Timeform 1-2-3 
/ Adam Brookes / 05 April 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Today's best bet runs in the last at Pontefract.
"Agapanthus ran to an almost identical rating (when winning on his seasonal debut in each of the last two years), and, a reproduction of that form would see him go very close again today."
With a whole host of races to choose from today it isn't surprising that we've arrived at the mixed bag of a relatively exposed older horses, a seemingly progressive three-year-old and an all-weather debutante, but here's hoping they are three winners nonetheless.
We begin the day with Gary Moore's Quality Art (15.20) in the four-runner sprint handicap at Kempton. A maiden winner over course and distance last time, Quality Art makes his handicap debut off a mark of just 72, which looks potentially lenient when you bear in mind that Steps, who beat him by just under two lengths when they met in December, went on to finish a very close second off a mark of 77 later in the month. Competition today comes in the form of three consistent fillies, but none of them appear to have the same potential as Quality Art, and if he can progress from his success last time, he will be very difficult to beat.
Backing debutantes on the all-weather is usually a sign of desperation, but in the case of Zanoubiatta (15.50), it seems a highly logical concept in what appears a weak race. With the three runners to have previously seen a racecourse looking nothing out of the ordinary, it's to the newcomers that we should turn our attentions and with Ed Dunlop in very good form (3 winners from his last 6 runners, for example) his Zanoubiatta looks a likely type. Zanoubiatta's sire Cherokee Run has a solid record (14% strike rate) for siring all-weather winners and it would be a surprise if she failed to handle the surface, so, with a good draw in stall 4 (nearer to the rail now than it was last week) she should give us every chance of securing a quick double.
The final advised bet is Barney Curley's Agapanthus (17.10) in the closing handicap at Pontefract. Curley has only sent a single runner to the course since 1997 but makes the 300-mile round trip from Newmarket today with a horse who has won on his seasonal debut (at 4/1 and 2/1f) in each of the last two seasons. On both of those occasions, Agapanthus ran to an almost identical rating, and, a reproduction of that form would see him go very close again today. What's more, having run three times over hurdles over the winter (albeit showing no form), we have no worries over his fitness, and he looks an attractive proposition...as much as one can from this yard.
Recommendations
Back Quality Art @ [2.6] Kempton 15:20
Back Zanoubiatta @ [2.58] Kempton 15:50
Back Agapanthus @ [5.8] Pontefract 17:10
We are off to the beautiful Scottish Borders and Kelso for today's three selections....
Three selections for Sunday's meeting at Doncaster....
The Lincoln is finally upon us, which means the Flat season is eventually underway properly, but rather than pick that particular handicap apart we have come up with two other selections at Doncaster, as well as one from Kempton....
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