Timeform Sprint Series: The Qualifiers

The boosted total prize fund makes the final significantly more valuable than a normal Class 4 handicap, offering horses operating at a lower handicap level the chance of landing a major prize. In order to qualify for the final, horses must finish in the first six in one of the ten qualifiers.

Each week, the replay and Timeform analysis for the six home will be posted below.

6f handicap (division 2), Chelmsford

Thursday 4 December

The second division of the final qualifier in the series and it wasn't a deep affair, the winner pouncing late on having got a good tow into the race.

DARK SIDE THUNDER was well backed with visor refitted and resumed winning ways having dipped below the mark from which she was successful off at Yarmouth in the spring, things opening up nicely on the rail after the runner-up had edged right; tracked pace, challenged over 1f out, led last ½f, kept on.

HAVANA GILA again ran well but still has only the one win to her name from 19 starts, a tendency to edge to her right not helping her on this occasion; led, ridden over 1f out, headed last ½f, no extra.

EMPEROR'S SON went without any headgear this time and again ran well, following the winner through; steadied at the start, held up, took keen hold, headway over 1f out, no extra only late on.

MU MU LAND wasn't seen to best effect, racing freely with no cover out wide; in touch, ridden over 1f out, no extra final 1f.

LIGHTNING BEAR continues to fall in the weights without looking like taking advantage; in touch, not settle fully, ridden 2f out, switched final 1f, weakened.

DUE DATE had completed a hat-trick in lesser grades but the handicapper looks to have caught up with him now; prominent, ridden 2f out, weakened final 1f.

6f handicap (division 1), Chelmsford

Thursday 4 December

The first division of the final qualifier for the series and it proved difficult to get involved from too far back, the front pair up there throughout, with the well-backed winner edging ahead in the final 1f to strike on just second outing for a new yard.

FANTASY MASTER, well backed, had caught the eye when meeting trouble on stable debut here last time and found things panning out much better this time around, always well placed and finding just enough to see off the front runner having dropped 3 lb below last winning mark; pressed leader, led final 1f, kept on; his form became rather patchy for previous yard so it will be interesting to see if he can regain some consistency following a change of scenery.

MOOSTAR looks just the type her new trainer can get more out of and she ran her best race since joining the yard, with headgear discarded and first-time tongue strap employed, seeming to relish the return to front-running tactics and going down only to one who'd become well handicapped (who also hadn't been with a new yard for very long); led, went with enthusiasm, headed final 1f, kept on; looks sure to go well again.

SPRING BLOOM may be an 8-y-o but he's had very little racing on all-weather and ran well on it for the first time in over a year despite being easy to back, some early keenness just telling late in the day; in touch, took strong hold, chased leaders under 2f out, challenged final 1f, no extra late on; he's down to a fair mark and could well take advantage if kept on the go this winter.

JUNO STAR, turned out again quickly, did best of those from off the pace; towards rear, not settle fully, headway over 1f out, no extra last ½f.

INVINCIBLE MELODY wasn't disgraced after 12 weeks off, doing as much as he could from towards the rear having missed the kick, entitled to step forward for the outing; slowly into stride, in rear, took strong hold, headway under pressure over 1f out, no extra late on.

BABA REZA didn't run too badly but a more patient ride than of late didn't do him any favours; in rear, headway over 1f out, never nearer.

5f handicap, Chelmsford

Thursday 4 December

The final class 4 qualifier in the Timeform Sprint Series and it saw a career best from the winner, who had a nice trip along the inside rail and showed a good attitude to nail one who had dropped to a good mark returning from a break.

HAVANA RUM, with headgear removed, was reunited with good-value 7-lb claimer and proved better than ever back down in trip, knuckling down well to prevail late on having saved all the ground on the rail; in touch, headway approaching final 1f, led final 100 yds, kept on; he's a consistent sort who has won or been in the frame on his last 11 starts.

ALMATY STAR, who's dropped 5 lb below last winning mark, got back on track after 3 months off, a good break the key to much better performance; led, ridden over 1f out, headed final 100 yds, no extra; it's perhaps worth noting his 4 career wins have all come in some sort of headgear (left off last 3 starts).

SOLVENCY, back down in trip (with hood removed), stepped up markedly on just second start for his shrewd stable despite being unconsidered in the betting; in touch, headway approaching final 1f, no extra last ½f; has joined a trainer who knows the time of day with new recruits and he should be winning more races sooner rather than later.

TWILIGHT FUN is edging back down the weights and ought to come on for the run after 12 weeks off, just a little too fresh/free to see things out fully; dived right leaving stalls, prominent, ridden over 1f out, no extra final 1f.

CHERRY COBBLER, sent off quite a strong favourite considering how competitive this looked, wasn't disgraced but again showed a lack of early pace before making late ground, his last 2 starts in contrast to how he'd broken his maiden; raced off the pace, headway under pressure over 1f out, stayed on; he could be a candidate for headgear.

PANELLI, in first-time tongue strap after 10 weeks off, didn't look suited by the marked drop in trip on first outing since leaving George Boughey 38,000 gns; raced off the pace, headway over 1f out, no further impression.

6f handicap, Chelmsford

Thursday 27 November

The eighth qualifier in the Timeform Sprint Series and it produced a tight finish, a 3-y-o unexposed on all-weather showing a good attitude to deny an older mare who came into it on the back of a win, both likely to continue to be of interest, the timefigure adding substance.

ALL TOO BEAUTIFUL produced a career best making only her second all-weather start, knuckling down well to narrowly deny one who is in good form; in touch, headway over 1f out, disputed lead final 1f, edged ahead final 50 yds; unexposed on synthetics and ought to go well again.

CARLTON AND CO, under a penalty, encouragingly was able to back up her Newcastle performance despite not making the early lead this time, sticking to the task and going down fighting; chased leaders, went with enthusiasm, disputed lead final 1f, edged out final 50 yds; she's close to being as good as ever currently.

COLORADA DANCER returned to form from out of the blue, a different equipment combination (cheekpieces on/first-time tongue strap) presumably the catalysts; in touch, ridden when hung right over 1f out, kept on final 1f; remains to be seen if able to back this up.

LION RING did as much as he could from the front but had little left once headed in the final 1f, edging right as he tired.

CALAFRIO, strong in the betting, shaped as if still in good form, having to use up early petrol to secure good position from her wide draw; prominent, ridden over 1f out, no extra final 1f; she's well worth another chance.

UP THE MONK wasn't seen to best effect after 10 weeks off, a slow start/deep trip making things tricky; in rear, came wide home turn, plugged on final 1f, never nearer.

6f handicap, Chelmsford

Wednesday 26 November

The seventh qualifier in the series, and it was run at a good gallop, the frustrating runner-up deserving plenty of credit having always been up there, while the in-form winner got a good tow into things and managed to reel him in late on.

JUSTCALLMEPETE, under a penalty, is in fine form right now and followed up the previous week's Kempton success under different tactics, that an advantage on the day as it enabled him to close off a good gallop, running down one who's on a long losing run in the shadows of the post; mid-field, headway when switched over 1f out, led dying strides.

EXISTENT is a frustrating customer but went agonisingly close to breaking his long losing run back under a positive ride after a 10-week break, the effort of being up with a sound pace just leaving him vulnerable late on; prominent, travelled well, led over 1f out, ridden final 1f, headed dying strides; he hasn't had many tries at 6f in recent times and it looks worth persevering with, though whether he'll be in the same mood next time is anyone's guess.

EM FOUR got back on track following several lesser efforts, the good gallop bringing him into things late on; raced well off the pace, headway over 2f out, kept on final 1f, nearest at the finish.

TYGER BAY, who'd been unlucky last time, is worth treating as if still in to form, not able to adapt a prominent position on this occasion have been slowly into stride but doing good late work; raced well off the pace, came wide straight, headway over 1f out, kept on, nearest at the finish.

FANTASY MASTER, on first outing since leaving Darryll Holland, wasn't seen to best effect and this was an encouraging start for his new yard, down to a good mark if able to build on it; in touch, ridden over 2f out, forced to switch early in straight, short of room soon after, no extra final 1f.

GIANT was again tardy at the start and once more left himself with plenty to do, a good gallop enabling him to make some late gains; awkward leaving stalls, in rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on final 1f; his recent stalls issues are a tad concerning and he's a risky proposition until he proves he can sort that out.

5f handicap, Chelmsford

Thursday 6 November

The sixth qualifier of the series that runs until mid-December and it was run at a strong gallop, Mick's Spirit faltering only late on, with the winner always well placed on his tail and just holding off a strong finisher who had to angle his way out.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY looked to have been let off lightly by the handicapper, up only 7 lb for a wide-margin C&D win and he followed up without having to improve; chased leader, pushed along soon after halfway, stayed on to lead close home; he oughtn't go up much for this and should go well again, a return to 6f for the final unlikely to inconvenience even if all his wins have come at this trip.

EMPEROR'S SON, in a change of headgear (visor instead of cheekpieces), ran one of this season's better races, settling better than has sometimes been the case granted a well-run race; held up, ridden home turn, headway when forced to switch 1f out, finished well.

MICK'S SPIRIT ran at least as well in defeat as when winning the time before, his mark now 6 lb higher, and while he's clearly effective here (C&D winner), it's no surprise that most of his wins have come at the more speed-favouring Lingfield; led, pushed along early in straight, worn down only late on and lost second final strides.

SPEED OF MAAJID ran even better than last time, again giving the impression 6f should suit these days; mid-field, pushed along before halfway, stayed on.

SPENDMORE LANE again ran creditably under similar tactics to last time; slowly into stride, raced off the pace, headway over 1f out, ran on.

HEAVEN KNOWS was making her second appearance in one of these qualifiers despite having already earned a spot in the final (if rated high enough to get in) and shaped as if still in good form, doing all she could from a poor position; mid-field but caught wide throughout, pushed along around halfway, stayed on.

6f handicap, Chelmsford

Thursday 30 October

Week 5 of the series and probably the weakest qualifier to date, though that's to take nothing away from the winner, who completed a hat-trick in straightforward fashion.

DUE DATE is thriving right now and proved better than ever as he completed a hat-trick; prominent, not settle fully, led 1f out, driven out; an uncomplicated sort, he's added a fair level of consistency to his game since the summer.

FLOWSTATE continues in good heart, now runner-up on 4 of last 5 starts, though the handicapper is cutting him no slack as a result; in touch, ridden 2f out, edged right over 1f out, kept on.

POETIC JACK got back on track following several lesser efforts but he's hardly more interesting for it; soon led, headed 1f out, no extra.

FLETCHER'S FLIGHT, back down in grade (without the headgear this time) and returned to 6f, ran better than last time without getting back to top form; waited with, headway over 1f out, no extra final 1f.

AMAYSMONT stepped up on recent run, an element of him still working his way back following a mid-season break, and he should be back down to last winning mark next time; slowly into stride, in rear, not settle fully, driven over 1f out, merely closed up late.

OTTAWA, in first-time cheekpieces, ran too badly to be true returned to sprinting, his wide trip merely a side issue; dived right leaving stalls, in touch, chased leaders home turn, weakened over 1f out, eased off.

6f handicap, Chelmsford

Thursday 23 October

Week 4 in the series and different to previous qualifiers in that this was restricted to 3-y-os only; it was soundly run but proved difficult to get involved from off the pace, the first 2 the only ones that ever looked like winning with the 2 that completed the frame making late gains.

SENSORIUM was well backed down in grade making his all-weather debut in first-time tongue strap and got his career firmly back on track, running out an authoritative winner; chased leaders, pushed along approaching home turn, edged left 1f out, led final 100 yds, driven out.

FIORELLA PRINCESS was sent off at long odds for a last-time-out winner, especially as she'd been successful on her only previous start over C&D, and ran at least as well in defeat from 7 lb higher as she found only one too good; led, ridden early in straight, edged left, headed final 100 yds, one paced; ridden this way, she might be even more potent back at 5f.

SO SASSY was easy to back returning from 9 weeks off but remains in good form, doing best of those that came from off the pace; dwelt, held up, pushed along over 2f out, headway early in straight, stayed on.

HEAVEN KNOWS ran to a similar level to last time, not seen to maximum effect returned to more patient tactics; slowly into stride, raced off the pace, ridden halfway, stayed on.

MAUI BREEZE failed to repeat last effort; mid-field, pushed along soon after halfway, not quicken.

FAN MAIL wasn't in the same form as last time; raced off the pace, bumped after 1f, pushed along soon after halfway, one paced.

6f handicap (division 2), Chelmsford

Thursday 16 October

This was run at an even stronger gallop to halfway than the first division, so it reflects well on the principals that they came home quicker, too, and this appeals as form likely to work out well, the winner completely unexposed, the second in top form and the pair that set the pace edging back down to good marks on form shown earlier in the year.

EVENING SAIGON hadn't been seen since chasing home the now smart Invictus Gold (pair clear) in a 2-y-o novice last summer, the assessor clearly taking a chance letting him go handicapping off a mark of 85 on that piece of form and he looks a sprint handicapper to follow judged on this winning return; in touch, driven approaching home turn, led final 100 yds, kept up to work; his pedigree suggests he may stay a bit further but he's got the build of a sprinter and is sure to win more races at this trip.

CHARLIE MASON hadn't been seen to best effect at Nottingham and quickly got back on track, this as well as he's ever run, and he's unlikely to run into one like the winner too often in a handicap like this; mid-field, headway approaching home turn, stayed on; will remain of plenty of interest.

EMPEROR SPIRIT is back below the mark he defied on his reappearance and looks on the way back, doing well on 2 counts in that he was ridden too aggressively and is perhaps ideally suited by 5f; disputed lead, pushed along over 2f out, no extra approaching final 100 yds.

MESAAFI has slipped in the weights and shaped well back in his usual piece of headgear for all he was unable to justify strong support; disputed lead, pushed along over 2f out, no extra final 100 yds, did too much too soon.

THE THAMES BOATMAN wasn't in the same form as last time despite Billy Loughnane being up for the first time, reminding that he's simply prone to the odd poor run; awkward leaving stalls, mid-field, pushed along approaching home turn, forced to switch inside final 1f, effort flattened out.

HIATUS ran poorly, soon out of his comfort zone in this grade; slowly into stride, raced off the pace, never travelling well, made no impression.

6f handicap (division 1), Chelmsford

Thursday 16 October

The first of 2 divisions of this sprint series qualifier, meaning twice as many will be eligible for the final from this 0-85 grade than initially intended, a rough break for those at class 5 and 6 level that are supporting the series and easy to see one or 2 of these being big players in the final, while there was plenty to like from the third given his absence for other races this winter, too; Jungle Drums set a strong pace and did well to hold on to share the spoils.

ARTAGNAN has a similar profile to the other joint-winner, underwhelming this year having been trained as a juvenile by Karl Burke, but, from much shorter in the betting, got back on the up in a first-time tongue strap; awkward leaving stalls, held up, pushed along approaching home turn, headway over 1f out, stayed on, joined leader line; he's still quite unexposed and would be an obvious contender for the final.

JUNGLE DRUMS had cut little ice this year, but he'd been a listed winner this time last year for Karl Burke and returned to form from out of the blue having dropped down the handicap, doing well to last out given the gallop he set; forced pace, pushed along over 2f out, closed down inside final 1f, joined post; he's going to go back up in the weights for this, but was arguably value for a bit extra given the gallop he set.

CHERRY COBBLER had managed to win over 5f the time before, so it's unlikely that lack of speed was to blame for him getting behind early on, more likely simply a bit rusty after 9 months off on his handicap debut, but showing improved form and shaping promisingly by the end; slowly into stride, raced off the pace, headway on inner early in straight, stayed on; he remains with potential and looks the type to win handicaps for a yard that's had a fine season.

DON PACIFICO was back on all-weather having been gelded since last seen 3 months earlier and ran creditably, but his improvement levelled off a while ago, at least as a sprinter (going up in trip remains likely to suit); mid-field, effort home turn, plugged on.

FANTASY MASTER back on all-weather and returned to further, merely underlined how his form is up and down, even with his yard going much better now; mid-field, pushed along before halfway, forced wide home turn, plugged on.

HELLO ZAMAN ran better than last time but is still operating below his best at present; chased leaders, pushed along approaching home turn, wandered early in straight, weakened final 1f.

5f handicap, Chelmsford

Thursday 9 October

An eventful second qualifier for the Timeform Sprint Series, both at the start - with Startling losing all chance when standing still after barging her way out of the stalls - and at the finish, with the minimum distance separating Level Up and Cabeza de Llave, the former proving most willing to make all having soon had plenty out of their comfort zone.

LEVEL UP was in a change of headgear, but perhaps crucially had Neil Callan replacing a 7-lb claimer, and bounced right back to the form he showed to defy a similar mark back on turf in the summer, proving willing; led, pushed along home turn, joined final 100 yds, kept on well, just held on.

CABEZA DE LLAVE ran well on form as he found only one too good for a third time this year, and in agonising fashion on this occasion, especially with his rider putting up 1 lb overweight; mid-field, pushed along home turn, challenged inside final 1f, edged out post; he's surely up to going one better before long.

SHALAA ASKER, whose mark has been in freefall, was a 3-time winner here in his younger days and stopped the slide after 6 months off; awkward leaving stalls, held up, headway on inner early in straight, ran on, nearest at the finish.

DARK SIDE PRINCE got back on track having had excuses here last time, but had every chance on this occasion; chased leader, pushed along home turn, one paced.

HARRY BROWN fared little better than last time and looks to have returned from a mid-season break out of form; raced off the pace, struggling long way out, merely closed up late.

ONE FOR HARVEY, back on all-weather, continues out of sorts; in rear, uncomfortable with pace, never involved.

6f handicap, Chelmsford

Thursday 2 October

The first of 10 qualifiers for the new Timeform Sprint Series, competitors needing to finish in the first 6 to qualify for a chance to earn a place in the final in December with a prize fund of £40,000 and it produced an impressive winner, Bint Havana Gold coming back to her early season form and then some, booking her spot as she came well clear of the rest at the end of a strongly-run race.

BINT HAVANA GOLD attracted support having dropped back down to her last winning mark and proved at least as good as ever as she resumed winning ways in good style; held up, headway early in straight, quickened to lead final 100 yds, edged left, drew clear; she could get hit quite hard for this and will be forced back up in grade next time.

CLOVER TIME fully backed up his return to form at Lingfield despite taking a while to settle; chased leaders, not settle fully, pushed along approaching home turn, led over 1f out, headed final 100 yds, one paced; he's evidently taken well to all-weather, is not yet fully exposed and could be worth another try over 5f at some stage.

SIR RODNEYREDBLOOD is a regular here and probably remains in form, his task that bit harder having edged back up the weights for his recent second; mid-field, pushed along early in straight, stayed on.

WALLOP has come so far down the weights in a relatively short space of time that he demands respect for a stable that has made a good impression from a small number of runners, and there's no doubting that he was better than he could show on this occasion; dwelt, mid-field, effort 2f out, hampered over 1f out, stayed on, finished with running left; he's one to be interested in for a similar event.

RUSHEEN BOY was well backed returning to the scene of his most recent win, but he'd been too close to a strong pace at Yarmouth last time and it was a similar story once again; chased leader, pushed along over 2f out, weakened final 1f.

PROFIT STREET has joined a stable that has a tremendous record with horses inherited from other yards (left Nigel Tinkler 14,000 gns) and he wasn't seen to anything like best effect on his first start for 6 months, up with the strong pace but forced wide from his outside stall and also giving the impression the run was needed; chased leaders, pushed along approaching home turn, weakened final 1f; his sixth place earned him qualification for the final, though he'll probably need to improve to make the cut given his current rating, but he remains the sort to win handicaps this winter.

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