Bet on Indian Spark at Notts

LONDON: Indian Spark looked a slightly unlucky loser on the first day of the turf season at Doncaster and can make amends in the April HBLB Conditions Stakes at Nottingham today.

Jim Goldie’s sprinter met with interference in the early stages at Town Moor because of his rails draw but he fairly flew once Kieren Fallon found a way through and he failed by only a length to catch the winner Piccled. Today’s smaller field compared to that 20-runner handicap will hopefully keep Indian Spark out of trouble and enable him to come with a telling late run to take the spoils in this ?14,000-added contest over the minimum trip. Even at the age of nine, Indian Spark packs plenty of punch and is equally at home in handicaps or conditions races such as this one over five furlongs.

The richest race on the card honours a popular old stayer in the ‘Further Flight’ Stakes and this Listed event over a mile and three-quarters can go to an up-and-coming sort in Barathea Blazer. Probably his best effort so far came on his final start as a three-year-old in the Tote Ebor at York last August, which Further Flight won in 1990, when he was a close third to Hugs Dancer. He stuck well to his task that day in a tight finish and looks the type to take a hand in the Ebor and similar races this season. Having only raced eight times in his career so far he should be a stronger horse with another winter on his back. Calbrae can give weight all round in the feature race on the Polytrack at Lingfield, the Littlewoods Bet Direct Handicap.

The three-year-old, trained by David Elsworth, had her final three races on this surface after finishing third in two efforts on turf at Newmarket. She almost lost her maiden tag when short-headed by Dusty Dazzler over this five furlongs in December, but she can open her account now. After staging a Flat fixture last Monday, it is back to the jumps for Newcastle where Brown Teddy looks the best bet in the ‘Order Northumberland Plate Badges Now’ Novices’ Hurdle. The six-year-old is chasing a treble following two victories since the turn of the year at Musselburgh and Huntingdon this year. Chasing looks likey to be his eventual aim but in the meantime Richard Ford’s charge can make hay while the sun shines in moderate timber events.

SELECTIONS:
NOTTINGHAM: 9.10 Billy Allen; 9.45 Clarinch Claymore; 10.15 In Xanadu; 10.45 Barathea Blazer; 11.15 Thunderclap; 11.45 INDIAN SPARK (NAP); 12.15 Vanished.
LINGFIELD: 9.20 Merlins Pride; 9.55 Golden Dual; 11.25 Tight Squeeze; 11.55 Calbrae; 12.25 White Plains; 12.55 Mutabari.
NEWCASTLE: 9.30 Didifon; 10.05 Mister Chisum; 10.35 Son Of A Gun; 11.05 Brown Teddy; 11.35 Red Rampage; 12.05 Moonlit Harbour.
DOUBLE: Indian Spark & Barathea Blazer.