Tips: Realize can realise potential at Lingfield

Stuart Williams’ charge found smart South African filly Cold As Ice three-quarters of a length too good at Chelmsford last month but he deserved plenty of credit as the conditions of the race meant that rival had a 10lb pull in the weights.

To be beaten less than a length by a Grade One-placed performer makes that a most meritorious effort and he had also turned in a fine performance on his penultimate start when winning a similar event to this at Chelmsford.

Saddled with top weight, he made the most of a strong pace to lead a furlong out and go by the best part of two lengths from Mont Ras. Raised 4lb to a mark of 98, Realize has hit another career-high mark, one he seems capable of defying.

Kassis has shown an aptitude for testing ground and that could prove a useful asset in the Watch Racing UK On 3 Devices Handicap Chase at Market Rasen. Brendan Powell junior is aboard Jamie Snowden’s mare.

Meanwhile, Perth Racecourse now has a Chief Executive for the first time in its 400-year history with the appointment of Hazel Peplinski.

From a horseracing background – her father John Dudgeon was a permit-holder trainer and her brother Sandy a successful amateur jockey – Hazel has previously been Chief Executive, Director, Racing Manager and Clerk of the Course at Hamilton Park, as well as holding further Clerking roles at both Kelso and Ayr.

Earlier in her career Hazel was a Public Relations Officer for the Racecourse Association (RCA) and obtained Event Management experience in golf and tennis.

She said: “The decision to appoint a Chief Executive rather than a new General Manager reflects just how far Perth Racecourse has come in the last ten years.

“In what has been a difficult time for the industry Perth has consistently bucked trends to show a solid increase in both visitor numbers and fixtures. With annual turnover now in excess of £2.5million it is an opportune time to raise the bar.

An immediate objective for Peplinski is to increase both grandstand crowds and the hospitality bookings with a marketing strategy which includes working closely with Perth City and the tourism industry so that visitors are targeted from not just across Scotland but also North of England and Ireland.

Peplinski added: “I know that starting the season with the Three Day Perth Festival in April quickly followed by Ladies Day and the Perth Gold Cup Day will keep me extremely busy.

“With the opening of our new hostel facility and the much-heralded new stable complex, it’s looking like a hectic baptism in my first year.”

CHEPSTOW

1:35 Ambion Lane

2:10 I Am Colin

2:40 At First Light

3:15 Padge

3:50 Bun Doran

4:20 Ballyegan

LINGFIELD

12:50 E Fourteen

1:25 Muaither

2:00 Hoofalong

2:30 Shalambar

3:05 Realize (nap)

3:40 The Big Guy

4:10 Boxing Shadows

MARKET RASEN

1:15 Travertine

1:50 Edward Elgar

2:20 Ballyalton

2:55 Kassis

3:30 Cotillion

4:00 Glenarm

WOLVERHAMPTON

4:35 Your Gifted

5:10 On A Whim

5:45 Lions Charge

6:15 Mariee

6:45 Evident

7:15 Bartok

DOUBLE

Realize

3:05 Lingfield

Kassis

2:55 Market Rasen