Perry Barr Racing Manager Martin Seal casts another expert eye on the ARC Laurels which reaches its semi final stage this evening. There is also an interesting insight into two heats of a supporting 660m competition.

As for last Saturday . . . . . it was more of a penalty shoot-out. One over the line and three hitting the bar.

Tonight’s open race action kicks off with two heats of the Cat 3 Arena Racing Company Stayers Stake over the 660m trip. Sixth Gear and Silverspring Ria crossed swords in a supporting open on Judgement Night, with the latter faring best in third in a blanket finish for the places, and John Mullins’ bitch looks nicely placed to confirm the form.

Drumdoit Flo has spent most of her career at home track Yarmouth where she is frequently noted staying on steadily over the four bend trip, but lacks a look round the Birmingham circuit.

Noels Cookie has landed a couple of handicap contests off scratch in recent weeks, and has decent course and distance form from early last year. Werewolf and Tingo Maria are unproven over this trip, but give the impression they will stay. Sel: 5-3-4

 

Lightfoot Clark was pretty impressive when comfortably landing a similar contest on Judgement Night, and Jimmy Fenwick’s charge could be tough to beat if handling a trap 1 draw.

Kennelmate Coppice Psyche went out at the first round stage of last year’s PGR Oaks, but Tony Brealey’s bitch is certainly talented over both four and six bends, and will hope to get a flyer from trap 3.

Annadown Danny landed a Towcester 712m open in style last month, but may find himself with ground to make up as the field pass the stands for the first time, a comment which also applies to Go Go Harriet. Noelles Perfetto acquitted herself well in a warm PGR Judgement Night Stayers, and is afforded plenty of respect on that basis. Porthall Chief spent most of the winter on his bed after rising through the grades, but appears to have a tough draw on his plate. Sel: 3-5-1

 

The first semi-final of the Arena Racing Company Laurels, and another hot contest to whet the appetite. Coolavanny Shado shrugged off early crowding when comfortably accounting for his field in the heats, and looks back to somewhere near his best.

Both Barley Panther and Goldies Perryman may struggle to keep tabs on the trap 2 runner in the early stages, but stuck to their task well in the heats, and will be hoping to claim a place in next Saturday’s final.

Signet Goofy ran his usual honest race last week, and is as consistent as they come. Birmingham Cup champ Ivanexile defied both a tardy start and some unwanted attention at the fourth bend last week, and it is to the credit of Matt Dartnall’s charge that he managed to get himself a share of third place despite all that.

Such courage and bravery. Supa Nova performed miracles to qualify having walked out of traps and then run into traffic, and could easily ruffle a few feathers here if breaking somewhere close to his best. Sel: 2-4-5

 

 

Multiple permutations in the second semi of the ARC Laurels, and this looks like the race of the night. Hurry Up Jordan has come a long way in a short space of time – his first Perry Barr handslip was just before Christmas – and John Lambe’s star continues to impress with his all round game.

What he might do over six bends doesn’t bear thinking about, but that’s for another day. Hawkfield Ozark was beaten fair and square by the trap 6 heavyweight last week, but is certainly no pushover, and anything that finishes in front of him will have been in a race. Swift Iconic knows only one way of running, and that’s to hit the lids and go hell for leather. Trap one shouldn’t be an issue, and John Mullins will be hoping to be doubly represented in next Saturday’s final.

Arkady ran a blinder to get himself into a challenging position in the heats after just about everything had gone wrong, underlining his class in the process, though Kelly Searle’s blue brindle will not be able to afford similar mistakes this evening. Noels Choice and Lynnwood Assin have done themselves proud by reaching this stage, and the heat has now been turned up a notch. Sel: 6-4-1