Gary Moore’s Lucky Leyf hopes to live up to name

Runners race down the back straight under a clear blue sky at Taunton yesterday. Picture: Getty

The Gary Moore-trained filly was sent off at a big price for a six-furlong maiden at Kempton three weeks ago because she had finished last of nine over the course and distance on her debut. However, the daughter of Kheleyf had no race as she was always last after being slowly away.

With that greenness brushed away, she got the hang of the game upon her return to the track and led briefly inside the final furlong before going down by a length and a quarter to Gold Flash. Granted normal improvement, Lucky Leyf can go one better, although she is likely to face a stern challenge from the Marco Botti-trained Plaisir, who finished third and second in her two starts to date.

Percella, who was third in that race, can advertise Lucky Leyf’s chances by lifting the 32Red Nursery Handicap half an hour earlier.

Hughie Morrison’s daughter of Sir Percy had also finished third in her previous race at Wolverhampton and can get her head in front.

Shyron can land the Ladbrokes Handicap off top weight for George Margarson after performing with credit in both his races since returning to action after a near seven-month break.

He made a winning comeback at Wolverhampton in November and was unlucky not to follow up over the same seven furlongs last week. Trapped just off the rails, he finally got out but was a neck behind Rich Again at the line. Compensation awaits.

Kilronan High looks a good bet to open her account over smaller obstacles in the EBF Stallion Mares’ “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle at Warwick.

She looked a sure-fire winner when giving hot favourite Bitofapuzzle a race at Wincanton.

Having been trounced 32 lengths by Harry Fry’s highly-promising performer in a bumper at Cheltenham just three weeks earlier, Kilronan High cut the gap to a length and a quarter. Admittedly, Kilronan High never looked like turning over the favourite, but it was a decent effort nevertheless and she was 24 lengths clear of Dear Darling in third.

Hollow Blue Sky has been tackling better company and can land a deserved success in the racinguk.com Handicap Chase. The seven-year-old, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, ran well when third to Al Alfa at Cheltenham on his latest start and can step up here.