Pixeleen not out of it in valuable sprint

Sometimes you have to be grateful for a minor placing, especially when the price drifts out to 14/1. Third Time Lucky paid for all other investments last Saturday, though I think he is better than that and would have gone very close indeed in the Cambridgeshire with a lower draw and slightly softer ground. There may be a valuable handicap in him before the curtain falls, although time is running out.

Staying with Richard Fahey, he has three declared for the totescoop6 Challenge Cup at Ascot this weekend. I shall stay with RIGHT TOUCH (each-way) because I feel that seven furlongs is his natural distance and I have never forgotten how unfortunate he looked at Goodwood back in the spring. I feel there may have been one or two training problems because his races have been spread out more than is normally the case with this particular trainer but he is worth a small win and place wager.
The Listed five-furlong sprint at 4.15 is the type of race you get at this time of year – fairly exposed types and ex-handicappers racing for a bigger prize than would normally be the case. I can see Hay Chewed running fast for a long way and Mirza would certainly have a chance if rediscovering her best form but PRICELESS won well last time and may be the answer to a tricky puzzle.

Things are pretty difficult otherwise. Malcolm Saunders has won with just about every single one of his sprint handicappers this term but Pixeleen kept coming placed a while back and never quite lasted home. She has had more of a rest this time and, although a £50,000 sprint is beyond her normal sphere, that is true of several of the others in the 2.15 at Newmarket. She is the each-way call once again with Dutch Destiny one of many dangers.

It’s worth keeping an eye on Fahey at Redcar. I’m not wild about horses turning out again just eight days after a very good run, which is what Dawn Mirage will be doing in the 4.25 after a fine third at Newmarket, but that is a solid form-line and the best move may be to cover him alongside stable-companion Normandy Knight.
Later on there are two divisions of a very ordinary sprint handicap. Only the first leg makes any betting appeal, with Michael Dods’ RUN RIO RUN performing well enough of late to take all the beating.

I’m not looking to oppose Postponed and Mecca’s angel at Chantilly on Sunday but the value is questionable. It will be fascinating to see if George Baker can nurse QUEST FOR MORE along in front in the Prix du Cadran, which switches to Saturday this year and I hope we see a masterclass. The British raiders have a strong hand in this, with Nearly Caught a fair each-way alternative. I’m not convinced hot favourite Vazirabad has the form over this extreme trip.