Kings City ready to start making progress in handicap ranks

BRIGHTON
Kings City (3.30) couldn’t get competitive in any of his three maidens, but he looked sure to win races when making his handicap debut here recently.

Luca Cumani fitted cheekpieces to his charge that day and they certainly sparked an improved display as he fought hard and lost out just narrowly to the more streetwise Av A Word in a tight finish.

He should have learned plenty from that and is bred to be better than this grade.

Philip Hide has two of the five runners in the 6f handicap and Otomo (4.00) can land the spoils.

The three-year-old went off the boil after making all here in May but looked on the way back at Salisbury two weeks ago when staying on for third, just a length behind the winner Field Of Vision.

The trainer has a good chance of completing a double with Buzz Lightyere (5.00).

The four-year-old kicked off a spell at this yard with victory here in May and he confirmed a liking for this course and distance last time out, showing a willing attitude to hold off Pick A Little in a tight finish.

He has gone up 4lb but is taking on a field mostly consisting of rivals with something to prove.

YARMOUTH
Rosie Crowe (6.40) hasn’t been in great form recently, but it wouldn’t be a total surprise to see her bounce back in the mile handicap.

The Shaun Harris-trained five-year-old has been comfortably brushed aside in her last two starts.

However, that has seen her drop down the weights and she will be helped by the return of Josephine Gordon as her last victory came under this partner off the same mark at Chelmsford last October.

NEWTON ABBOT
Our Folly (8.00) isn’t the most consistent, but he is highly capable on a going day.

He proved the point here in June when he landed a course-and-distance contest more comfortably than the official margin of one and a half lengths would suggest.

He was easily brushed aside when returning last month, but that came quite quickly afterwards and in tougher company so it may be worth giving him another chance.

KEMPTON
It will be interesting to see how Finelcity goes in his bid for a Kempton four-timer, but he has been absent since October and Sir Titan (4.15) may be too sharp for him.

Marcus Tregoning’s three-year-old won his first two starts of the season and probably produced another career-best when second at Goodwood last time out. He was headed only in the final strides of that Class 2 contest and remains capable of further success in this grade.

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