Horse Racing: Cheap seats won’t stall Cai Shen’s charge

Published on 24/03/2012 03:40

Cai Shen has been the subject of wholesale gambling during the week for the Blue Square Winter Derby at Lingfield today and connections of the Richard Hannon-trained four-year-old feel he has the ability to overcome a wide draw.

“Cai Shen won first time out at Newbury last season, so we know he comes to hand early and he has been in good form at home,” said the trainer’s son and assistant, Richard Hannon jnr. “He is never the most extravagant worker on the gallops in the morning, but he comes alive on the track and improved 15lb last year, ending up by making all [of the running] at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting.

“The worry would be the draw as he is out in the cheap seats in stall 13, but he is versatile in that he does not have to run from the front. He has often won from behind, so Jamie Spencer, who stands in for Hughesie [Richard Hughes], will be able to drop him out and take his time.

“Obviously, this is his first time on the surface, but he works on something similar every morning and we are optimistic that he will handle it OK.”

On the same Lingfield card, Borderlescott bids to show he is still to be feared when he returns from eight months off the track with a pelvic injury. The dual Group One winner has shown no signs of slowing down at the age of ten, and has been given the all-clear to resume his career in the Get Your Bet On At Blue Square Hever Sprint Stakes.

“He was checked by the vet on Thursday and everything is hunky-dory,” said trainer Robin Bastiman. “I’ll be pleased if he’s in the first three. He’s hard to get fit and doesn’t really peak until the end of the year. We want to see if he still has the ability to compete in Group races.”

Oasis Dancer has to give 3lb to all of his rivals after winning both of his starts this year over Lingfield’s six furlongs. Trainer Ralph Beckett reports the five-year-old fighting fit as he drops to five furlongs for the first time.

“He’s fine, he’s in good shape, and we’re looking forward to running him,” said Beckett.

At Newbury yesterday, jockey George Gorman was handed a 14-day suspension after mistaking the final fence when leading in the Hunters’ Chase.

The amateur rider had guided his mount, Merry Vic, to the front in the home straight and looked set to go and collect after jumping the second-last. However, Gorman guided Merry Vic around the final obstacle and continued driving until the line. However, the error of his ways dawned on him as he made his way off the track.

The water jump on the far side of the track is jumped on the first circuit and bypassed on the run-in, which appears to be what confused the 17-year-old rider, who is still at school. Gorman said: “I knew I had to go around the water jump, and I thought that the last fence was the water jump. It’s as simple as that.”

The mistake meant Offshore Account (8-1) took top honours under Nick Sutton, with Coombe Hill filling the runner-up spot.