IN THE final throes of a race, if you saw a horse dive for the rail, idle and flash its tail just because its rider uses the whip, you would most likely decline to enter its name in your notebook for next time.
In the case of the Lynda Ramsden trained Fairywings, that might be a mistake, for the Kris filly looks to have sound prospects of continuing her highly successful season in the Hamlet Cigars Handicap at Newcastle today.
She's a highly strung beast, less generous souls might call her a bit of a madam, but there's no doubt she is blessed with plenty of ability, and still looks to be a step ahead of the handicapper. So far this term she has collected two races, both at Beverley, overcoming trouble in running to short head Daira.
Next time at Pontefract she got rather excited in the preliminaries but nevertheless managed a creditable second to Gold Disc, beaten two lengths. Back at Beverley on her latest start she showed further improvement to gain her second success of 1996, despite once again revealing her quirky tendencies.
She still had a vice like grip of her bit when cruising to the front entering the final quarter mile, but once there, swerved towards the rail, idled and swished her tail under pressure. None of which would impress the sage old race readers in the stands.
However, it seems unfair to crab Fairywings while she is still winning races, and there is also the fact that the handicapper can rate her only on her length and a quarter win over Nose No Bounds.
The Ramsdens have few peers when it comes to placing handicappers, and Fairywings is taken to confirm her superiority over the runner up.
The £20,000 added Northern Rock Gosforth Park Cup (Handicap Stakes) over five furlongs is as difficult as any race of its type to predict, but those desperate for an involvement could do a lot worse than Tedburrow.
Ann Naughton's Dowsing gelding was in rare form last summer, winning four races on the bounce, and served notice that a return to form was imminent when one and a quarter lengths second to Cyrano's Lad in a rated stakes at York last time. He was racing from 3lb out of the handicap on that occasion and from his proper mark should give punters a good run for their money.
At Newmarket, Jimmy Harris' Western Sal should be able to defy a 4lb penalty in the £10,000 added Tartan Group Handicap.
. Martin Pipe had a winner disqualified and a £350 fine imposed by the Jockey Club disciplinary committee in London yesterday morning. Pipe, who took the British jump trainers' title for the sixth time last season, was penalised following an inquiry into a positive sample given by Hamilton Silk after winning at Chepstow on March 9th.
The gelding's urine was found to contain the prohibited substance procaine.
