the handicap but he shaped very well for me when second on his return over 1m4f at Ascot after a long lay-off; I wouldn’t ignore his chances, either. He met a good horse at Ascot and the extra 2f promises to suit him.
Subjective
He always worked like a good horse at home last season but couldn’t quite get his head in front on the track. He is a good mover, so decent ground will suit him, and, although rated only 74, I’d be surprised if he isn’t capable of going very close in this 6f maiden. He has been gelded since we have last seen him, too.
Going Up
This looks a competitive 1m6f handicap and I haven’t sat on him before, so I can’t give you any first-hand knowledge. But hopefully he will have come on a lot for his reappearance over 1m4f in a 0-105 at Newmarket, and giving weight away in a 0-85 may suit him a lot better. He has won over the trip, albeit in a Wolverhampton maiden, so that shouldn’t be an issue.
Pow Wow
He hasn’t shown a lot in three starts, but that is why he is rated only 61, I guess, but he has a decent pedigree and hopefully the step up to 1m4f will suit him, too. He is another to have been gelded since we last saw him and this 0-65 probably won’t take too much winning.
Gunmaker
This Classified Stakes is obviously very open but Gunmaker showed promise in all three starts on the all-weather last season, and his pedigree gives you hope that this trip will suit him. I’d like to think he has as good a chance as any in here.
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