Bliss is too good to miss
Former champion trainer Tony Cruz has started this season with his stable in top form and he can build on his impressive statistics by landing the final event on tonight's Happy Valley card with his former griffin Indubitably Bliss.
Cruz has a win strike rate of one in five this season, with almost half of his starters making the frame, and Indubitably Bliss has an equally consistent record. The American-bred son of Dixieland Band won two of his four outings last term and finished second on the other two occasions. While one of those victories was in griffin company, he did take his final start of the season when tackling older opposition in a Class Three contest.
It was a solid performance to successfully make the transition into handicap company as few griffins are able to win on their first start against older horses. The form of that race also looks quite solid with Convergence, who finished second, obliging on his next start and Golden Spirit (fourth) winning comfortably earlier this season.
The major concern is how Indubitably Bliss will handle Happy Valley on his first start at the city venue. But he has drawn OK and has not given any indication that he is a difficult ride or unlikely to be suited to the undulating course. He should also appreciate the step up to a mile.
Lawrie Fownes' Stoic looks one of the main dangers after a most consistent season last term. The pint-sized son of Barathea won at the first time of asking last season and followed that with three more wins later in the campaign. He is well suited to Happy Valley and, as he has carried a similar weight to victory in the past, there should be no real concern about his ability to carry top weight.
Fownes also runs Scenic Wonder, who moved quite well in a barrier trial recently. He was plagued with problems last season and his form clearly suffered as a consequence, but he has fallen appreciably in the handicap and the Valley specialist may be ready to strike.
Robbie Fradd certainly earned his winning percentage on Good News last time after riding the ageing son of Marscay vigorously a long way from home and then stealing a run up the inside to snatch victory on the line. Good News is a winner at Happy Valley but, while he will be suited by the move up to a mile, he is high enough in the handicap now and a minor placing may be the best he can manage.
Basil Marcus rode Silent Partner to victory last season off a rating of 80, so he does appear to be well handicapped this evening on a mark of 73. He should get a good run through the race from barrier five and must be included in multiples.
Many Happy Returns had 12 starts over the Valley mile last season and failed to win any of them. The problem was that he was running well enough to maintain his mark in the handicap but was obviously a fraction too high to be able to win. The booking of Douglas Whyte is a positive, and he is a multiple winner over tonight's course and distance.
Of the remainder, the most interesting runner is Ivan Allan's Mentor. He looked in need of the outing on his reappearance and showed enough promise last season to suggest he could win off a similar mark.
Delightful Special is going to struggle to see out the journey, while All Win was well beaten on his first start this season but does have some pretty creditable Valley form to his name and could fill a minor placing.
Graphic: H1650glo