Cheers for Wine Festival

Racing at Kenilworth on Tuesday presents us with a number of challenging handicaps, but for those brave enough a banker bet stands out in the first leg of the Pick 6 in the form of just- turned-three-year-old Wine Festival.

Trainer Joey Ramsden’s youngsters traditionally improve a lot with racing and this daughter of Stagelight already has a couple of very respectable places to her credit. First she came up against what appears a very bright prospect in Angel’s Trumpet before staying on behind impressive debut winner Midnight Moonlight next time out.

The form of both of those races has worked out well and with no obvious huge improver in this line up she would be a confident selection to take home the lion’s share of the stake money. A pole-position draw does her no harm.

Fellow youngster Evie’s Light makes most appeal of the balance and with six places from the same number of attempts her consistency has to be rewarded at some stage. She goes beyond sprints and around a turn for the first time, but was only a length behind our selection in the Angel’s Trumpet race and should certainly be involved if getting the extra 200m. Of the older fillies, Daring Miss is well tried and made a pleasing comeback after a rest when chasing home form choice Samsara find something to beat her, but is well suited by this trip and has the red-hot Richard Fourie in the irons for the equally in-form Justin Snaith outfit. Despite all that, she seems destined to have to settle for minor money once again.

Le Claire, Fours A Crowd and Fleur De Lis have claims for fourth spot, but they are all going to have to go some to beat Wine Festival.

Elsewhere, Azarenka makes Eachway appeal in Race 6, a FM 76Handicap. The lightly raced five-year-old mare hasn’t managed to win for two and a half years, but caught the eye with a strong late run last time over the minimum trip and is probably now better suited by this 1200m. Her merit rating has dropped steadily and she could pop up at what should be fairly decent odds.

Another early banker candidate presents itself in the first leg of the Place accumulator, where Captain ram makes strong appeal.

He was just touched off in a desperate three-way finish last time and has a great chance of shedding his maiden ticket on the day he officially turns three.