HIGHLAND LEGACY has been all the rage for the ever-competitive totesport.com Chester Cup and it is easy to see why punters are queuing up to get on Michael Bell's progressive stayer.
The Selkirk colt has won his last three races by a combined margin of 11 lengths and ran out an ultimately impressive scorer when securing his hat-trick on a recent reappearance at Ripon.
Bell subsequently indicated he had targeted the race in the
hope Highland Legacy would pick up a 3lb penalty to guarantee his participation. Such advanced planning suggests the Newmarket trainer has been aiming his charge at the valuable handicap for some time.
Highland Legacy is relatively adaptable, which is another major plus for this unique, turning track, and he should love the extended two-and-a-quarter-mile trip.
There should be no problems from stall six and Jamie Spencer has a partner with the gears to weave in and out if traffic congestion materialises.
Sugar Mint is fancied to leave a sweet taste in the mouth after taking her chance in the Weatherbys Bank Cheshire Oaks. Trained by Barry Hills, this daughter of Derby winner High Chaparral ran some very promising races as a two-year-old but always looked set to make a better horse this term.
She was only a couple of lengths behind 1000 Guineas runner-up Spacious in the May Hill in September before failing to fire in the Fillies' Mile.
An easy winner on her return to action at Bath, her smooth defeat of Duntulm was made to look all the better when that one came from an unpromising position to win a hot Newmarket handicap on Saturday. Sugar Mint will face stern opposition in this Listed heat but she has all the right entries and is fancied to climb this next rung up the ladder.
The Joseph Heler Cheese Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes does not appear to have attracted quite as strong a field as is often the case but that can work to the advantage of She's A Shaw Thing.
David Evans' filly must give weight away all round but she has looked a proper speedster in two early-season wins and could just have too much class for her rivals.
Beverley stage a competitive card, on which Glasshoughton stands out as a must in the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival Handicap.
Trained by Michael Dods, this sprinter won at the track last summer and looks set for a good season if his recent return is anything to go by. Glasshoughton finished an encouraging fourth over this course and distance on his first start for six months and is certainly entitled to come on for that.
He has been dropped 1lb in the weights, will act on the ground and has a tasty looking draw from which to attack.
The full article contains 487 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
