/ Editor / 25 June 2007 / Leave a Comment

Cove Mountain looks to have been given an equitable weight in the claiming race at Brighton (15:30) and the mare appears to have an excellent chance of finally breaking her maiden tag.

Having failed to find the back of the net in handicap company, despite generally running well, connections have stepped here down here, possibly in the hope of a confidence-boosting success.

The booking of Ryan Moore looks a positive move and given the relative weakness of opposition, it would be a surprise if the five-year-old does not start a well-backed favourite, given her consistency under various ground conditions.

Her effort last time out at Bath showed her to be in good heart and although she has yet to win in 18 starts, this certainly looks her best opportunity to date.

Her main opposition could come from Shaheer who is another whose consistency will please many traders. The gelding has performed with credit on his last three outings never beaten by too far and a repeat of any of those efforts should see him in the firing line here. Having proven himself on this idiosyncratic track, the five-year-old looks set to be popular across all markets.

His record of never scoring on turf should ensure his price does not get too short, while his versatility of being able to lead or be held up gives his jockey options depending on how the race pans out.

Voice Mail has the profile of a horse very much on the downgrade. Generally consistent earlier in his career, his form figures show a steady decline with his last two starts being particularly poor. On the plus side, his best most recent run came last August over course and distance where he was not beaten by far, off a rating of 66 (now rated 50).

Market support would indicate that the stable think him capable of winning here and the return of a professional jockey may suggest to some that connections feel he is ready to return to form. On recent racecourse evidence, however, it would take a brave trader to take a short price about the eight-year-old and he may prove a poplar lay in both the win and place markets, should the price get too skinny.

Lawyer To World is another whose recent performances have been poor and this is a factor traders will have to take into consideration. During the winter, the colt showed some useful form over shorter. This is his fourth try over this longer trip and while the grey has yet to show a liking for the distance, a return to his AW form would give him a squeak here and the market could give the best clues.

La Roca looks solid in Fillies Handicap

Despite the presence of some lightly-raced types in the three-year-old handicap at Newbury (20:40), the race could go the way of experienced filly La Roca.

Ralph Beckett's charge has been running with a fair degree of consistency this season, exemplified by a good effort last time out at Sandown when not beaten too far on good to soft ground. This race represents another step down in class for the daughter of Rock of Gibraltar, who was thought to be good enough to race at Group Three level last term.

Although yet to compete on genuinely soft ground, the filly could represent some value given her overall profile and unfashionable connections.

There will be plenty who will want to be on the side of Sir Michael Stoute's twice raced Jamboretta, who made a pleasing debut at Nottingham on her debut in May before following up shortly afterwards at Goodwood, where she quickened clear of her rivals in the manner of a useful racehorse.

The ground will be key to her success given she has only raced on good ground or faster and it may not be until the filly goes down to post until many will gauge whether she has a chance to get competitive on the surface.

Traders must also bear in the mind that the handicapper has taken few chances with her and she needs to improve significantly to get truly serious. Still, it is doubtful any fancy prices will be available about the well-bred filly who, if handling the ground and showing more improvement, could prove very hard to beat.

Clive Cox runs his last time out winner Perfect Star, who did not have to be at her best to land her maiden, second time up at Newmarket last October. The daughter of Act One had previously put in a useful effort on her debut at Goodwood when beaten by the Group Three placed Cumin.

Having shown a liking for cut in the ground, she is an interesting contender here and the level of market support will provide clues. She made all to land her maiden and similar tactics may be employed again here, but this extra distance over this softer ground may test her stamina first time back. In-play traders may want to keep a check on how sweetly she is travelling as the field enters the final furlong.

Aussie Cricket should be staying on better than most given she has shown ability over longer trips than this and proved she likes a bit of juice in the ground. A tendency to pull hard may hinder her chances and, despite having a consistent record, Dennis Coakley's filly has yet to win and may be of more interest in the place market.

Geoff Wragg's yard is starting to fire in a few winners and in Sell Out he has an interesting contender. The filly put up her best performance to date last time out at Kempton in a race run in a good time and from which the second has won since. Expect plenty of market support if connections feel she will handle the ground.

Place to get back to winning ways

Blessed Place burst back to form on Sunday with a fine second at Warwick on similar testing ground and a repeat of that effort will give him every chance in the closing handicap at Newbury (21:10).

Despite having shown some improvement on his previous starts, the gelding was matched at fancy odds on Betfair (SP 50/1) before his outing at the weekend and was only collared close home as he wandered under pressure.

Back on a reasonable mark and with Richard Quinn in the saddle, expect him once again to try and make all. Given the seven-year-old's liking for the ground and this slightly shorter trip, it will be no surprise to see him being sent off as one of the market leaders. His style of racing lends itself perfectly to those who like to have the insurance of laying back in-play.

Monte Major has proved himself a reliable handicapper of late, winning on his penultimate start at Wolverhampton before showing himself in fine fettle when narrowly beaten at Carlisle last time out. The one worry would be his ability to handle the ground as he has not raced on anything so testing and this should be factored into any price taken by traders.

Drumming Party won this race last season and has not been disgraced on any of his subsequent appearances, despite not winning again. Back to a similar mark here, he rates as a danger to all but the worry for his supporters must be the ground, considering some of his best form has come on a lightening quick surface. A low draw has proved an advantage over the years when the ground is soft and Andrew Balding's charge is best berthed of all in stall one.

An interesting outsider could be Milton Bradley's Danjet who, despite being below form of late, has shown some of his best ability when the ground is soft. His effort last season at York when finishing a good second of 22 under similar conditions would give him a good shout here. The gelding tends to show his best form when ridden prominently and in-play traders may want to see how far the four-year-old is off the pace in the early stages.