There are some tough fields on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth for punters to sink their teeth into so it will probably be best to stick with the in-form yards of Snaith Racing and Candice Bass.
Justin Snaith-trained Lyrical Gangster looks the part in Race 7, the Gallop TV Apprentice Stakes over 1000m. This Gimmethegreenlight gelding has taken a while to strike his best form, but he does look to be improving.
Lyrical Gangster took four starts to break his maiden, but it is his latest start – his second run after being gelded – that caught the eye. The three-year-old gelding was narrowly beaten by Flying Finley.
Being an apprentice race, regular rider JP van der Merwe is excluded from taking the ride, so he will be partnered by Varun Jodhee, who claims 4kg. Jodhee recently won on a 100-1 chance, Lucky Strike, at Fairview, and one thing that is certain is that there will not be any bookmaker offering 100-1 on Lyrical Gangster.
Some big-field handicaps are on this card and, in Race 8, a Class 4 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1500m, Bass-trained Amayah could scrape out another victory. This daughter of South African-bred international superstar River Jetez has improved when stepped up in distance to 1600m. She has won her last two starts.
The first of those wins came on her fifth start when beating Beautiful One by 0.50 lengths half a length on 21 January at this course. It is worth noting that she scored from a draw of No 12 in a 13-horse field that day.
Amayah found betting support when following up and shortened from 8-1 to start at 9-2. Once again, her win was a close-run affair, and her three-point penalty looks fair. The Vercingetorix filly is well drawn, and Corne Orffer takes over riding duties from Van der Merwe.
Clive Robinson
