Bath Preview: Sleep Walk set to return to winning ways

Sleep Walk looked an unlucky loser last time out and can get back to winning ways in the 6f handicap at Bath today (3.20).

The Roger Charlton trained filly was poorly placed in a tactical affair when finishing fourth to Taquka at Kempton, racing keenly well-off the pace before finishing strongly to be beaten just 1 3/4 lengths.

Their is little doubt in my mind that Sleep walk was the best horse in the race and got a poor ride, and prior to that run the daughter of Oasis Dream had looked a sprinter going places.

After bolting up up on debut over course and distance, Sleep Walk made a mockery of her opening handicap mark of 65 when winning at Leicester.

The three-year-old showed a good turn of foot to score by a cheeky neck from Castorlenta, and was value for tons more than the winning distance.

The return to the turf and virtually guaranteed stronger pace in this contest look sure to suit, and Sleep walk has the scope and potential to be much better than her current rating of 74.

Trainer Charlie Hills has been in fine form of late, and Miss Crystal can provide him another winner on handicap debut in the 1m 2f contest (3.50).

The daughter of Montjeu has been placed in all three starts, and ran particularly well on the second of those when third to the now 81-rated Tiger Lilly at Thirsk.

That is fairly strong form in the context of this contest and makes Miss Crystal’s opening mark of 71 look exploitable.

It’s also interesting that connections are now fitting the three-year-old with the hood for the first time, and if that has the desired effect Miss Crystal looks weighted to take all the beating.

In the 1m 2f handicap (4.55), Zeteah is a rare runner the the track for trainer David Lanigan and looks worth siding with to cash-in on her basement mark.

The filly didn’t make much of an impact in three maiden runs last year, but was well-supported on the last of those when finishing fourth over 7f at Kempton.