Timeform Notebook: Race to confirm lofty Status

Andrew Balding's Race And Status looks like an exciting prospect

Timeform highlight three horses that caught the eye in the past week...

Last Thursday's evening meeting at Kempton may have been your run-of-the-mill all-weather affair, but it is worth noting the effort of James Fanshawe's filly Miss Dashwood, who shaped as if she is certainly capable of winning races. Making her handicap debut, Miss Dashwood travelled with real purpose throughout the contest before narrowly failing to overhaul the leader in the closing stages. She looks to have entered handicaps on a fair mark and the straightforward attitude she displayed on Thursday should ensure that winning races will not be a problem.

Roger Charlton introduced a potentially useful recruit at Newbury on Friday, as Secondo shaped very nicely on debut in the second division of the six-furlong maiden. Having already caught the eye on pedigree and in the paddock, Secondo travelled as well as any towards the rear, making smooth headway to get into contention before staying on without being knocked about. Secondo, who eventually finished in fourth, was the only horse to make an impact from off the pace and appeals as one who can perform considerably better as he accrues experience.

Plenty of winners should emerge from the second division of the two-year-old maiden at Newbury on Saturday, which looked like a particularly strong affair. The contest was run at a solid pace and subsequently produced a good timefigure, helping to create the impression that it could be worth following the principals. Race And Status was an expensive purchase as a yearling, costing 240,000 Guineas, but this half-brother to the smart Irish miler Dunboyne Express went some way to living up to his price tag and pedigree by scoring in such impressive fashion on his racecourse bow. He travelled strongly throughout the race and quickened up well to register an authoritative success, leaving the impression that he could develop into a smart performer.

Runners Debrief

There's no easy way to say it, but after almost a dozen runners we're still awaiting a winner from our Notebook selections. The likes of Zumbi, Rex Imperator and (especially) Thats Molly aren't really ones for excuses, but there are plenty of others running well without winning, certainly enough to suggest we take the optimists route of waiting for the wind to change rather than adjusting our sails.

For example, it would be a hard man who is unwilling to forgive Majestic Moon for his heavy-ground flop at Ayr on Friday, while Market Town can hardly be said to have had the run of things when beaten at Newbury on Saturday.

More immediately, you are advised to forgive Princess Caetani, who remains unexposed over trips beyond 10 furlongs and would ideally prefer a softer surface, and Oojooba, both entered up at Haydock on Saturday. The latter has incurred the expected hefty rise for her efforts in a listed race at Salisbury last time, but she's still realistically treated off a BHA mark of 90.

The loser we feel most aggrieved about is Cheworee, though, who was mugged on the line over six furlongs at Newmarket on Saturday. She's entered back over the minimum trip at Ripon on Saturday and will take all the beating if over that run.

John Dunlop's stoutly-bred filly Alnawiyah has been shaping with promise over seven furlongs, but it looks as if a greater emphasis on stamina will suit and it is encouraging to see that she has been entered over a mile at Haydock on Saturday.

Elkaayed is another two-year-old who impressed us on debut and he will hopefully break his maiden tag at the second attempt at either Pontefract or Newmarket later in the week. Winsili is the other juvenile that we have flagged up and she has been entered in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket on Friday; it's a big step up in grade, but her pedigree and potential certainly suggest she can contest Group races and her yard tend to be good at judging just what they have on their hands.

There are a number of handicappers entered who have caught our attention of late, including Barren Brook who shaped as if coming back to form at Ripon. He is entered at both Chester and Haydock this week. Marshgate Lane made the shortlist in the inaugural Timeform Notebook, but hasn't been seen since. His reappearance has been eagerly anticipated and it may come at Newmarket on Saturday. Anyone keeping an eye out for Semeen and Valiant Girl should note that they have been entered at Pontefract and Kempton respectively.

Godolphin's Irish History is entered in the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes as well as a listed event at Newmarket. For selfish reasons we hope that she takes up the latter engagement, as she is likely to hold significantly stronger claims in that company.

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