Union Rose set to bloom
Jockey Brian Toomey weighs in at Southwell Racecourse, Nottinghamshire. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday July 12, 2015. See PA story RACING Southwell. Photo credit should read: Nigel French/PA Wire
Union Rose's lengthy pursuit of a victory can come to an end at Bath.
Ron Harris' speedy colt has not found the target since last May, but that is a slightly misleading statistic as he has turned in one or two seriously good efforts.
The three-year-old son of Stimulation most notably finished second behind Hootenanny at massive odds in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot last year.
BEATEN
Sadly for Harris, Union Rose has not yet replicated that form, but he was not beaten far in the Molecomb at Goodwood last summer.
He has also shown up pretty well in good handicaps, as was neatly illustrated at Newmarket in June.
Harris' inmate could not lay a glove upon Son Of Africa in a competitive five-furlong affair, but he still looked reinvigorated when finishing second against some fair yardsticks.
That run takes on added gravitas, too, as he only made his seasonal debut, in a Listed race at Sandown, seven days earlier.
Even in spite of top weight, the Western Daily Press Handicap looks a much easier challenge for Union Rose, who still holds a Nunthorpe entry but really needs to be winning soon.
With ground conditions just about ideal for him, it must also be remembered that Bath was the scene of a seven-length maiden cakewalk last season.
Chances Are should not be discounted in the Yorkshire Outdoors Fillies' Handicap at Thirsk's evening meeting.
The Keith Dalgleish-trained filly has found life tough since she won so well over five furlongs at this track last August.
That said, she has now slipped to a pretty appealing mark to anticipate a decent spin at this level.
Risky Rizkova is unlikely to be too far away in the Heart FM Handicap at Lingfield.
Peter Hedger's five-year-old knows this terrain well, having competed over course and distance on his last four starts.
Hulcolt flew home at Beverley last time and will be much fitter than on that comeback effort in the Sandra Evison Memorial Handicap back on the Westwood.
BATH: 2.00 Sing Something, 2.35 Lead A Merry Dance, 3.10 UNION ROSE (NAP), 3.45 Ada Lovelace, 4.20 Doctor Kehoe, 4.55 Senor George.
BEVERLEY: 2.15 Anagallis, 2.50 Bosham, 3.25 Incomparable, 4.00 Aldreth, 4.30 Rousayan, 5.05 Hulcolt, 5.35 Stormin Tom, 6.05 Engai.
DOWNPATRICK: 3.00 Cecil Corbett, 3.35 Cardinal Palace, 4.10 Twenty Four Years, 4.45 Exit Seven, 5.15 Rufino, 5.45 Personal Shopper, 6.15 Bertie Bell.
KILLARNEY: 6.00 Boherbuoy, 6.30 Third Dimension, 7.00 Peremptory, 7.30 Silver Concorde, 8.00 Akorakor, 8.30 Indian Temple, 9.00 Easter Hunt.
LINGFIELD: 5.50 Faster Company, 6.20 Dylan Alexander, 6.50 Megamunch, 7.20 Kinnara, 7.50 Risky Rizkova, 8.20 Beau Amadeus, 8.50 Toast Of Newbury.
THIRSK: 6.10 Stella Etoile, 6.40 Chances Are, 7.10 A J Cook, 7.40 Pin Up, 8.10 Art World, 8.40 Scribe, 9.10 Stoneboat Bill.
DOUBLE: Union Rose and Chances Are.