Sand Stormers: Can Sand Skier halt the downhill slide?

Sand Stormers / Paul Smith / 23 November 2011 / Leave a Comment

Kempton is the venue for this week's best bet.

"A fifth position, beaten four lengths, doesn’t tell the whole story as she was poorly drawn and was forced very wide throughout....."

Paul Smith is hoping for a better week after a frustrating series of results in the last seven days.

Anticlimax. 'A disappointing end to an exciting or impressive series of events' so the learned people at Oxford Dictionaries tell me.

It neatly pigeonholes a week that promised plenty for the column and delivered nothing, with a series of frustrating reverses doing little for the mood in the run-up to the festive season.

The malaise began with George Guru breaking through the stalls and being withdrawn on Wednesday - his strength in the market in a competitive event was reassuring though and there will be other days for him to confirm himself a progressive handicapper on Polytrack.

Next up was Conducting, who ran a storming race to take third at Kempton having been forced to come from an impossible position the way things panned out.

There is a danger that he could be followed over a cliff - his strike-rate is none-too-impressive after all - but it is hard to fault his attitude at present and surely he is going to find himself in a race that pans out properly for him at some stage. Surely.....

There were no such concerns about the make up of the race for Pipers Piping who looked to have everything in his favour in a modest 7f handicap at Wolverhampton on Friday night.

In form, optimum conditions, well handicapped - what could possibly go wrong? In his defence, he did run very well in finishing a close second but he ran into a heavily backed and even better treated opponent in the shape of Aerodynamic.

The pair finished clear of the third and the handicapper was obviously impressed - he has raised him 6lb for his efforts. That is going to make life harder for him and although he is able to run off his old mark this week, his only entry is over the extended 1m and that taxes his stamina to the limit.

He might win races in the coming weeks, but we have missed the boat and he has to go.

The other runners from the list ran as expected - Even Stevens went off too hard over 6f and was well beaten, but the speed he showed will stand him in good stead back over 5f (especially on Fibresand) and the handicapper has very generously dropped him 4lb to a mark of 85. Thank you very much - that opens up a few more options!

Flag Of Glory's stamina wasn't assured going into his Kempton race and having been stuck out wide throughout, he had little chance of getting home.

The handicapper is giving him a chance now though and he remains of interest, albeit not over the 1m6f he is set to tackle at Wolverhampton on Monday!

Only one new addition to the list this week, despite a number of possibles, and it comes in the shape of Heather Main's Wrapped Up. Her five runs to date haven't got to the bottom of her ability and she ran very well over an inadequate 5f at Kempton last week.

A fifth position, beaten four lengths, doesn't tell the whole story as she was poorly drawn and was forced very wide throughout. She will be more effective over further and her trainer has a healthy level-stake profit with her runners on the All Weather.

Looking ahead to this week, the main event looks to be at Kempton on Wednesday where Sand Skier has plenty to recommend him in the 17.05. There isn't a big field but there should be a strong pace and a reproduction of his latest second at Wolverhampton should suffice.

He is still quick enough to be effective over this shorter trip, his rider is good value for her claim and everything is in place for a big run.

Kames Park is in at Wolverhampton on Saturday (19.20) and although his quirks are well established, he is more than capable of winning off his mark in a truly run race. Without knowing the make-up of the field, it is impossible to be overconfident but a small interest is in order.

Sand Stormers NAP
Sand Skier 17.05 Kempton Wednesday

LIST OF HORSES TO FOLLOW
Aiaam Al Wafa (likely big improver when switched to handicaps (27/10))
Adorable Choice (underrated filly who did well to last as long as she did at Newbury (21/10))
Bond Fastrac (still well handicapped on old form and good second at Nottingham (11/10))
Conducting (better than the result on both 17/9 and 12/10)
Even Stevens (looked Fibresand monster (22/3))
Flag Of Glory (shaped nicely on first run for Peter Hiatt (27/10); can do better)
Forever's Girl (best of those held up (10/11), return to 6f, Polytrack a plus)
George Guru (lightly raced and still on the up; poor draw (2/11))
Greek Islands (looked worth upping in trip (12/10))
Intransigent (related to smart AW performer and promise on debut (10/10))
Kames Park (no chance the way he was ridden in slowly run race (12/10))
Priestley's Reward (ran best race so far when second on All Weather debut (22/10))
Sand Skier (troubled passage at Wolverhampton (14/11), handicapped to win)
Wrapped Up (no chance from a wide draw last time (18/11); still unexposed)

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