Pennsylvania Dutch won on his only racecourse outing last term and he can pick up where he left off in the Rothwell Handicap at Leicester this evening.
This son of Dutch Art hails from the fine family of Superstar Leo, a bloodline trainer William Haggas is well acquainted with having long dealt with relations of his one-time star sprinter.
Pennsylvania Dutch was clearly not the most forward of juveniles as he did not see the track until pitching up for a maiden event at Haydock last September.
Already gelded at that stage, Pennsylvania Dutch posted a slick performance in beating an 80-rated rival by just over a length with the minimum of fuss.
While that bit of form is nothing special, it is interesting to note Classic hope Swiss Storm woefully underperformed as favourite that day, so perhaps Pennsylvania Dutch is a little better than he looks at first glance.
He certainly looked as though the experience would do wonders though and an initial mark of 81 does not look overly harsh and surely gives Haggas a bit to work with.
Wapping turned in a satisfactory effort on his seasonal bow and can build on that for David Lanigan and owner Lord Lloyd-Webber in the Kirby Mallory Handicap.
The four-year-old counts Group One performer Gorella among his siblings, but
Wapping has yet to hit anywhere near those heights, although he has shown glimpses of promise in his seven career outings.
A winner at Bath on his final juvenile start back in 2015, Wapping did not reappear until August last term, placing in two runs that month before again disappearing off the scene.
Lanigan’s charge was gelded in the interim before turning out at Yarmouth last month and there was much to like about his third place there as he was just tapped for a bit of toe in the finish.
Wapping will surely improve for the run and Lanigan may have found a nice opportunity here.
Ed Walker suffered disappointment with Stormy Antarctic in Hong Kong on Sunday, but Sabador can offer a crumb of consolation in the Vis-A-Vis Symposiums Handicap.
Fourth on his sole two-year-old outing, he was gelded over the winter and that appeared to have worked wonders for him as he promptly landed an all-weather maiden on his return.
Despite being a bit keen early on, Sabador found an extra gear at the finish and looks like one who can climb the ratings a bit this year.
Cole Harden is an interesting contender in the Weatherbys General Stud Book Online Beginners’ Chase at Ffos Las as he has another cut at fences.
Connections had intended to go down the novice chase route with the former Stayers’ Hurdle champion last term, but after finishing second on his first attempt back in December, Warren Greatrex adjusted plans and went back to hurdles.
Cole Harden was certainly not disgraced in finishing behind Unowhatimeanharry in the Cleeve or when fourth at the Festival, but his lacklustre show at Aintree probably underlines that he is not quite top rank in that discipline any more.
Another go at the chasing game makes sense though and he should still be fit enough to have a good go.
Nap: Pennsylvania Dutch
(8.00: Leicester)
Double: Wapping
(7.00: Leicester)
Treble: Sabador
(7.30: Leicester)
Yankee: Cole Harden
(3.20: Ffos Las)
