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This was probably just a fair maiden, the winner Golden Spice putting her experience to good use from the front, but a couple of these are likely to do a lot better over further once handicapping.
One such example is the runner-up Sea Formula, who showed much more like it on her qualifying run after 11 weeks off. Held up in the early stages, she was pushed along two furlongs out and finished well to pass the post less than a length behind the winner, looking better the further she went.
Sea Formula will be suited by at least a mile and she is open to plenty of improvement when going up in trip. She is well bred (by Sea The Stars and a half-sister to the smart Cadillac) and there should be races to be won with her when starting life in handicaps from a lowly base.
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsKodi Gold was an unlucky loser at Lingfield on New Year's Eve, and while he was beaten on merit on Saturday he again shaped well in second.
Kodi Gold was no match for the well-backed Radetsky, who was a deserved winner even if the margin of his superiority was exaggerated by being well positioned in a steadily-run race. However, Kodi Gold should also be given credit for bagging second after making his challenge from an unpromising position towards the rear.
He wasn't as eye-catching as he was on New Year's Eve, but this provides further evidence that he is in good heart and ready to strike again soon. He also proved his effectiveness over seven furlongs, opening up options for connections.
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsHeadley George knocked on the door throughout last year, finishing in the first three in nine of his 13 starts, and it’s hard to believe that he still has just one win to his name.
After filling the runner-up spot on his final outing of 2021 at Lingfield in December, Headley George began the new year in very similar fashion over the same course and distance on Friday, finding one too good again and looking unlucky this time not to give the winner more to think about.
Held up last of all in the early stages, Headley George still had the whole field to pass and little room to manouevre on the home turn. He stayed on powerfully after being switched for a run in the straight, but the damage had already been done as he hit the line still over a length behind Agent of Fortune, who enjoyed a dream passage through the race.
Headley George is in danger of becoming frustrating to follow, but he is threatening to come good soon. He is unlikely to go up much in the weights for this run and it could be worth giving him one more chance wherever he goes next (entered at Kempton on Wednesday).
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsMarco Island created a good impression when winning a strong-looking Chepstow bumper on debut, finding plenty in the closing stages to win a race in which representatives from leading yards came to the fore. He had to settle for second on his hurdling debut there on Thursday but it was professionalism rather than ability that proved decisive and he looks as good a long-term prospect as the winner, Git Maker.
Irish point winner Git Maker looked like a straightforward type, whereas Marco Island displayed his inexperience, making some novicey mistakes and hanging left in the straight.
Marco Island should come on for the experience and there is surely better to come when he steps up in trip beyond two miles, keeping in mind his stout pedigree and how strong he was in the finish on his bumper debut.
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsThis looks a straightforward race to assess, with the sole winner in the field running his race, but edged out in third by a couple of horses who came from opposite ends of the field, and Income is very much the horse to take away.
She was very well backed to open her account, but had the worst of the draw, and her jockey was forced to drop her out last of all in a steadily-run race.
Income went like the best horse at the weights, but just had too much to do when entering the straight, a gap opening up nicely on the rail and she stayed on all the way to the line to be beaten just a neck. On this evidence, she is clearly up to winning something similar, and is one to look out for next time.
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsInaam is now a nine-year-old, so isn't one to set your watch by, but he again caught the eye in a well-run race which looks strong form for the grade, and he will remain one to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.
He started at odds of 66/1 on his first start for six weeks, but not for the first time, he hinted that a revival could be on the cards, breaking on terms but soon took back to race well off the pace, shaken up two furlongs from home and staying on well when forced to switch paths entering the final furlong.
Inaam was given a hands-and-heels ride thereafter but was never nearer than at the finish, leaving the impression that his turn may be near. His last win came around this time last year, from a 4 lb higher mark, so he is clearly handicapped to strike, and is very much one to note when the market speaks in his favour given his connections.
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsThis maiden was won in very good style by Al Marmar, who had the benefit of experience and looked in a different league to his rivals on the day, but it was hard not to be taken by the debut of Addingham, and he looks a sure-fire future winner.
He hails from a family connections know very well, too, closely related to Convict and a half-brother to the very smart Hamish, while William Haggas also trained the dam, Tweed.
It is a family that invariably gets better with age, and when tackling middle distances, so the fact that Addingham was able to finish second over a mile around the tight turns of Lingfield on his debut suggests he will also make up into an above-average type in time.
A similar event should be a formality for him in the near future, but he is also an exciting long-term prospect, very much the type that should make up into a smart handicapper in time.
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