When former Harlow promoter Tony Nicholls first introduced maidens as a regular open race feature, they provided an opportunity for exciting new imports to have a ‘penalty kick’ introduction to the open race scene. In more recent times they have descended into sub standard events contested by runners often incapable of winning a non-confined open race.
Hove punters witnessed an old fashioned maiden on Thursday night with the Richard Baker trained Magical Angelo (Premier Fantasy-Ms Firecracker, Oct 14). A 28.50 trialist at Shelbourne last autumn, Angelo was knocked over in a third round heat of the prestigious ‘Comerford Cakes’ and then won in a fast time for 570 at Thurles.
Having clocked 16.22 on his second trial at Swindon (Jumeirah Maximus’ fastest of year is 16.35), Angelo was backed to 4-6f for his Hove debut from trap one . . .
He beat Sleep It Off by just under three lengths in the fastest 515m performance of the year to date: 29.85 on going rated (-20). One for the notebook?
