Comic Strip can have Bath backers in stitches
Comic Strip can get off the mark on turf in the Mark Futcher Half-Century Handicap at Bath on Monday.
Simon and Ed Crisford’s Blue Point three-year-old has made a good impression on the all-weather so far, winning twice and gaining two placings from seven runs on artificial surfaces.
He returned to action for the season to finish third in a 1000m Southwell handicap when beaten 1.25-lengths, and having blown away the cobwebs he arrives at Bath in a good position to mount a challenge.
He has been allocated a joint top-weight of 61.7kg but with 1.5kg claimer Jack Callan on board the burden is reduced and he is even more competitive still.
Both his sire and his Group and Listed-winning dam, John Gosden’s Laugh Aloud, were seen to best effect on quick ground and their son will get those conditions on a good to firm surface.
Leucothea can make a winning debut in the Silvershine Turf Services Support Bath Maiden Stakes on the same card.
Trained by Richard Hannon, the Soldier’s Call filly is a half-sibling to the Listed quality Wateen, with the family including plenty of similarly talented types if you continue to follow the dam line back through the years.
Speed is also present all the way through the pedigree and this juvenile can follow suit as she takes to the track for the first time.
At Wolverhampton, Shayhana can get a win on her record in the Enjoy Summer Racing At Wolverhampton Racecourse Maiden Fillies’ Stakes for trainer Owen Burrows and the Shadwell operation.
The four-year-old has run only once to date, taking to the track in a Lingfield novice last term to finish second to a nice type in John and Thady Gosden’s Marnier.
The filly is by Frankel and out of Tatweej, an Invincible Spirit mare who is a half-sister to the outstanding miler Palace Pier.
With a pedigree like that she is hard to overlook, and if building on the experience gained on her debut she should be worth keeping an eye on here.
In the Country And Western Raceday – 28th June Handicap Saffie and Jamie Osborne can combine to good effect with Epictetus.
Though carrying top-weight the six-year-old arrives in good form and seemed to enjoy stepping back up to 1600m when second by 0.5-lengths last time at Lingfield.
He steps up again to the best part of 2000m at Dunstall Park and looks poised to get his head in front for the first time since 2023, when he was a Group Three victor in the Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood. – Press Association
SELECTIONS:
BATH: Race 1 – 15.00 Marinakis, Race 2 – 15.30 Party Island, Race 3 – 16.00 Leucothea, Race 4 – 16.30 COMIC STRIP (NAP), Race 5 – 17.00 The Feminine Urge, Race 6 – 17.30 Candonomore, Race 7 – 18.00 Zoustellar.
LINGFIELD: Race 1 – 15.15 Charles Morin, Race 2 – 15.45 Travel Agent, Race 3 – 16.15 Barbuda Bay, Race 4 – 16.45 Silver Trumpet, Race 5 – 17.15 Francisco, Race 6 – 17.45 Caviar Cowboy, Race 7 – 18.20 Way Of Life.
NAAS: Race 1 – 18.10 Victorious, Race 2 – 18.45 Coincidental Glory, Race 3 – 19.15 Indigo Dream, Race 4 – 19.45 Force Noir, Race 5 – 20.15 Getreadytorumble, Race 6 – 20.45 Bobby McGee, Race 7 – 21.15 Arrietty.
WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1 – 18.30 King Of The Dance, Race 2 – 19.00 Shayhana, Race 3 – 19.30 Epictetus, Race 4 – 20.00 Vidmiyr, Race 5 – 20.30 Shes Got The Blues, Race 6 – 21.00 Crown Inn To Win, Race 7 – 21.30 Candy Warhol.