Horse Racing: Carr's Frognal is a dark horse worth watching

FROGNAL can make a dream start for new handler Ruth Carr with victory in the Southwell Racecourse For Conferences Handicap at the Nottinghamshire venue.

The four-year-old plied his trade with some success for Brian Meehan before changing hands for 20,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Sales last autumn. A winner on the Kempton all-weather as a juvenile, he picked up some decent place money in sales races at two but could not quite recapture his winning form last term.

Frognal did not return to action until August last year but after a lacklustre reappearance he gradually improved culminating in a third place finish in a competitive Newmarket handicap. He was not beaten far that day and he certainly ran as though a drop back to six furlongs would suit. Although Frognal has proven himself on the all-weather before, there is obviously something of a question mark over his fitness as he returns from 146 days off the track. However, as he is the least exposed of these runners, he appeals as a potential dark horse.

Privy Speech comes from a good family and while she did not exactly set the world on fire on her sole juvenile start, she is still worth a shot in the Membership of Southwell Golf Club Median Auction Maiden Stakes. Third at Southwell on a slightly slower surface before Christmas, she will have learned plenty from the outing.

Baylini can add another win to her tally in the wolverhampton-racecourse.co.uk Handicap at Dunstall Park. She was a bit too free over 12 furlongs at Kempton last time out but her fourth-place finish that day has seen the handicapper drop her rating by 1lb. Her latest winning mark was 89, so a return to form should certainly not be ruled out.