Spark Plug can step up…

Last week showed a profit, thanks to Megan Lily at Chester, and she is a very speedy filly around tight tracks. Richard Fahey runs her again at Sandown this weekend but I think she has more to do here.

Friday was an excellent day on the line, with the only two selections Carpe Diem Lady and Showmethewayavrilo going in at Chepstow at 2/1 and 11/2 respectively. I hope we haven’t used up too much ammunition with the weekend in mind.

I am never all that keen on valuable sprint handicaps at Musselburgh because it’s a narrow track and you’re not bound to get a run. To small stakes, and with Charlie Hills deciding not to run Amomentofmadness, I’d stay with the remarkable DUKE OF FIRENZE in the Scottish Sprint Cup, with the emphasis very much on win and place, with Tim Easterby’s RASHEEQ possibly the answer in the consolation race earlier on. He has plenty of weight, however, and it may be worth saving on Fahey’s PADDY POWER, who will be happy back over the minimum trip after a fair effort over six at Epsom.

I thought SPARK PLUG was unlucky at Goodwood last time and, whilst I’m not the greatest follower of Brian Meehan, I do think the horse can graduate from top handicaps – he won the Cambridgeshire – to Listed company and he has a leading chance in the Ganton Stakes at York.

There are no other major punting possibilities in this corner, although PURPLE ROCK may not have stayed a mile and three-quarters at Musselburgh and has a chance in the Queen Mother’s Cup for lady amateurs on his running over twelve furlongs at the Dante meeting.

Personally I’d leave Sandown alone because it has a real pre-Royal Ascot look to it but Mick Channon’s SHORT CALL ran her race out well in a three-runner affair at Goodwood and may be able to defy a penalty at Bath.