Sand Stormers: Picansort to make amends

Sand Stormers / Paul Smith / 04 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Brian Ellison may well be able to eke more improvement out of Global Village.

"Global Village has been another feather in the outstanding Brian Ellison’s cap, winning three of his five starts since joining the Norton-based stable, but it was his latest effort in defeat that suggested he wasn’t finished with yet....."

After an untimely technology-based absence, Paul Smith returns with a look at the action on the All Weather.

Apologies for the lack of a column in December - I would bore you with the whole sorry saga but BT can take most of the credit. Anyway, normal service resumed for 2012.

With the start of a new year, it's time for a reshuffle - there have been some highs this winter but plenty of lows and Sand Skier and Conducting have been two of the notable disappointments.

The former just looks slow and for all that he might pop up at some stage, he is too disappointing to persevere with, while the latter has developed into something of a sucker horse and has to go.

Aiaam Al Wafa was close to joining them after a tepid display on her nursery debut, but her previous effort can't be forgotten and she can have one more chance.

Bond Fastrac and Forever's Girl have both suffered defeats but the former ran well on his penultimate start and was poorly drawn last time, while the latter remains the type to pop up at a decent price at some stage - she is entered under her optimum conditions at Wolverhampton on Friday (17.45)

Kames Park has been kept busy but he managed to put his head in front last month at a decent price and should continue to pay his way.

The undoubted star of the show has been Even Stevens who has proven himself to be the Fibresand monster I suspected when readily winning his two starts this season, including the competitive event on New Year's Day that looked a prime target for him at the start of the winter.

Opportunities will be limited for him at Southwell now but if there is another 0-100 before the end of the winter, he would have to be of interest.

There are four new additions to the list, all of whom can hopefully reward support in the coming weeks - namely Clear Praise, Incomparable, Global Village and Picansort.

Clear Praise made an eyecatching return from an absence at Kempton, held up well in rear and making striking headway before lack of a recent run took its toll. He was beaten next time but 7f at Lingfield wouldn't have been ideal and he was too keen to boot - look out for him over 6f and back at Kempton.

Scott Dixon has enjoyed a good start to his time with his name above the door at his father's base and he should be able to find opportunities for Incomparable sooner rather than later.

He ran a couple of good races at Southwell last month, shaping as though he was poised to hit top form, and he will be of serious interest when finally returned to 5f - the trip that his last four wins have come at.

Global Village has been another feather in the outstanding Brian Ellison's cap, winning three of his five starts since joining the Norton-based stable, but it was his latest effort in defeat that suggested he wasn't finished with yet.

Although he was an expensive failure for his supporters on that occasion, he did well to get as close as he did given the way the race panned out and going down to Tewin Wood was no disgrace.

A stronger-run race at 7f, or the return to 6f, would see him in a better light and I don't think it's beyond the realms of possibility that he could end up rated in the high 80s by the time the winter is done.

The case for Picansort is straightforward - he was unlucky in running over 5f at Lingfield on his return from a break (well backed) and is still open to a bit of improvement for his owner/trainer.

He is at least as effective at 6f as 5f, was in good form this time 12 months ago, and looks one to be interested in if taking his chance at Lingfield on Saturday. Incomparable is also entered there but he is only for backing at 5f for our purposes.

Kames Park has a few entries on Friday and it will be worth noting whether he has a stablemate declared in the same race - when he was successful, he had the assistance of Brown Pete ensuring they didn't dawdle in the early stages.

Last, but not least, Flag Of Glory is entered at Southwell on Sunday (13.20). He has been disappointing since joining Peter Hiatt but he is back at a more suitable trip here and any improvement for the change of surface would give him a squeak - albeit there are some red-hot rivals set to line up in the same race.

Sand Stormers NAP
Picansort 14.15 Lingfield, Saturday

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))
Clear Praise (promising return from a break (8/12))
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))
Global Village (did well to make up as much ground as he did (2/1))
Greek Islands (looked worth upping in trip (12/10))
Incomparable (looks ready to strike when dropped back to 5f)
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))
Picansort (met trouble in running at a crucial stage on reappearance (17/12))
Priestley's Reward (ran best race so far when second on All Weather debut (22/10))
Wrapped Up (no chance from a wide draw last time (18/11); still unexposed)