Step Up In Trip Could Work The Oracle For Topalova

The less said about Sunday's selection the better, as he trailed in paddy last beaten a distance. Unfortunately the patient tactics that I had hoped for weren't used, and after racing prominently under Leigh Roche he went out like a light and dropped back through the field as the pace lifted. It is still early days for Blackhall though, and he could be of interest upped further in trip if hold up tactics are deployed.

I don't usually put up a horse this early in the week, but I am making an exception for Topalova at Catterick tomorrow. This daughter of Champs Elysees is from a family that Mark Tompkins knows well, and she is a half sister to no less than 6 different winners, including G3 victor Topatoo. Her sire has had 25% of his progeny win at 14f+, so the step up to 16f looks sure to suit.

This filly has had just the 8 starts, and she was heavily backed when unseating on her handicap debut at Chelmsford off a mark of 57. Her first four runs came on artificial surfaces, but she has shown her best form on the two occasions she has encountered turf. She ran over 10f (gd/fm) at Beverley off a mark of 57, and she did well to finish 5th, beaten just over 5L, if you consider she didn't enjoy the clearest of runs.

She returned to the all weather at Chelmsford on her penultimate start, and she ran a shocker to finish last off 54. However, it was much more like it at Yarmouth next time out, and she seemed to enjoy stepping up to 11.5f and the easy ground. Despite coming widest of all she stayed on pretty well, and she finished 5th, just 1.5L off 3rd spot. That effort came off a mark of 52, and she has been dropped another pound to 51, with Noel Garbutt also taking off another 3lb. Ground and trip should suit, she has a good draw in stall 2 and, at odds of 16/1, she looks worth a small each way interest in a trappy looking handicap.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 2.55 CATTERICK-TOPALOVA E/W 16/1