Jamaican Bolt—a stone in hand to beat Southwell trees

‘Fast’ Eddie to come up trumps with a ‘Shuffle’ in the Maiden Stakes over an extended five furlongs at Bath today; a good bet if Jonathan Portman’s charge runs anythinke like. It’s a moderate race, Indian Shuffle is no ‘great shakes’ but by process of elimination, and working in tandem with my time-handicap, only His Grace stands in the way of another success for Eddie Ahern who now seems likely to ride Native Khan in the 2000 Guineas, if an appeal against a ten day(s) suspension doesn’t succeed for Kieren Fallon.

Ahern is a ‘class act’ with plenty of bottle and that’s needed at this somerset course which is never watered. ‘Firm’ fast and furious; if it’s ever possible go to the rails and appreciate the sensation of speed, you won’t be in a hurry to criticise jockeys again! There are also two all-weather fixtures at Wolverhampton and Southwell in addition to Pontefract where ‘watering’ has taken place; ‘good to firm’ ground is forecast and Tilliemint gets her chance in the fourteen-runner Maiden Stakes over six furlongs.
Tilliemint shaped well as a juvenile, probably needed time to mature and with Tim Easterby’s yard in sizzling form this represents a solid each-way bet; it’s a moderate race and so is the Maiden Stakes over five furlongs of fibresand, bar Jamaican Bolt!

Brian Smart’s once-raced charge was a creditable half-length second at Doncaster last November; you are betting on whether Jamaican Bolt will act on the ‘deep stuff’ but you can bet he’s been ‘worked’ on it, with a batch of others. ‘Bolt’ has at least a stone in hand, nigh on a ‘cert’ to beat ‘trees! 

SELECTIONS

RACE 10 (#2) JAMAICAN BOLT (nap)
RACE 14 (#13) TILLIEMINT (e.w.)
RACE 23 (#3) INDIAN SHUFFLE
RACE 35 (#7) DARK SPIRIT (e.w.)