Cool Team should score and recoup recent losses in an aged Maiden Stakes over a mile of Chelmsford polytrack tonight. Trainer Hugo Palmer has made a change, veteran jockey, Joe Fanning, replacing James Doyle.
Twenty-four days ago we napped Cool Team at Windsor where, on watered ground, this Tamayuz gelding failed by half a length to withstand a late challenge of Sir Michael Stoute-trained Desert Dream, with the rest, including heavily-backed favourite, Damocles, well in arrears.
Fitness and form of Palmer’s string may have contributed to defeat but Cool Team nigh on replicated his only previous effort when runner-up at Newcastle seven months earlier.
We can expect considerable improvement and a result because Hugo has had all horses analysed, tested, during the last fortnight. Nowadays reliance is on laboratories instead of giving nature, and patience, a chance to cure natural ills.
Cool Team can’t be classed a cert because Noble Conquest achieved a half-decent time-handicap mark over the same course and distance of Windsor and is fancied to progress.
Noble Conquest is trained by Stoute!
This promises to be intriguing and informative; we have to side with previous naps when they have run well. Over the years my policy of giving them two chances has paid off and, hopefully, Cool Team will go one better and make it third time lucky.
Earlier impressive Leicester winner, Kick On Kick On, carries a 6lbs penalty in a two-year-old Novice Stakes over six furlongs.
Clive Cox’s charge stormed four lengths clear over the minimum trip, looking for all the world further would be ideal and mention of the Coventry at Royal Ascot next month was mentioned as Adam Kirby dismounted.
Although that form hasn’t been confirmed my time-figure measures up but Kick On Kick On needs to beat nine rivals decisively. Plenty are from fashionable yards and this should also prove to fascinating and educational.
Incidentally the Epsom Derby picture looks cloudy, my own fancy, Crystal Ocean, third in the Dante, is not a definite runner; let us wait, eh?