Third Time Lucky clearly laid out for this

The going changed radically at Newbury last weekend and Ridge Ranger, unhappy on soft ground at Bath in the spring, started at a ridiculous 13/8 in the World Trophy Sprint. In fact she ran well to be third but was never going to hold on. She is very speedy on the right ground and maybe there will still be another chance this season but the odds are against it.

Richard Fahey had the third, Dawn Mirage, in the Cambridgeshire consolation at Newmarket on Friday and is set to run three in the big handicap itself. The one I like best is last year’s winner THIRD TIME LUCKY and, if you wanted an insight into the trainer’s methods, the four-year-old would provide a fascinating study. Clearly laid out for the race since winning it twelve months ago, Third Time Lucky had two quiet runs but was keeping on well in fifth at York last time. Rated 5lb higher than in 2015, Third Time Lucky will benefit from Adam McNamara’s 5lb claim, effectively leaving him on exactly the same mark. Genius!

That doesn’t make them win, of course, though I suspect third Time Lucky will go close. Celestial Path, Brave Zolo and Banksea are just three of the dangers. Luca Cumani has had a wretched time of it lately and Banksea would be mending a few fences.

Fahey has a pretty fair chance in the following nursery, as well, with CLEF and Lady In Question both fairly weighted. The price will not be great but I wouldn’t oppose Godolphin’s BLUE POINT in the Middle Park.
At Ripon, the remarkable REX IMPERATOR, who won a Stewards’ Cup for William Haggas, then lost his way but is coming good again for David O’Meara, has a very good draw in the Cathedral City Of The Dales Handicap, a remark which also applies to FOXY FOREVER in the five-furlong dash which follows, though he will not want any rain. I liked him at Leicester in the week and put him on the line but Michael Wigham withdrew him when the ground changed. It’s a long while since Foxy Forever dominated a good field of sprinters at the Curragh but Wigham is a canny man and the handicap mark is attractive now. The key factor is the weather.