GREGORI 2.30 LINGFIELD
Gregori run in an ordinary 0-60 last time making all. However, since then the race form has been franked many times. The second won a 0-65 a couple of days ago off the same mark. The third was Powerful Pierre who has racked up three wins since, the latest off 6lbs higher in a 0-75. The fifth has won a 0-55,the seventh has won twice, the latest a 0-65 off 6lbs higher and Rise To Glory was third to Speightown Kid off 11lbs higher. Gregori was fifth to Burren View Lady in August at Wolverhampton and that was another race that has worked out well. Burren View Lady is now racing off 17lbs higher. The key to Gregori looks to have been the fitting of the tongue tie and the polytrack surface. He could quite easily make all again here.
Compton Prince won his last race at Bath but has yet to show an aptitude towards this surface, 0-8. He won a moderate 0-60 last time over 5f so the return to 6fprobably will not suit, 0-7 with just the one place.
Presumido was third in a maiden last time not far behind the 70 rated winner. The form doesn’t look worth taking at face value as he has been previously beaten a head in a 0-55.He looks like he needs an extra furlong and by the time he gets going here the winner may well have gone. Simon Dow is struggling at present, 0-23 stretching back to September.
Thorpe Bay was beaten by Speightown Kid last night and shouldn’t beat Gregori on a line through that horse. Both his wins have come on fibresand and he is 0-6 here with just one place.
Homeboy’s three wins were all sellers and he is 0-12 in handicaps over 6f with 4 places. Best he can hope for today. He is 0-25 in double figure fields.
Perfect Pastime was beaten just over 2ls in a 0-70 off 60 last time and had Jay Bee Blue just ahead of him who has since won two. However, Perfect Pastime has never placed on the all weather from 8 attempts and is 1-21 over 6f.
Verus Delicia has had four attempts on the all weather and unplaced in them all. She is a three time winner over 6f but her trainer is in awful form, 0-32 stretching back to December.
Dishy Guru is 2-7 here and Fergus Sweeney rides today, 1-2. He is 12lbs lower than his last winning all weather mark and his third in a 0-70 off 65 in April gives him a big chance. He has won after a break before. However, he is usually slowly away and likes to be held up and that may well not suit today.
The Wee Chief is 5lbs below his last winning mark which was in February 2012. He has been in the doldrums all year and that may well be part due to Jimmy Fox having a torrid time this year, 1-44 in 2013.
Night Trade is 1-23 on the all weather and 1-46 in double figure fields, 0-16 on the all weather.
Lucky Mark is just 1lb above the mark he won at Kempton in January but both his wins came inside a fortnight of his last run and he is 0-5 after a break of a month or more.
Conclusion: Only 1lb separates this lot on the handicap but the two 3yos have the most scope. Gregori could well get a soft lead here and he may not come back. The tongue tie looks to have had a positive effect and he comes from a yard that does well here between October and December, 20-132. That improves when they go off favourite to 10-21. Dishy Guru looks best of the older horses and I would imagine he will run into a place if he’s fit.
...and tough luck, Rob.