Baron Bolt scored in terrific style last time out and can make light of a penalty to follow-up in the 7f handicap on today’s card at Catterick (15.20).
The Paul Cole trained gelding took his form to a new level when beating Novinophobia by 2 3/4 lengths over course and distance.
After being held-up towards the rear, Baron Bolt made stealthy headway two from home to take up the running entering the final furlong and forge clear for a decisive success in the hands of P J McDonald.
It was a most taking performance and the runner-up, third, fourth and fifth have all come out and won since.
The three-year-old also once again has the services of McDonald in the saddle who has partnered him to both his career successes and a 100 per cent strike on him, and another plus is that Baron Bolt has proven form on soft ground.
Indego Blues weighted to strike
Indego Blues run the track well and can cash-in on a drop in the weights to land the 6f handicap (15.50).
The Dandy Nicholls trained gelding is a course and distance winner who has also run well to make the frame on three occasions from 10 starts at the Yorkshire venue.
Indego Blues was last successful at Carlisle 15 months ago when scoring by a neck off a mark of 64 and went on to finish third in his next two starts off 66.
The seven-year-old’s form has been very patchy since but he did run his best race of the season three starts back over course and distance when third on soft ground off 55 and is now able to race off 52.
That is a career-low and gives Indego Blues major claims from a handicapping perspective, especially if taking into account the 7lb claim of promising apprentice Danielle Mooney.
Catterick top tips
13.50: Fields Of Song 14.20: Soundstrings 14.50: Kisumu 15.20: Baron Bolt (NAP) 15.50: Indego Blues (NB) 16.20: Nietzsche 16.55: Cruise Tothelimit
Mr Rock holds solid claims at Lingfield
Mr Rock caught the eye last time out and can take advantage of drop in class to land the 1m 2f handicap on today’s card at Lingfield (16.40).
The gelding won a maiden at Wexford when trained in Ireland by David Wachman but failed to cut any ice in six starts last year after joining George Baker.
However, there was much more to like about Mr Rock’s return to action at Windsor last month following a 245 day break when fourth of nine to Absolute Zero in a class 5 contest.
Having looked in need of the outing beforehand the five-year-old showed plenty of pace to race in touch before being unable to quicken two from home and keeping on under tender handling to be beaten eight lengths.
It was an effort which suggested there was better to come and Mr Rock has since been dropped another 1lb to a mark of 65.
That is 16lb lower than when the son of Galileo joined Baker and gives Mr Rock a huge shout at the weights now dropped into class 6 company for the first time.
The gelding was last successful on the all-weather at Chelmsford back in December when trained by Brian Meehan and scoring by 1/2 a length off a mark of 81 in the hands of 7lb claimer Jordan Uys.
Red Stripes got put up to 87 for that victory and has failed to trouble the judge in five starts since joining Lisa Williamson.
However, the four-year-old did run really well from 3lb out of the weights on his penultimate start at Goodwood when a 3 1/4 length eighth of 16 to Boom The Groom in class 2 contest off 86 and is now able to race in this lower grade class 4 affair off 79.
That makes Red Stripes well-treated on the pick of his form and it’s interesting that connections have secured the services of Uys to to the steering for the first time since he joined the yard.
Another plus is that the gelding has bagged a good draw in stall 11 on the favoured stands side for one that likes to race prominently and everything looks in place for a big run.
Lingfield Best bets
13.40: Vatican Hill 14.10: Aimez La Vie 14.40: Life On Mars 15.10: Head Space 15.40: Red Stripes (E/W) 16.10: Harlequin Rock 16.40: Mr Rock (NAP) 17.10: Work
