Blacklister was denied victory by a neck at Lingfield five days ago when Sea Of Flames prevailed gamely, virtue of the runner-up losing ground when running wide on the bend. It made all the difference at the end of a slowly-run race.
Jockey John Egan will not have been pleased with his own effort. Blacklister is a genuine staying type and hopefully he’ll force the pace aboard this Mick Channon-trained Lawman gelding in the Maiden Auction Stakes over a similar distance on Chelmsford poly tonight.
It’s ridiculous to think Blacklister has failed twelve times, he’s rated 77 and on several occasions has, arguably, been somewhat unlucky not to score. A glance at six rivals doesn’t instil fear and, yet again, he can’t be seriously opposed.
Realistically, the inability to gain victory with such a useful type reflects on Channon, defeat this time will indeed be the final straw. Placing is the name of the game. I’ve been assisting top owners/trainers for thirty-five years in that sphere and am aware that so many fail in this area due to ignorance of opposition.
As it happens Blacklister is superbly placed to make it thirteenth time lucky!
Earlier, Eleuthera will probably be favourite, along with Kyllukey, for a three-year-old Maiden Stakes over five furlongs of Southwell fibresand. There claims are obvious, Kyllukey is rated 77, but that’s too high according to my time-handicap and bottom-weight Oh What A Species might just a fly in the ointment.
Oh What A Species is advantaged by a 5lbs allowance and this deep stuff it could weigh heavily against eight rivals. I’ve no problem selecting runners trained by Alan Berry nowadays, apparently he has recruited better staff!
Ertidaad didn’t suit Southwell last week, he’s also given another chance to take advantage of a winning opportunity in the six-runner three-year-old handicap over seven furlongs.
Selections
SOUTHWELL,
1.35 Oh What A Species (e.w.); CHELMSFORD
5.00 Ertidaad (e.w.)
7.40 Blacklister (nap)