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It was wonderful to witness Notebook horse Pendleton winning the 5f handicap at Ascot on Saturday. Michael Dods' highly regarded sprinter has always shown connections lots of ability and they knew a mark of 85 was lenient.
True, cheekpieces were fitted a couple of outings ago and they do help in the final furlong with this strong-traveller and that was the case again here.
Pendleton does best in big fields in which he is dragged along with the pack, as he did in the Bronze Cup last time.
Unfortunately, that race developed on the opposite side of the track but this progressive sort, who benefited from a gelding operation in the summer, was drawn with the pace here. Remember, I noted his second to Roulston Scar at York two outings ago was very strong form as that winner is considered by his connections to be a future Ayr Gold Cup performer. Pendleton could have more to give too.
The long wait for Bigbadandbeautiful was rewarded when Gordon Elliot's classy mare beat her own sex in the Listed bumper at Gowran Park on Friday. This was a strong event and many impressed in the paddock, including Jamie Codd's mount.
He held her up towards rear and although still well behind at halfway, the pair made headway going well to chase the leaders on the outer over three-out. She improved again to lead on the near side entering the final furlong and stayed on strongly for a comfortable success.
An easy winner at Clonmel 141 days earlier, this fine mare had run a cracker behind very classy Santa Rossa in a Grade Two at Leopardstown in February and I can't wait to see her over hurdles. She has options back on the Flat but another Listed bumper on Troytown Day at this track is also on the agenda.
Bigbadandbeautiful doesn't show a lot at home but connections reckon she could be the best mare in the stable. Exciting.
Cameo Star might have paid for racing prominently a fast-run 7f handicap at Ayr on Tuesday. Richard Fahey's four-year-old son of Camacho had testing conditions in his favour but was involved with several pace-setters in the first half of the race.
Giving weight all round, the well-handicapped gelding tired in the final two furlongs but deserves more chances at this low level on similar ground in the closing weeks of the season.
He is also effective on the all-weather.
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