Fingal’s Cave can atone for a narrow defeat at York in the Heineken Median Auction Maiden Stakes at Ffos Las.
The Mick Channon-trained Fast Company juvenile has shown an above-average level of ability in three races already, but as yet he has not been able to get his head in front.
Only beaten a length on debut by Charlie Hill’s Magical Memory, who had previously finished second to Ivawood, that was a promising start.
He was then beaten a length and a quarter by Markaz at Ascot, who now has a rating of 89.
Last time out in what good a usually strong maiden on the Knavesmire he looked to have done everything right only to be nabbed right on the line.
The form has yet to be tested but the winner, Valley Of Fire, is heading down the valuable sales race route so William Haggas obviously thinks a bit of him.
Clive Cox’s Little Palaver will be a tough nut to crack having chased home Room Key at Salisbury, subsequently third in the Vintage Stakes, but the extra experience of Fingal’s Cave may just prove enough.
Brian Meehan runners tend to improve enormously for their debut experience so the fact Zora Seas showed a modicum of promise on her first run bodes well ahead of the Fosters Median Auction Maiden Stakes.
The Marju filly finished third of five behind a John Gosden odds-on shot but she was sent off at 20-1 which suggests not much was expected.
There are countless examples of a Meehan runner being unfancied for their debut and then bolting up next time out and Zora Seas could be the next candidate.
Gosden is probably slightly frustrated that he has failed to get a win out of Loving Home as yet but he will surely never get a better opportunity than the 32Red Casino Maiden Stakes at Lingfield.
The Shamardal colt has yet to finish out of the first three in six races to date and while there appears to be little wrong with his attitude, he has failed to get his head in front.But he should oblige here.
n Tips from other meetings -
Ffos Las: 2.30 FINGAL’S CAVE (NAP), 3.00 Zora Seas, 3.35 Delightful Step, 4.05 Crystal Lake, 4.40 Whitecrest, 5.15 Eye Of The Tiger, 5.45 Pink Diamond.
Lingfield: 5.05 Indianaughty, 5.35 Old Fashion, 6.05 Bon Port, 6.35 Al’s Memory, 7.05 Loving Home, 7.35 Lola Montez, 8.05 Two In The Pink.
Double: Fingal’s Cave and Zora Seas.