22nd-Apr-2022

Goldspur is the logical favourite for the Classic Trial, a game winner of the Zetland Stakes at Newmraket last October, but I don’t think that Westover should be as far away from him in the betting as he is.

An impressive winner on his racecourse debut over a mile of today’s track last August, Ralph Beckett’s horse was a little keen early on when he finished second behind Zechariah in the Haynes, Hanson and Clarke Conditions Stakes at Newbury in September, a race that has been won by high-class performers like Wentorth and Stormy Antarctic and Yibir in the past.  He did well to get as close as he did to the winner, who made all, with the pair of them finishing nicely clear of their rivals.

He did well too on his final run last season, to get to within a neck of Mr Professor in a listed race over a mile on soft ground at Pontefract in mid-October, again pulling nicely clear of the third horse.  He was coming back at the winner in the closing stages that day, up Pontefract’s hill on soft ground, leaving the impression that he would benefit from a step up in trip this season.

By Frankel, he is a brother to Monarch’s Glen, whose best form was over 10 furlongs, and he is out of a half-sister to French Oaks winner Nebraska Tornado.  This 10-furlong trip could be his optimum, he could improve for the step up in trip, and the fact that he is one for one at Sandown is obviously a positive.

WESTOVER WON (ADV 9/1, SP 5/1)