Leicester Preview: Rewaaya set to return to winning ways

Trainer John Gosden has his team in fine form at present and Rewaaya can provide him with another winner in the Sir Gordon Richards Handicap at Leicester today (3.30).

The Newmarket handler has saddled four winners from his last seven runners and in Rewaaya has a filly who has had just four starts and progressed with each run.

After shaping with bags of promise when fourth at Ascot on racecourse debut, the daughter of Authorized opened her account in runaway style over course and distance when beating Quinelle by nine lengths on soft ground.

Rewaaya was the off the track for 117 days before following-up in good style on handicap debut at Newmarket by four lengths.

The handicapper reacted by putting Rewaaya up 9lb to a mark of 95, but the three-year-old showed she should be more than capable of winning races off it when a cracking eighth of 24 to Farquhar in a fiercely competitive contest at Newmarket earlier in the month.

Rewaaya only weakened out of contention inside the final furlong, and it was an effort which suggested she had plenty more to offer and needed keeping firmly onside.

With the soft ground holding no fears, and Paul Hanagan in the sadle, this looks a nice opening for Rewaaya to get back to winning ways.

Le Chat D’or is another who is at his best when the mud is flying and looks the answer to the 1m handicap earlier on the card (2.30).

The Michael Dods’ trained gelding is a useful sort when he has underfoot condtions to suit, as he showed when keeping on strongly from off the pace to forge clear inside the last and win going away by 2 3/4 lengths at Ayr four starts back off a mark of 85.

The six-year-old then disappointed next time up at the venue on good ground, after which he was given a break by connections.

Le Chat D’or was off the track for 68 days before returning to action last month, and has shaped as if coming back to form in two decent contests at Haydock.

In the last of those, the son of One Cool Cat lost many lengths when blowing the start completely before keeping on well to finish a never nearer four length seventh of 13 to Melvin The Grate.