Timeform highlight a piece of form that is working out well and identify a couple of horses who will be of interest next time.
Newmarket (July), Friday 18 June
This three-year-old handicap was a messy affair, run at just a modest gallop on easy going, but the early signs are that the form is well worth viewing positively.
The winner Wink of An Eye overcame unfavourable circumstances to follow up his success at Haydock eight days earlier, meeting trouble but finding plenty to lead close home. He was described as ‘one to keep on side’ in the Timeform race report and those who followed that advice were rewarded as he completed the hat-trick in ready fashion at Sandown earlier this month, always doing enough despite idling late on. He is likely to progress further and will remain of interest.
Something Enticing was beaten two lengths into second at Sandown, passing the post further behind the winner than she had at Newmarket despite meeting him on 3 lb better terms. Nevertheless, she was still credited with a bit more improvement and, a consistent sort on the whole, there should be more races to be won with her before the end of the season. She will stay a mile and a half when the time comes, too.
The first three at Newmarket were separated by just a neck and a head, so the horse who split Wink of An Eye and Something Enticing, Orgetorix, is definitely one to be interested in when he makes his next appearance on a racecourse.
Orgetorix has pulled hard in his races and that was again the case at Newmarket. It may even have proved the difference between victory and defeat, though it’s hard to argue that he was an unlucky loser given that he had a far smoother passage than the winner. In any case, he seems to be improving with racing and remains potentially well treated from a 2 lb higher mark, with further progress not out of the question if he finally learns to settle.
The first three pulled a couple of lengths clear of the rest of the field, but there were still some interesting horses in behind, not least the fourth Pure Bubbles.
Pure Bubbles had shaped well on a couple of his qualifying runs, including when fourth in a red-hot novice event at Lingfield in January. His performance even caught the eye of the stewards on that occasion as he stayed on strongly under hands-and-heels riding to be beaten only two and a quarter lengths, appearing to finish with running left, too.
The first three from that race have all won since and the strength of the form suggested Pure Bubbles might have been let in lightly from a BHA mark of 79 for his handicap debut at Newmarket.
Admittedly, he was unable to prove as much at the first attempt, but it’s worth pointing out that he was making his first start for four months. He remains with potential and should prove up to winning handicaps at up to a mile and a half.
