Timeform Daily: Blake's Butchers Fillies' Handicap (5), Brighton, Wednesday September 2, 4.00

Race of the Day Preview / Timeform / 01 September 2009 / Leave a Comment

"Arcola is a lightly-raced filly who opened her account over course and distance in July. She produced solid efforts when placed both there and on the all-weather in defeat since, giving positive signs that she is still going the right way."

David Simcock has his string in good order, a remark applicable to July course-and-distance scorer Arcola, who has remained in decent fettle since. Evening Sunset should also go well if staying the extra furlong, and Caster Sugar is another strutting her stuff with some purpose at present.

Sunceleb got off the mark when awarded a race on appeal after a nose second in a mile maiden here in July. Soft ground was probably her undoing on her handicap bow next time, and her hopes are resting on a firmer surface and an extra two furlongs.

Caster Sugar is a capable handicapper who was better than ever when winning at Salisbury and Epsom in July. She was too keen next time, but made a fair fist of her first try over this trip when runner-up at Windsor more recently.

Arcola is a lightly-raced filly who opened her account over course and distance in July. She produced solid efforts when placed both there and on the all-weather in defeat since, giving positive signs that she is still going the right way.

Lunar River is better on all-weather than on turf. She has been holding her form well since scoring at Lingfield in May and generally travels well in her races. The trip and ground are no problem, but others are marginally better-treated here.

Aphrodite's Rock is a lightly-raced maiden. She relished the step up to this sort of trip when runner-up at Folkestone on her penultimate start. Her latest seventh at Newcastle is best ignored (held up in slowly-run race).

Evening Sunset made all when a wide-margin winner at Hamilton (nine furlongs) in July for Mick Channon. She is up in the weights but her latest Yarmouth run was not too bad and she has a fair chance if she stays ten furlongs on her first start for Mick Quinlan.

Oronsay is a low-grade maiden handicapper, who was almost certainly flattered by her second at Chepstow in May. She has yet to show form on ground this fast and others are readily preferred.

Bicksta's step up to ten furlongs brought immediate improvement when she finished third at Newmarket in May. That form is looking suspect in view of her subsequent two heavy defeats, and blinkers are now tried to remedy the situation.