Sport

Bashiba can sparkle at Haydock

BASHIBA is fancied for the Steve & Liam Neal’s Super Sprint Handicap at Haydock this evening. 

Nigel Tinkler’s speed merchant has been a good horse for connections over the years and came very close to winning for the first time this season at Redcar late last month.

The gelded son of Iffraaj finished third behind Fredericka in a tight five-furlong handicap but a bit of context is probably required.  

Bashiba firstly missed the break, so did quite well to stay in the hunt, while his path was blocked at an important stage of the game.  

Once the gaps did appear, though, Tinkler’s inmate charged gamely towards the line and was beaten just a quarter-of-a-length.  

Perhaps a little surprisingly, Bashiba has actually been relieved of weight ahead of his visit to Merseyside and he now just 1lb higher than when he struck at Doncaster last autumn.  

With the fast ground at Haydock perfect, don’t expect to see Graham Gibbons’ companion until the last moments as he is a horse who is always at his best with plenty of cover.  

Bunbury is well worth monitoring on his handicap debut at Newbury.  

The four-year-old gelding has made stealthy progress in three maidens and looked particularly useful at Windsor last month.  

Richard Hughes’ representative finished fifth, having encountered plenty of traffic problems in a race that has not worked out too badly at all.  

The Comax Handicap is not an epic encounter for the prize-money on offer and Hughes will be most disappointed if Bunbury did not end up a good deal better than a mark of 74 might suggest.  

Frosty The Snowman should be up to the job in the Free Month Trial Of Racing UK Handicap at Nottingham.  

Ruth Carr’s grey is competing over staying trips these days and did nicely over a mile-and-three-quarters at Redcar last month, when a slightly unlucky third behind Kiwayu.  

The son of Mastercraftsman is not a straightforward fellow, but he should be good enough for this company if he is on a going day.  

David Simcock is keen to cash in with Wavelet, who won well on fast ground at Doncaster last week and has less on her plate at Yarmouth.  

A 6lb penalty for that convincing success is unlikely to stifle her progress in the Thurlow Nunn Vauxhall Dealer of Great Yarmouth Fillies’ Handicap.