/ Editor / 30 May 2007 /

A slow pace proved the ruin of Al Rayanah last time out over course and distance but the four-year-old can bounce back to form at Yarmouth (15:55).

George Prodromou's filly was an improving sort at the backend of last season putting up useful performances in defeat at Warwick, Leicester, Newmarket and on this course.

Her proven ability on a soft surface could give her the edge here against many rivals experiencing wet conditions on a racetrack for the first time.

The daughter of Almushtarak pulled too hard on her reappearance when trailing in a disappointing 8th of 9 over course and distance last time out, but given a stronger pace, she could prove the value in a race that lacks any real in-form runners.

The betting market should be the best guide to the chance of Convallaria who hails from a stable not averse to landing a gamble with their lightly-raced types.

The four-year-old raced just twice last season and earned her handicap mark after running unplaced at Lingfield earlier this month over 7f. Although little fancied in the Betfair market, she put up a fair effort in a race run in a good time.
The form of the contest is standing up well and if the stable feel their charge is on a lenient mark and will handle the conditions, there should be plenty of market support.

Desert Island Miss improved for each run last season and was not beaten far at Kempton on her final start before a break, when she faded in the closing stages. If she improves for the rest and handles the surface, the lightly-tried filly looks to be another with every chance.

Networker should be a popular selection on the back of his winning effort at Beverley recently when his success owed much to the exaggerated waiting style of Jamie Spencer. The four-year-old gelding is clearly in good heart at the moment but traders must bear in mind he is unproven on such a soft surface and faces a track here which tends to favour front runners. He needed every yard of Beverley's extended mile last time out and it is possible this will not prove a stiff enough test.

Siren could be trader's gift

It may only be a lack of a seasonal reappearance which stops Siren's Gift from adding another course and distance success at Beverley (19:50)

Andrew Balding's filly looks to be head and shoulders ahead of her rivals based on racecourse achievements especially two useful efforts in Group contests at the backend of last year.

Having proven to be effective on all types of ground other than heavy, it may take a brave trader to take on the daughter of Cadeaux Genereux in the early morning markets. Those who feel they want to oppose her may want to check out the market closer to post time when her odds may have been affected by paddock reports on her fitness.

The biggest danger looks to be Morinqua who showed glimpses of form for Kevin Ryan last season but has been a revelation since joining James Given. Two wins and two place efforts suggest a fair level of ability and the filly comes here on the back of an excellent dominating performance at York 12 days ago.

It will be interesting to see which of the two speedy fillies lead in the early stages and the battle for the far side rail could prove crucial to the ultimate outcome of the contest.

Jack Rackham is sure to garner some support on the back of his last two successes. His maiden win at Nottingham was followed up by a creditable victory over course and distance, despite fluffing the start.
It is possible the front pair could set up the race for this fast finisher but Bryan Smart's gelding will need to improve by many pounds on what he has shown to date.

The rest seem hopelessly outclassed with perhaps only Deserted Dane worth a note. A fair performance on his debut at Newmarket on soft ground was followed by an impressive maiden win here.

Two disappointing efforts in Dubai did not stop him being well traded on Betfair for his handicap debut at Thirsk, but despite racing prominently, the gelding faded out of contention. It could easily prove to be a similar story here unless he somehow finds significant improvement on what he has so far achieved.

Boys to land Vegas gamble

Vegas Boys has held his form remarkably well over the past few months and looks set to be suited by a step up in trip in the Brighton 16:55.

Michael Wigham's charge landed a touch for connections when winning at Wolverhampton in December and has run well on all his subsequent starts. The pick of those efforts came last time out at Kempton where he finished a good staying on second from a poor draw. Although the four-year-old has never convinced over this trip, his recent efforts suggest the distance should suit and he may be worth another try.

Ceredig is also unproven to stay the trip but comes here at the top of his game following a fine effort in a ladies' race at Salisbury. If translating that form to this longer trip he looks to have a fair chance of a place and being a maiden after more than 20 starts should result in the gelding being an attractive price.

Bollywood can generally be relied upon to run his race on turf and is never too far away at the finish. This is his trip and he could prove to be some value in the place market given he acts at this track and is back in the hands of a professional after being apprentice ridden on his last 11 turf starts.

Colonel Cotton has been given plenty of chances of late but has failed to capitalise on a plunging handicap mark. Another who has been sticking with sprint distances, it is interesting to note that one of his better recent runs came over this trip at Lingfield in November. A recent pipe-opener at Warwick should see him fit and ready to do battle here and it is possible he may be able to take advantage of his current handicap mark as long as the ground conditions do not ease out of his favour.

It will be interesting to note any market support for Henry Candy's runner Willofcourse. Still relatively unexposed, the six-year-old was far from disgraced in any of his outings last season. Looking reasonably handicapped, the gelding could go well in a race as poor as this though the presence of an inexperienced apprentice may not inspire too much confidence in some traders.

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