Leicester 2/4/09

[fintron]

3.55 Leicester Headline Act represents John Gosden, who kicked off the turf season in fine fashion with an impressive winner in Expresso Star in the Lincoln on Saturday. This Dalakhani colt is likely to handle the step up in trip (only tackled up to 9f to date) based on breeding and also judging by the aesthetics of his last win. Robert Havlin really earned his wages that day and was hard at work to ensure his mount kept up to his task, but he repelled the advances of Gitano Hernanado to win well, and looked like he had a little bit left in reserve. He has been allocated an official rating of 77 here, which seems a super mark considering Gitano Hernando has just won on his handicap debut off 84 at Doncaster on Sunday. 1.5 pts, 2/1 Bet 365 (bog). 5.40 Leicester Tartan Gigha struggled to make an impact when first making the switch from maidens to handicap company but having been put away from October, made a comeback run when picking up an 0-85 Kempton handicap last month. The break seems to have done him the world of good and he ran credibly in defeat when last seen chasing home the well backed Soccerjackpot, plugging on gamely until the death after the winner got first run on him turning for home. He drops back in trip here which isn't a problem as he is a distance winner, and with the benefit of a recent run I prefer him to Pravda Street, who returns from a 349-day break and may be a little ring rusty. Xpress Maite would be very well handicapped if able to transfer his all-weather form back onto turf, but it may be significant that his record on turf is only 1-15 as opposed to 8-30 on sand. 2 pts, 11/4 Paddypower (bog).

[WoodyTHFC]

Re: Leicester 2/4/09 3.55 Headline Act 9/4 sj bog 10 pts This could be a little race that works out in time. HA is the one I like for Gosden who is bang in form. He ran three good enough races last year. The first two of which were in maidens that were pretty useful especially the first maidens for which there wre horses around HA who have boosted that race. In his second race HA travelled well enough to suggest he coped with faster ground before blowing up late on with seemingly the race at his mercy. After that though he won and looked to beat a smart sort in Gitano Hernando who did me a favour when winning at the weekend off 84. Today he is off 77 and I think will like the step up in trip. On pedigree he should, the only lingering thought was that he didn’t quite see out 9f on his second start but he is older now and this year could well step up in trip without problem. 5.05 Alhaque 2/1 bet 3bog 10 pts Still a maiden but had some good form last season in defeats especially in his first two starts. Was behind two reasonably well thought of BH winners, redwood especially and his runs behind them both showed promise. After that blew out a bit to be fifth but that was his third run in less than a month so could explain below par performance. Today he faces some older horses but he could just appreciate the increase in trip, he is by Galileo after all and he may break his duck here. 5.40 Tartan Gigha 7/2 spo 10 pts Like MJ runner here. This one officially is a few pounds well in today and has caught the eye of late. Two starts back he won well enough over 7f on the a.w before what was a pretty creditable run when second behind soccerjackpot last week over a bit further than todays trip. That was also creditable given I felt the winner had the run of the race that day and thats coming from someone who backed the winner. Back on turf today and quick turf at that but its should be fine and good claims.