Dancing Brave Bear 'in very good form' as she bids to set the fur flying again

The mighty Dancing Brave never appeared on the all-weather but his near namesake Dancing Brave Bear did so when making a winning debut over seven furlongs at Lingfield in December.

Ed Vaughan's smart type has a 7lb penalty to carry as a result of her 20-1 success that day but looks to have been found a decent opportunity against eight largely exposed types in the Bet Placepot At totesport.com Fillies Novice Stakes (5.45) at Chelmsford on Thursday.

The mile contest is very much plan B for the daughter of Street Cry, who was originally due to run at Newcastle on Good Friday but was in season.

Vaughan said on Wednesday: "This looks a good opportunity for Dancing Brave Bear and she's in very good form at home.

"We've always thought she was a nice filly but we could get only one piece of work into her before Lingfield, so it was a bonus that she won that day. We know she goes on the surface and this looks a good place for her to get some more experience."

Dancing Brave Bear is a 50-1 chance for next month's Qipco 1,000 Guineas, but Vaughan is not thinking that far ahead just yet.

He added: "When they've won their maiden you have to put them in races like the 1,000 Guineas as they close so early, but we're taking it very much a step at a time."

Great Order in great order

Pat Cosgrave struck up a successful association with Saeed Bin Suroor in Dubai through the winter and gets his first domestic ride of the year in the blue colours on Great Order in the Bet Quadpot at totesport.com Novice Stakes (6.45) at Chelmsford.

Although out of luck on World Cup night itself, Cosgrave notched a string of victories for Godolphin at the Dubai Carnival, including a pair at Group 2 level.

Not so long ago great things were expected of Great Order, but injuries have kept him off the track for 18 months. He is now ready to start back after spending the winter in Newmarket.

Rated 102, Great Order gives a stone or more to the rest of the field but a repeat of his second to the smart Autocratic when last seen at York in October 2016 must enable him to go close on his return.

Before that the five-year-old had won twice over a mile, including a handicap at Ascot. He makes his first outing on the all-weather here but, as a son of Distorted Humor, hould have no problems on that score and has had plenty of experience of such surfaces at home.

Sparkle ready to shine

Last year's Listed Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy runner-up Flying Sparkle looks to have been found the ideal opening to get her season off to the best possible start in Wolverhampton's Race and Rest At The Holiday Inn Novice Stakes (2.40) at Wolverhampton.

Trainer Michael Bell has spent many a long hour with the programme book through the harsh winter months to unearth the five-furlong contest in which his runner shoulders only a 4lb penalty for winning on her debut at Windsor last July..

The daughter of Fast Company went on to finish second to the useful Beauty Filly at Yarmouth before bagging some black type at Redcar, where she chased home Darkanna.

Bell said: "It makes sense to exploit Flying Sparkle's novice status and, as an 87-rated filly, the others will have to be smart to beat her, I would imagine.

"She's been working nicely on the grass on Racecourse Side and on paper this looks a good place to start. I imagine we'd look at all the Listed sprints for fillies after this."

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