Hello, all. Hope everyone well. Good, good. I’ll nominate, to the regular readers, a filly with a lovely name re the morrow.
APPLE’S SHAKIRA’s last 2 races have both been at Grade 1 level and she started at odds of 11/10 and 7/4 in these 2 contests. Ran respectably in both as well finishing 4th in the Triumph Hurdle and then 3rd in Aintree’s ‘Anniversary Hurdle’. The old girl though takes a step down tomorrow to handicap level (for the first time) and is set to run off a more than fair mark of 142.
Prior to this pair of Grade 1 defeats Apple’s Shakira had won 3 out of 3 for the forum’s favourite trainer (including twice at Grade 2 level by a combined total of 25 lengths). She didn’t simply defeat ‘trees’ either, in those heats, as left in her wake were such types as Gumball (subsequently Grade 1 placed), Eragon De Chanay (won 2 subsequent races and runner-up in £40k handicap), Speedo Boy (dual winner since) and Look My Way (has gone onto win the £50,000 Chester Plate, on the level, off 93).
Apple’s Shikara’s opponents look a noble bunch but you would have to say if there is one animal, in the field, with the potential to being capable of being a lot better than their current marks then it would be the Lieutenant’s representative. That great man also knows what it takes to win this prize having been victorious in the event in 3 of the previous 6 runnings.
You do, of course, have to take her fitness on trust but I’m sure that the Lieutenant, ably assisted by his Privates, will have sufficiently prepared the old girl on the gallops at Seven Barrows. In Lieutenant Henderson we trust and all that.
So then, pilgrims, I think Apple’s Shikira can commence her term with a win, of the morrow, and believe her capable of conceding weight all round.
Good luck old girl and good luck, team.
