28th-Sept-2012

I think the biggest danger to Thistle Bird could well be Chigun, and I am also getting her on side at 13/2.

Sir Henry Cecil’s filly was progressive in maidens at the start of this season, and she won one by 10 lengths on her fourth start at Salisbury. She has continued that progression in two handicaps since.

She was only sixth in a fillies’ handicap at Glorious Goodwood, but she fared much the best of those who raced up with the pace that day, they probably went a bit hard on the run to the bend and the race was set up for horses ridden patiently. She may not have fully seen out the nine-furlong trip either in the circumstances, but she made amends emphatically back over a mile at Ascot on her most recent run.

Drawn well away from the stands rail at Ascot, she had to work her way across gradually, but once she had got onto the rail with two and a half furlongs to run, she simply drew clear and galloped right to the line to win in the style of a really smart filly. Admittedly that was only a 0-90 fillies’ handicap, but the time was good, and she has the potential for much better.

She is drawn in stall three today, so she should be able to secure the far side rail, especially given that her only real potential rival for the early lead, Ladys First, is drawn outside her in stall six. She proved at Ascot that she can gallop hard for a mile, and she could well be quite hard to peg back against the rail, especially if she does not have too much competition for the lead. She could lead the whole way.

CHIGUN WON (ADV 13/2, SP 5/1)