The ultra-progressive Deauville Dancer can shrug aside a further rise in the weights to land the hat-trick in the 2m handicap at Thirsk today (4.55).
This Sir Mark Prescott trained three-year-old has looked a different proposition since upped to staying distances, scoring by six lengths over 1m 6f at Nottingham and then following up over 2m at Chepstow.
Deauville Dancer showed a really game attitude in the latter, responding well to pressure three from home to lead inside the last and win with a bit more in hand than a victorious margin of 3/4 of a length suggests.
This son of Tamayuz was well on top at the finish, and the front pair pulled well clear of the field to give his form a solid look.
The assessor has reacted by putting up Deauville Dancer another 5lb, but the gelding is a typical Prescott improver, who started life off in handicaps on a mark which didn’t reflect his ability, and looks the type that has plenty more to offer. He is one step ahead of the handicapper, so punters should take advantage of thar.
In the 7f handicap (3.15), Lilac Lace looks decent each-way value having dropped to a dangerous mark.
The Tim Easterby trained filly was a progressive sort last year when winning four times, and one of those successes came over course and distance.
The daughter of Captain Marvelous last scored in a class 3 contest at Newbury where she made all to win by 2 1/2 lengths off a mark of 81, and is now able to race off 9lb lower in this lower grade class 4 affair.
That gives Lilac Lace a huge chance from a handicapping perspective and, prior to disappointing last time out when well-backed, the four-year-old had shaped as if coming back to form when a solid third over 6f at this venue.
Another bet that stands out on an ultra- competitive card is Norfolk Sky on her handicap debut in the 1m contest (5.25).
This filly is trained by the in-form Chris Wall and caught the eye last time out when staying on to finish a not knocked about third in a decent looking maiden at Nottingham.
Then runner-up Conquerant has since come out and bolted up in a handicap off a rating of 79, and that makes Norfolk Sky’s opening mark of just 59 look very lenient.
The daughter of Pastoral Pursuits also remains open to plenty of progress after just three runs and has the services of the talented Ashley Morgan in the saddle, whose claim takes another 3lb off her back.
Selections:
2.10: Westhoughton
2.40: Landwade Lad
3.15: Lilac Lace
3.50: Dark Castle
4.25: Native Falls
4.55: Deauville Dancer (NAP)
5.25: Norfolk Sound (NB)
5.55: Savanna Spring