Timeform Notebook: Loving has the right Spirit

Caption: Loving Spirit recording his only success to date

A useful handicapper caught the eye at Kempton on Saturday, and Timeform hope he will be making an overdue return to the winners' enclosure before long...

It was a relatively low-key week of racing in Britain, but we have still found an eye-catcher for you to include in your notebooks. The James Toller-trained Loving Spirit shaped with conspicuous promise on his seasonal return at Kempton, travelling powerfully in the rear before staying on well in the closing stages to finish second to Es Que Love in a one-mile handicap at Kempton.

The first point to make is that the eventual winner, Es Que Love, had been plying his trade over six furlongs and was faced with a marked step up in trip on Saturday. Though pulling hard in the early stages, the fact they didn't go very hard early possibly played to the strengths of Es Que Love, and his proven speed was seen to good effect as they quickened in the straight.

Conversely, Loving Spirit, who stays the one-mile distance thoroughly, was held up in rear and probably wasn't advantaged by the sedate early gallop; he perhaps deserves extra credit for pushing the winner so close. 

James Toller had sent out only one other runner this season prior to Loving Spirit's reappearance and had admitted he couldn't be confident about how forward his string were, so the fact Loving Spirit produced such a creditable performance, running very close to his best, offers encouragement for the season ahead.

It is worth remembering that on his final start last year, in an ultra-competitive Ascot handicap, Loving Spirit found only the progressive Jack Dexter too strong, going down by a head over the straight seven furlongs. Loving Spirit faced a tough task that day, racing over a trip that would be on the sharp side, but he underlined the fact that he is a well-handicapped horse and could be up to making an impact in similar events this term.

Timeform Notebook:

We could have our first Notebook runner of the season as Jamaican Bolt is entered in the 16:20 at Beverley on Wednesday April 17. On the figures, Jamaican Bolt would appear to have excellent claims and the drop back to five furlongs, albeit a stiff one, looks sure to suit. However, the current going description of 'good to firm' would not be an advantage for a horse that is so effective when the mud is flying and rain would be a positive, though, at this point, there isn't an appreciable amount forecast. 

Jamaican Bolt- Of interest in five-furlong handicaps with cut in the ground.
Mombasa- Of interest in handicaps, particularly if stepped up to one and a half miles.
Loving Spirit - One to note in seven furlong or one-mile handicaps

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