Pastoral Player can deny Kuanyao the seven-timer
Sometimes with horses it takes a while for the penny to drop.
That most definitely has been the case with the Peter Makin-trained Kuanyao, who after finishing down the field in a host of weak maidens as a two-year-old - resulting in an official mark of 54 - has progressed into a horse which is on the verge of taking his chance at Listed or Group company providing he continues his excellent form today in the H M Plant Hitachi Handicap at Ffos Las. However he may just find one too good in the shape of Pastoral Player.
Opposing a runner whose form stats read 11-111 could result in the men in white coats paying me a visit, but as the saying goes there is a method to the madness. Despite Kuanyao’s continued ability to deal with a step up in class, he is currently on a seven-timer, and the step he makes today is the biggest he has had to encounter. His opposition have all been racing competitively in this company all season, with Drawnfromthepast and Street Power both registering wins at this level and the gelding may find it tough today off a mark of 90.
The selection has been described as bit of character by his trainer Hughie Morrison, and it may be best to hold fire until as late as possible as he has a habit of playing up beforehand, but if he can stay relaxed in the preliminaries he has the ability win off a generous mark of 93. The ground will be right up his street today, Morrison was thinking of putting him away from the season until the lack of rain in South Wales, and the smaller field should also play to his strengths.
Rastaban showed enough on his racecourse debut at Newbury to suggest that an average maiden could come his way and his trainer William Haggas has found a race in the O’Brien Chartered Accountants Median Auction Maiden Stakes which should be his for the taking.
Mark Johnson has a great record at Ffos Las this season with four wins from 13 runners in handicaps and course and distance winner Sennockian Storm has claims to suggest he could run a big race in the Insider Dealmaker Handicap at a double-figure price.
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