/ Editor / 16 June 2007 /

6f Handicap. Sunday, Folkestone, 15.20

Decent prize money has attracted some fair sprint handicappers to Folkestone for the 6f contest at 15.20.

Three who are likely to be the focus of punters' attention - Forest Dane (third), Cape (sixth) and Pearly Wey (ninth) - all ran in a similar race at Goodwood eight days ago.

The whole world could see what an unlucky loser the Fanshawe-trained filly Cape was, as she was repeatedly denied a run until the race was all but over.

She remains very progressive after her hat-trick of wins last season, in one of which at Newmarket she got out of jail to come from about 10th with a furlong to run, and is clearly a worthy favourite.

However, a couple of points might encourage the layers, especially if her price gets close to even money, either in play (which is possible because she travels so well) or pre-race.

She does have to get the breaks in running and there was a suggestion last season that she doesn't find a great deal after she has hit the front.

Forest Dane and Pearly Wey, who both led in the latter stages at Goodwood, are much more uncomplicated contenders who look sure to run their races and prove tempting in the place market at least.

Keyaki has adopted Greta Garbo "I want to be alone" tactics in her last two races which might not be possible in this small field.

She won her race at Newmarket against the far rail only to be caught late on by Brunelleschi's late thrust up the stands and then claimed the scalp of hot favourite Bakhoor, who raced on the opposite side of the course, at Folkestone.

She is in the form of her life and clearly another potential danger for the market leader.

Maltese Falcon is probably better on sand these days but does at least race off a mark 7lb below his all-weather rating. Humping 9st 12lb to victory in this company will be a tough task, though.

Hey Presto in sprint

6f Cathedral Stakes (Listed). Salisbury, Sunday, 15.30

The Trader is a most interesting contender in the Listed sprint (15.30) at Salisbury.

He's a big price for one who regularly plies his trade at a much higher level - remember, last season he twice got within three lengths of the brilliant Reverence in the Temple Stakes and the Nunthorpe. He didn't run too badly on his return in this year's Temple, palpably tiring in the last 100 yards on his seasonal return to finish fourth.

As long as Patavellian stands his ground, and guarantees full each-way betting, The Trader stands out in the place market and as a back-to-lay possible.

Though known as a 5f specialist, he has won a Group 3 at 6f. One obvious negative, though, is that regular partner Ted Durcan prefers to ride at Folkestone on Sunday.

Moss Vale and Avonbridge both won this race as three-year-olds, but the principals from that age division this time, Prime Defender and Sakhee's Secret, are not in their league - yet.

Sakhee's Secret's days a handicapper were numbered as soon as he romped to a five-length win at Newmarket, after which trainer Hughie Morrison found him a weak Listed race at Newbury to continue his winning run.

Layers will be encouraged by the fact that the runner-up at Newbury (Fontana Amorosa) had only previously won an all-weather handicap off a rating of 79.

Like Sakhee's Secret, Prime Defender's Listed win came when taking on his own generation. He had previously come unstuck when meeting top class opposition in the Dewhurst and 2,000 Guineas but, returned to sprinting, he put up a dominant performance to comfortably beat Hoh Mike at Haydock.

The Trader apart, there is enough talent in the old-lag department to encourage taking on the youngsters.

Ashdown Express and Patavellian win rarely these days but ran fine races when fourth and fifth respectively to Sierra Vista at Haydock in May. Pivotal Point has raced very consistently in Group company for his last 13 starts.

Pick of the lot could be former Ayr Gold Cup winner Presto Shinko. Reunited with the back-from-injury Ryan Moore and back on home turf after a poor run abroad, he has a favourite's chance on his Palace House form in May and yet won't be among the market front-runners.

Pocket looks the pick at Salisbury

1m 4f Handicap. Salisbury, Sunday, 14.00

Three last-time out winners -- Pocketwood, Stolen Hours, and Inchmahome - look set to dominate the market of the 1m4f handicap (14.00) at Salisbury.

Pocketwood and Stolen Hours both made all to win their latest races, but the former did so at a much more generous gallop and he is likely to lead from the off.

There was a lot to like about Pocketwood's battling qualities both in winning at Folkestone and finishing second at Newbury, and his ability to find plenty from the front is going to make him a popular in-play choice.

Stolen Hours was surprisingly well backed to win on his return at Kempton but he has never been the most consistent performer and very much got his own way in front at Kempton.

Inchmahome will be lurking off the pace if her latest Lingfield win is anything to go by.

Beautifully bred but lightly raced, this filly could still have stacks of improvement to come. It wasn't much of a race that she won at Lingfield but the stout manner she came from out the back in the straight was eye-catching. She might be one for in-play punters if trading at higher than her pre-race odds because she looks likely to finish as well as anything.

It's intriguing that Ryan Moore, who ran up a four-timer on his father's Mostarsil last year, should opt instead to ride last year's winner, the out-of-form Love Always.

Graham Island and Bull Market (off 554 days) come back after long absences and the market is probably the best guide to their chance.

Rod Millman has never been shy of using foreign jockeys and has booked Aussie Hugh Bowman for the consistent Mustajed. Any further rain may hinder this one's chance, though he did battle on well at Newmarket on his latest effort and may have been second in another few strides.

Polish Power may be a better performer on the sand but his two recent efforts on turf did him no justice at all. At his best (and the returning Keniry has ridden him to win in the past) he has a solid chance and therefore he will attract place punters at the likely odds.

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