Well treated Archipeligo looks set to win again before too long

Italian Riviera
Second, 2m handicap, Thirsk, Tuesday, July 18
I interviewed Ken Slack prior to Italian Riviera’s close second in this competitive handicap and the trainer told me this was a very classy horse who had just been a little fragile.

The eight-year-old is certainly on the right track now, though, as he was well backed and a little unfortunately not to oblige for his supporters.

Switched left at the start, he was in rear and just left with too much to do in the final two furlongs, running on well to go second behind market rival Vercingetorix in the final strides.

Italian Riviera retains all his enthusiasm and there are races to be won with him on the Flat and over hurdles.

Yorkshiredebut
Winner, 6f handicap, Catterick, Wednesday, July 19
Yorkshiredebut relished first-time cheekpieces when bolting up in this small field.

I spoke with Paul Midgley beforehand and he told me: “We fitted her with the headgear at home and she goes well in cheekpieces. There’s no doubting her ability, but she just needs the aid for the final furlong to stop her looking around.”

Sure enough, this capable filly showed good pace from the stalls and buckled down well when pressed two furlongs out by Liberatum.

A disappointing effort by market rival Wadood had admittedly left a weak field, but Yorkshiredebut won hard held and can take a step up in class now that connections have found the key to her.

Black Isle Boy
Second, 6f handicap, Haydock, Friday, July 21
Black Isle Boy bumped into a very progressive winner when second to Merlin.

There were only four runners and David O’Meara’s well-regarded gelding raced a little freely behind the all-the-way winner, but he kept on well under hands and heels.

Black Isle Boy has already won three times this year and his owner Evan Sutherland told me at York recently that connections thought an awful lot of him and there was more to come.

Don’t give up on him winning again this year and he’s worth backing at York or Ayr over the next few days.