KEEPER’S LODGE, already a winner over course and distance, can claim her first victory of the season in the im Kings Regiment Cup Handicap at Haydock on Friday. Ed McMahon’s filly was slow to come to hand this year but returned to form at the Merseyside track in early August, when she led until the fluial furlong of the extended lm2f race. She again found one better at Nottingham on her next start, having the misfortune of running into the progressive Sunshine On Me.
She looks well treated on her mark of 65, being llb lower than when recording her last victory in July 2004 and 5lb lower than when runner-up at Beverley in this week last yearAssistant trainer Bryan McMahon told John Bull: “All we’re hoping for is that the ground doesn’t dry up too much as she likes a bit of cut.”
At Carlisle on Thursday, Team McMahon can claim another winner courtesy of the John Fretwell-owned Rosthwaite in the nursery.She won over 5f at Haydock in July, was not disgraced in sixth (21 behind the winner) in a 6f nursery at Nottingham last time.
Heather Dalton’s Tribute has already won on firm ground at Catterick this summer and was only beaten a haifa length off his revised mark at Bath last time. He’s in at Redcar on Thursday and with conditions likely to suit, another big run looks on the cards.
At Lingfield tomorrow, Island Swing can land the 6f handicap. John Spearing’s filly let us down at Yarmouth last time, but that run may have come too soon after her previous victory at Folkestone and the fouryear-old remains well handicapped on the best of last season’s form.
At Leicester today, Ya Late Maite can take the opening maiden auction stakes.
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