Free Pic to fill the frame at Catterick
Free Pic can win her third race at Catterick in just over a month when she runs in the Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap on Monday.
Trained by Sue Smith and Joel Parkinson, who had such a good jumps season that has just finished, Free Pic has taken on a new lease of life recently.
She had only won one of her first 14 races but from a mark of 48 she was an easy winner at Catterick in early April.
Stepped up in trip last time out she was a comfortable winner off 4lb higher and as she won by only 0.5-lengths, the handicapper could only put her up another 3lb.
She could easily improve again, despite coming back to 2400m in preference to taking up an option over further on the same card.
When Saeed bin Suroor has debut winners at this time of year it is usually worth sitting up and taking notice so Fighter’s Spirit must be pretty decent in the Fitzdares Telephone & Text Betting Restricted Novice Stakes at Windsor.
Unraced at two, he made his debut at Beverley last month where he looked very green in the early stages.
Gradually, as he warmed up, the penny began to drop and in the final 200m he really rattled home, beating a hot favourite of Andrew Balding’s.
This will be tougher under a penalty but the son of Derby winner Masar can only improve with experience.
Richard Spencer’s Wild Thoughts is on a rapid upward curve and while things will get more difficult off a mark of 77, the Rendells Are Hammers Handicap could still be within his grasp.
After three runs over sprint trips the son of Lope De Vega was awarded a mark of 56 which he made a mockery of when tried over 1600m at Redcar.
He won off 6lb higher at Lingfield and defied another 6lb rise at Kempton.
This time the handicapper took no chances and he went up 9lb but there may just be a bit left.
John and Thady Gosden’s Celestra has been unfortunate to bump into some useful types in her career to date.
Usually when a horse has finished second three times in a row, questions are asked, but there looks to be little wrong with her attitude.
The horse who beat her at Haydock is rated 89, the one who just finished in front of her at Newmarket is now 87 and the Beverley victor 82.
Celestra can be rated in the 80s at least, and even if official ratings are sometimes inflated, she certainly sets the standard in the Follow @attheraces On Instagram Fillies’ Novice Stakes at Wolverhampton. – Press Association
TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings on Monday. Here are the tips.
CATTERICK: Race 1: 15.30 Filey Beach, Race 2: 16.00 Vega Storm, Race 3: 16.30 Zimmerman, Race 4: 17.00 Irish Dancer, Race 5: 17.30 FREE PIC (NAP), Race 6: 18.00 Lily Pearl.
SOUTHWELL: Race 1: 15.42 Huckleberry Sting, Race 2: 16.12 Kara Sacre, Race 3: 16.42 Crystal Glade, Race 4: 17.12 Getmyfriend, Race 5: 17.42 Sunset In Paris, Race 6: 18.17 Louis Veron, Race 7: 18.47 Sutherland.
WINDSOR: Race 1: 18.12 Hengest, Race 2: 18.42 Fighter’s Spirit, Race 3: 19.17 Zoulu Chief, Race 4: 19.47 Sargent Dennis, Race 5: 20.17 Over Spiced, Race 6: 20.47 Wild Thoughts, Race 7: 21.17 Sea Of Charm.
WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1: 19.30 Emerald Bay, Race 2: 20.00 Green Team, Race 3: 20.30 Wave Rock, Race 4: 21.00 Celestra, Race 5: 21.30 Love You More, Race 6: 22.00 Squiffy.
ALL TO COME: Free Pic (Catterick, Race 5) and Celestra (Wolverhampton, Race 4).