Brighton Preview: Beach Samba can lead rivals a merry dance

Trainer Ed Dunlop has a good record with juvenile runners at Brighton and Beach Samba holds leading claims of further enhancing it in the 7f nursery there today (2.20).

The Newmarket handler has a 33% strike rate with his two-year-olds at the seaside venue in recent seasons, and in Beach Samba has a colt who looks potentially well-treated on handicap debut off an opening mark of 73.

The son of Lope De Vega has only had four starts, and shaped with bags of promise on debut when fourth of 12 to Gibeon in a decent 7f contest at Newmarket on soft ground.

Beach Samba was then not at his best next time-up, but got back on track when fourth at Newcastle and posted a career-best effort last time out when a neck runner-up to Second Wave in a 12-runner contest at Redcar.

The winner is a well-regarded Godolphin owned juvenile, and if Beach Samba can build on the effort this looks a great opportunity for him to open his account.

Night Trade handles testing conditions and looks weighted to take all the beating in the 6f handicap that opens proceedings (1.50).

The Ron Harris trained mare was last successful on soft ground at Chepstow back in June when keeping on strongly from off the pace to score by a neck off a mark of 52.

The daughter of Trade Fair now gets into this off 2lb lower and is partnered by crack apprentice Cam Hardie for the first time.

He is terrific value for his 3lb claim, and taking it into account Night Trade is 5lb below her last winning mark.

It makes the seven-year-old very well-treated, and Night Trade comes into the contest having shaped as if coming back to form last time out when a solid third at Bath.

In the 1m handicap (3.50), the William Knight trained Bloodsweatandtears has plenty going for him.

The gelding is a dual course and distance winner, and both those successes have come on soft ground.

The six-year-old is also 2lb lower than when registering his last win on the all-weather (disqualified after a stewards inquiry) and the fact Bloodsweatandtears has not run for 166 days is also a plus as the son of Barathea has a good record fresh.