Daily Placepots 
/ Adam Brookes / 13 April 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Will today's classic trials throw up any genuine classic contenders?
"With Henry Cecil giving a favourable mention to his impressive Nottingham maiden winner Specific Gravity earlier in the week, he’s included..."
One minute it's Cheltenham, the next we've whizzed past Aintree and arrived upon the Newmarket classics trials, which, although they look set to prove very informative, will be all the more enjoyable should we land the Placepot.
13:50 - To prevent today's lines getting out of hand on what looks a typically competitive card, a banker had to be found and, after much deliberation, Misk Khitaam seems to fit the bill in the opener. After an eye-catching fifth in a course-and-distance maiden in October, Misk Khitaam went down in many a notebook and, with today's likely favourite, Commended, having already been a beaten jolly in both his last two runs, John Dunlop's colt should see us through.
14:25 - The juvenile conditions race looks straightforward from a Placepot point of view, as it will be a surprise if both of the two previous winners, Jack Who's He and The Dancing Lord, fail to make an impact. Tell Dad looks the only danger and, whilst he could well be decent, he will have to be very switched on to get the better of the pair with experience on his racecourse debut.
15:00 - This sales race looks as open as would be expected for a race worth so much. However, hopefully Khor Sheed, who was very progressive before disappointing on testing ground in the Cheveley Park and Sir Reginald, who likewise looked generally progressive last season before a below par finale in a Newmarket sales race, should finish in the money. The big danger is likely short-priced favourite Neebras, who is the first British ride for top French jockey Mikael Barzalona, but he hasn't run since August and is entitled to need the outing.
15:35 - This year's renewal of the Free Handicap looks highly unlikely to throw up a classic winner, but Rerouted, winner of the Somerville Tattersalls Stakes over course and distance last September, and The Paddyman, who was fourth in the same race, have ability and should give us every chance of overturning the market principals and thus eliminating a large chunk of Placepot competition.
16:10 - The Nell Gwyn was won last year by Music Show, who went on to prove herself at the top level, and today's race looks well up to scratch with a number of promising fillies in the line up. Queen Mary winner Maqaasid has to concede a penalty, whilst Elshabakiya needs to confirm her head second to Dubawi Gold doesn't flatter her, therefore, Sing Softly and Ladies Are Forever look the two to have on side. The former has impressed on both starts this season, including when winning a listed race at the Curragh last time, whilst the latter could well prove up to this class if she stays the trip as expected.
16:45 - The final leg of the Placepot looks the trickiest to solve as none of the seven runners can be comfortably discounted. That said, with Henry Cecil giving a favourable mention to his impressive Nottingham maiden winner Specific Gravity earlier in the week, he's included, whilst Fulgur was progressive last season and connections wouldn't be risking his attractive handicap mark if they didn't believe he was up to this grade.
Selections
13:50 8
14:25 1, 3
15:00 6, 9
15:35 3, 4
16:10 5, 9
16:45 3, 6
Lines: 32
Another mediocre day today, Southwell arguably boasting the pick of the Flat cards, but plenty to look forward to with the opening day of Newmarket's Craven meeting tomorrow....
The Flat action is about to really get going with Newmarket's Craven meeting later in the week, but we go to Wolverhampton for this afternoon's placepot......
Ascot is the best of today's three NH fixtures and that's where we're going for the placepot......
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