Timeform Notebook: A Glorious handicap prospect

Our Notebook horse was in action at Kempton

Timeform highlight an unexposed three-year-old that could progress through the handicap ranks...

Ryan Moore is riding exceptionally well and he was seen to great effect at Kempton last Wednesday evening, giving Interior Minister a fine front-running ride to prevail in a competitive 11-furlong handicap. The horse is progressing well and deserves some credit for the victory, but the overwhelming feeling is that the brilliance of Moore had a significant impact and some of the horses in behind were disadvantaged by the run of the race.

Making his handicap debut, the well-backed Glorious Protector boasted some strong maiden form but he could never lay down a meaningful challenge at Kempton as Moore and Interior Minister quickened the tempo from the front. Glorious Protector still ran creditably, however, keeping on well enough to finish third having been outpaced two furlongs from home, and the suspicion is that he would have benefitted from a stronger gallop. Ed Walker's charge is still lightly raced and is open to plenty of improvement under more favourable circumstances; he is certainly one to consider from his current mark.

Timeform Notebook:

Following last week's success with Salford Red Devil, it was a disappointing week for the Notebook as perennial non-runner Jamaican Bolt was once again withdrawn on account of the ground, while Mombasa and Polar Venture both produced disappointing efforts. 

Polar Venture was heavily supported at York and was sent off as 2-1 favourite in a competitive sprint handicap, but he simply failed to make any sort of impression, quickly beaten having held every chance two furlongs from home. He is undoubtedly well handicapped based on his all-weather exploits but he has a bit to prove on turf now and is no longer of immediate interest.

Mombasa shaped well on his first start for Ralph Beckett but has now disappointed twice since and didn't appear to hold many obvious excuses at Goodwood, simply throwing in another below-par display. He too is capable of better but doesn't make much appeal in the short term.

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