Timeform Radio Tip: Brook to end Barren run

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Timeform Notebook: Brook to end his Barren spell

Having slipped in the weights after a few below-par efforts, Barren Brook shaped as if he is capable of capitalising on the chance he has been given by the assessor...

Despite an undoubted lull in the quality of racing on the domestic front, the Timeform Notebook returns to highlight three horses that may be worth following...

Past editions of the Timeform Notebook have predominately focussed on the weekend action, but it would be remiss of us to omit a potential winner simply because he was seen operating on a relatively low-key weekday card. The first horse to gain our attention was seen powering home to secure a second-placed finish on the sodden Ripon turf last Tuesday. Having slipped in the weights after a few below-par efforts, Barren Brook shaped as if he is capable of capitalising on the chance he has been given by the assessor, finishing strongly in the closing stages despite possibly finding the surface softer than ideal. Given his shrewd connections, it is well worth keeping an eye on Barren Brook in the market wherever he turns up next.

Arguably the best racing last week came from Sandown, with the Godolphin filly Falls Of Lora surely catching the attention of many observers, looking to be an unlucky loser in the Group 3 race for fillies and mares. However, her stablemate, Irish History, is also interesting, having shaped better than the bare result would imply. Slowly away, Irish History was dropped out in last place early on but travelled well and made up ground stylishly before her effort flattened out inside the final furlong, eventually finishing sixth. On first impression, it looked as if she was simply given too much to do and, having performed well in Group 1 contests, it would be a surprise were Mahmood Al Zarooni's filly incapable of gaining pattern-level success in the near future.

Hard-luck stories at Chester are not uncommon and another horse to join the list of losers who probably should have won is the Alan Bailey-trained Strictly Silver. Not ideally drawn, the grey colt could be observed travelling powerfully in the pack but, crucially, was forced slightly wide as they entered the straight and narrowly failed to overhaul Verse Of Love. Still unexposed and progressive, there is a strong feeling that Strictly Silver will not have to wait long to gain compensation for this unfortunate defeat.

Runners Debrief
Having waxed lyrical about the speed Rex Imperator possesses, it was rather disconcerting to see him off the bridle so far out at Bath on Saturday, putting up what could be termed as a rather laboured effort. Considering his best form has come on quicker ground, the soft underfoot conditions he encountered at Bath can certainly be deemed a contributory factor to the rather lacklustre run, and it is far too early to write him off.

It could be a busy week for our Notebook horses, with no less than four of our eye-catchers holding engagements. John Dunlop's string are in notably better form now than when Alnawiyah made a most promising debut, and the daughter of Dalakhani looks to hold strong claims of getting off the mark at the second time of asking at Lingfield on Wednesday. Golden Causeway was a bitter disappointment at Newmarket last time, having shaped so well on debut, and it will be interesting to see whether she takes up either of her entries this week.

Gospel Choir, who was a late withdrawal from the Melrose Stakes at York, could potentially line up against a host of progressive three-year-old handicappers at Ascot on Saturday. Although Sir Michael Stoute does have other options for the race, connections had mooted Saturday's contest as a potential target for their lightly-raced improver and he is bound to have his supporters at Ascot.

Victorious on his handicap bow, a 4lb rise in the weights should not unduly inconvenience Luca Cumani's unexposed three-year-old Semeen, who will surely hold strong claims should he be confirmed for the 0-70 handicap at Brighton on Friday.

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Racing Plus Chase: Tizzard keeping powder dry with Cannington Brook

News / Timeform / 21 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Colin Tizzard had an across-the-card five-timer on Saturday

"...he will be well-treated under a 5 lb penalty for the Racing Plus Chase..."

Red-hot trainer Colin Tizzard is to leave the decision whether or not to run Cannington Brook in Saturday's Racing Plus Chase at Kempton to the last minute...

Cannington Brook produced a much improved display when winning his second race at Haydock at the weekend, running to a Timeform rating of 146 when coming home 35 lengths ahead of nearest rival Majala in a heavy-ground handicap.

That performance failed to escape the official handicapper, with the eight-year-old's BHA mark set to see a rise of some 15 lb.

With that in mind, he will be well-treated under a 5 lb penalty for the Racing Plus Chase, for which he is currently trading at [12.0] behind market leaders Planet of Sound ([6.2]) and Nacarat ([7.2]).

Tizzard, however, reported that he will wait until much later in the week before deciding whether to let his smart chaser take his chance.

The trainer also stated how he has had to change his view of the horse recently as a while ago he was considering sending him to the Cheltenham Festival for the four-mile NH Chase but with him winning over two and a half miles, he's evidently much quicker than first thought.

Tizzard added finally that if the race was 10 days after Haydock and not seven, and that if the ground was soft, he'd nearly be a definite runner.

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Timeform ratings were in fine form at the weekend. Click HERE to see the top rated roll call, or click HERE to get race cards & ratings for today's meetings.

Peter Snowden has had his worst fears realised as his star sprinter Sepoy has been allotted top weight of 58kg for the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate, run over 1100m at Caulfield on Saturday......

There were five Grade 2s in Ireland this weekend and they threw up a couple of surprise results......

Teddy Grimthorpe would be "very surprised" were Frankel and Black Caviar to meet at Royal Ascot......

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