Unexposed Coconut Creme can gain Listed honours at Salisbury

Baashiq
3.20 Salisbury

Things haven’t gone to plan for Baashiq since he won a maiden as a two-year-old, but the son of New Approach could prove better than a mark of 83.

Roger Varian’s colt had the misfortune to bump into a few progressive types who relished the underfoot conditions and simply outstayed him when fifth over 1m2f at Newbury last time.

However, Baashiq travelled through the race much like the best horse – he was the last off the bridal – and the step back to a strongly run mile should play to his strengths.

The second and fourth have franked the form and a return to a sounder surface looks ideal, given his highest RPR of 88 was produced on good-to-firm ground at Haydock.

Baashiq won on his only attempt over this trip and, having had just four career starts, is open to plenty of improvement.

Maori Bob
5.15 Beverley

Maori Bob was soundly beaten when dropped in grade at Nottingham last time but there were legitimate excuses that day and he remains of plenty of interest off his lowly mark.

A combination of bottomless ground and the marathon trip stretched his stamina but he was running well prior to that and could prove a good deal better than a mark of 65.

He will appreciate the drop to 1m4f and the return to good ground – two factors that helped him deliver a career best at Newmarket two starts back.

On that occasion Michael Bell’s gelding chased home Joshua Reynolds, who has risen 14lb in the handicap since, while Arab Moon, who finished third, bolted up off the same mark subsequently.

Maori Bob is one of two three-year-olds in the field and receives weight all round. The talented Lulu Stanford, who teamed up with the gelding for his sole victory, takes 5lb off and, armed with a good draw, it would be disappointing if he could not go close.

Coconut Creme
3.50 Salisbury

William Haggas’s talented filly Sea Of Grace benefited for the drop into Listed company at the weekend and her unexposed stablemate Coconut Creme could repeat the feat.

She understandably found the company in the Group 2 Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot too hot to handle, but she was given plenty to do that day and didn’t fully see out the 1m4f trip.

However, the three-year-old is open to plenty of improvement and, with her stamina over ten furlongs proven, Pat Cosgrave may decide to make more use of her on the front end.

Coconut Creme was second behind the well-regarded Mori at Listed level at Goodwood two starts back when attempting to make all, and that’s a race that has worked out particularly well.

The winner went on to finish second in the Ribblesdale, while Elas Ruby, who finished fourth, has won a Listed race at Newbury and been placed in a Group 2 event at Deauville.

Barwell
4.10 Beverley

Michael Dods has his string in xcellent nick and the hat-trick- seeking Barwell could provide him with further success.

Dods has saddled four winners from just 12 runners at the Yorkshire venue this season – punters would be +£13.50 for a £1 stake – and his three-year-old is improving at a rate of knots.

Barwell hasn’t been seen for 62 days but it’s likely he has been waiting for better ground and an 8lb rise for his latest win shouldn’t stop him.

He travelled well when winning at Haydock last time, a race in which the second, fifth and eighth have all won since, and he seems to leave a little up his sleeve, making him difficult for the handicapper to assess.

Dods’s gelding needs a strong gallop to aim at, a likely scenario with trailblazers Alexander M and Save The Bees in the field, and the healthy 7lb weight allowance he receives from his elders should make him hard to beat.

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