Tipping / Timeform / 05 April 2010 /

Today's racing is more about quantity than quality, but Redcar hosts a competitive qualifier for the Straight-Mile Championship

Mr Rainbow made a promising start to his career last October, winning a maiden at Wolverhampton then finishing the runner-up in a Salisbury handicap (both at seven furlongs). He looks a useful prospect, and he is very much one for the shortlist now up in trip.

Dubai Dynamo hasn't always looked an easy ride, but he won a seven furlong AW handicap last month and did well to get third in a nineteen-runner race at Doncaster last time. He stays one mile and he is entitled to be thereabouts off the same mark.

Charlie Tipple has a good record over this C&D (won twice) and has been hurdling this winter (won novice) so his fitness shouldn't be an issue on his Flat return. He has never won off a mark this high, however.

Exit Smiling gained his reward for a series of good efforts in 2009 when scoring narrowly at Pontefract in August. He handles soft ground but needs to step up quite a bit on last month's reappearance to figure.

Alakhan was fairly useful at 7f/1m in Ireland for John Oxx last year, winning a Gowran maiden. He is still lightly raced enough to think there may be more to come from him this year. He is proven on soft ground.

Happy Anniversary starts the season potentially well handicapped, having been placed off higher marks on her first three starts last term. She acts on soft ground but it is doubtful whether the test of stamina at this trip is what she wants.

Lakeman's wins have come when the mud has been flying, so he has to come into the equation on his Flat return (ran four times over hurdles in autumn), though his yard looks to hold stronger claims with Pendragon.

Sir Royal is a lightly-raced sort who was runner-up twice off similar marks last year. The soft ground is no problem, though Mr Rainbow looks the stable's first string on jockey bookings.

Pendragon was very lightly raced until this year. He has been an entirely different proposition on fibresand of late, notching up a hat-trick over one-mile without much fuss. He is a major player if translating his improvement to turf.

Glenmuir is an inconsistent handicapper, though he did run creditably when fourth over C&D on his debut for John Quinn on his final start last year. There are others who make more appeal on his first outing in seven months.

Dawnhill has shown a fair level of ability on two of his three starts, though the fact they've been spread over twenty-one months suggests he isn't the easiest to train. His opening handicap mark looks stiff enough.

Wovoka won this race last year from 5 lb lower and shaped as if he's returned in good heart over an unsuitable trip at Doncaster (travelled well long way). He seems a tricky ride, but he is very much one to consider here.

Verdict

Wovoka is well handicapped (won this race off 5 lb lower twelve months ago) and is worth siding with after shaping well on his recent reappearance. Pendragon is sure to go close if translating his improvement on all-weather to turf, while Mr Rainbow could have plenty more improvement in him after just two starts.

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