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Hula has all the credentials
HULA BALLEW (3.30) holds
every chance of hitting the target
at Pontefract, a course where
the eight-year-old has thrived before.
Trainer Michael Dods has his
team firing and Hula Ballew
showed she might soon join in
the winning streak by nabbing
third on her Thirsk return.
Form pundits will say another
of today's runners, Surwaki,
finished in front of her that day,
however the latter is not certain
to confirm his superiority.
It's true Hula Ballew has
ground to make, but he had the
run of the race up front, whereas
Michael's mare was far more
slowly into her stride.
Sir Royal's Nottingham third
is beginning to look a whole lot
better after the fourth home,
Master Spy, won doing handsprings
at Southwell yesterday.
Remarkably Sir Royal (2.55)
only cost 24,000 guineas, a bit of
steal to say the least considering
he's by Diesis out of a dual Yorkshire
Oaks winner.
Given such a swanky pedigree
the beautifully-bred colt should
be winning in the near future,
the totesport.com Maiden Stakes
being a suitable opportunity.
The naps haven't been going
too well lately, but what can you
do when hard-luck stories like
Graylyn Ruby (4.40) continue to
dog the selections?
We appeared to be in business
with the 9-2 shot at Southwell, a
contest Graylyn Ruby would
have won but for being badly
hampered in the closing stages.
Thankfully Jonathan Jay's
raider emerged unscathed, so
with luck will gain deserved
compensation in the mile-and-ahalf
Coralbet Handicap.
Ascot boasts the big-money
action, although choosing between
Mark Johnston's pair,
Soapy Danger and Peppertree
Lane, is a tough call. The cop out
would be to tip top-rated Distinction,
however, both of the
Johnston inmates are capable of
beating that rival on their day.
Although Soapy Danger made
a winning comeback at Doncaster,
he was far from impressive
in a race where on the book
he had 17lbs in hand.
For that reason, plus the possibility
of really soft ground, I
just prefer Peppertree Lane
(3.55), for whom Jimmy Fortune
has been booked.
The Peter Saville-owned chestnut
won first time out last season,
so we know he can produce
the goods despite a long lay-off.
At Kelso's Tartan Snow (7.00)
bids to atone for a clumsy jumping
error at the last meeting.
Harry Haynes was in the plate
and no disrespect, his replacement,
the vastly-experienced
Graham Lee, is better bet.
10:54am Wednesday 30th April 2008
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