Heavens ready for step up to Listed class at Newbury

By Stephen, bettingexpert.com | Published 00:01 14.06.2012

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Great Heavens appeared a class act when storming home at Yarmouth last time out and can land Newbury's featured Lord Weinstock Memorial Stakes at 3.25.

John Gosden's full sister to Nathaniel has shaped with abundant promise on both her career starts to date, with the form of her fifth on debut at Haydock working out well. She got off the mark when easily winning a 1m3f Yarmouth event on her return, handling the deep ground very well and quickening smartly to assert in the straight. The heavy ground today will hold no fears and she will not be inconvenienced by a drop in trip with William Buick in the saddle for the first time.

Main danger for this listed prize comes from Sir Mark Prescott's Albamara. The Galileo filly routed her rivals in an Epsom maiden last summer having looked an unlucky loser at Kempton a week earlier. She made no show in the Group 1 Fillies Mile the following month, but remains with potential and it is significant that her astute trainer thought her good enough to compete at the highest level as a juvenile.

Apothecary has raced solely on the all-weather to date, winning a Lingfield maiden and 1m1f Wolverhampton handicap. She turned in a respectable effort in the Oaks Trial last month and is respected with that form working out quite well (winner Vow put up a bold ahow at Epsom), though Great Heavens is seemingly the yard's first string on jockey bookings and the testing ground is a huge concern.

Inchina landed a course and distance maiden in April but never went a yard when raised in class at Chester last time out and has a lot to prove after that, while Devine Guest will need to find massive improvement on her maiden third here 55 days ago (travelled eyecatchingly well before fading at the furlong pole).

Perhaps the fully exposed Miss Cato may suprise a few more highly touted types. Rae Guest's tough filly boasts an impressive strike rate, winning four of her six starts to date, and posted another easy success at Sandown last time out. That handicap win came off a mark of 69, and while this is likely to require a whole lot more, she is tough and handles the ground so must be respected at the likely prices.

In summary, a fascinating listed prize can fall to the exciting Great Heavens. The manner of her win at Yarmouth was really impressive and at around 2-1 this morning she is worthy of a maximum win investment to assert in the closing stages.

Stephen's Thursday Nap Perfect Delight 4.00 Newbury

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