DARREN Beadman takes the ride on the very consistent Third Time Lucky this evening, and the new partnership look the pair to beat in the penultimate event. The five-year-old, trained by Englishman David Oughton, won over tonight's equitrack dash last time out, but was ridden on that occasion by Basil Marcus. However, Marcus has elected to ride Allocate for Ivan Allen, but, without discounting Allocate's chances, that adage of jockeys being bad judges could well prevail in this. There was certainly nothing wrong with the way he won last start, being taken on early by Lucky Champ for the lead, but he showed character by shrugging off the challenge and going to the line strongly for a length-and-a-quarter win. Without being characterised as an equitrack specialist he did look suited by the surface and Oughton has not wasted much time in entering him for a similar event. Looking through the field, it's by no means a past the post job for Beadman's mount, as he meets several other sorts who also look suited to the trip. Orchestra, to be ridden by Tony Cruz, has gone close at his last two attempts, having to settle for runners-up spot on each occasion. In my opinion he looks the biggest danger to Oughton's charge and should be included as the main quinella. Two starts back he came from off the pace over course and distance and looked unlucky not to have won. At his last start he was well beaten by Allocate over 975 metres on the turf, but a 10 pounds difference at the weights and on equitrack should be enough to make the difference. Re-classified griffin Go Go is an interesting runner. On ability he looks well in, but racing on equitrack around the tight Valley bends for the first time may just prove a little daunting. Hung Hing, trained by Patrick Biancone and ridden by Gerald Mosse, is always a threat in such an encounter, but the wide barrier draw looks decidedly against him and I prefer to look elsewhere in this. Picador appears to have it all to do, judging by his last run, as does Longain. And so we come back to Allocate, to be ridden by Marcus. He looked a good thing beaten two starts back over this trip when blowing the start but made amends last time out when quickly skipping to the front and making all to win. He might just be reaching his limit now but he looks a must for the tierce and certainly should be respected as such. It's an interesting little encounter but Third Time Lucky appears a solid banker for all types of bets.
