Dave Clark's Blog 07/03/2015
Liz McNair's KING ALLEY done us a real favour last week, doing the business when carrying the nap, and is well fancied to go in again.
Being prepped for a tilt at the £2,500 Mini Derby which starts in a fortnight, he looks a genuine contender for that title and can only improve from last week's success.
An early pace sort, he needed all of the 428m to reel in both Luminous Queen and Seiskin Oak, but a brighter start is expected this time around and he can get the job done with relative ease off the front.
Three competitive sprints kick off the open race proceedings, the first of which can fall to another familiar face.
ARDERA EURO landed the spoils last week for us in a similar race and the draw can swing things his way once again.
In weeks to come, Nick Savva's Westmead John may prove the fastest of these, but having his first race since December he may just need the run and is opposable and likely to take a chunk out of the market.
Landed At Last is certain to edge in from trap four, while Graham Holford's Blue Bees Bolt may shift off slightly on the run to the bend in the blue jacket of trap two causing traffic problems down the centre of the track.
The selection is housed beautifully on the inside rail and should have ample racing room to pace up and assert.
Another well housed runner is Kim Taylor's SAVANA MIESQUE who, although racing over a less than sufficient trip, is a confident pick for the nap given the draw.
The sole seeded runner out wide in trap six, she takes to the sand against five inferior railers all looking for the inside, allowing her to find a stride and show her class over the 277m trip.
She went down less than two lengths last time out to classy performer Landed At Last in a much hotter race than this, and with a slick 16.78sec already on her card, punters should really be getting stuck in.
The third two bender is trappy affair and a chance should be taken on Jason Ray's BLACKROSE ROGER who has been showing up well in recent weeks.
Take the hint and jump aboard this pacey individual who continues to improve since his lay-off.
The four bend action returns at 8.15pm and Graham Payne's SAVANA UPERFOLDS is the one to be with.
This pacey son of Kinloch Brae is vulnerable over this 460m distance and desperately needs and early lead, however, with Riverside Madam likely to edge over to the rail from trap three, he should have plenty of room to run into on the run-up.
A fair 17.11sec trial over two bends suggests he is in decent nick, and at a price he is fancied to finally last home in a race to suit full of front runners.
Other opens on the card can go the way of trio BOCKOS ROCKET, BLACKROSE BEACON and BLACKROSE TYSON.
Selections:
7.30 Ardera Euro
7.45 Savana Miesque (nap)
8.00 Blackrose Roger
8.15 Savana Uperfolds
8.30 King Alley (nb)
8.45 Bockos Rocket
9.00 Blackrose Beacon
9.15 Blackrose Tyson
