Brighton Preview: Uganda can storm to Glory

Uganda Glory runs Brighton well and with underfoot conditions to suit can take advantage of a drop in the weights to land the 1m 2f handicap there today (4.10).

The George Baker trained filly has raced four times at the seaside venue, winning once and finishing in the frame on three occasions.

The success came in a 1m 4f contest on soft ground last September where the four-year-old stormed clear to win unchallenged by five lengths off a mark of 57.

Uganda Glory was put up to 65 after that success, and ran well of her revised mark when third in a 1m 4f contest at this track on seasonal reappearance.

The daughter of Hat Trick has failed to build on that in four subsequent starts, but her handicap mark has fallen to 59 as a result.

That is just 2lb higher than when last successful and gives Uganda Glory major claims from a handicapping perspective judged on her runaway win 13 months ago.

It’s also interesting that the visor that Uganda Glory wore for the first time when registering that success is now being refitted by connections, and everything points to a huge run.

Eastern Dragon is another with proven form in the mud and looks the answer to the 7f handicap (4.40).

The Michael Scudamore trained gelding landed back-to-back contests at Goodwood and Chepstow in May on soft ground off a mark of 69, and has run well in defeat since off higher ratings.

The four-year-old finished an excellent third on quick ground over 6f at Epsom off 75, and ran well at that venue last time out when staying on strongly to finish a never nearer 1 1/2 length fifth of 13 to Aqua Ardens in a class 4 contest on good going.

Eastern Dragon was doing all his best work at the finish, and the drop back down to class 5 company looks a major plus.

It’s the grade in which the son of Elnadim has notched his last two successes, and Eastern Dragon is now just 4lb higher than when last victorious.