Sugar a sweetener for punters at Folkestone

By Stephen, bettingexpert.com | Edited 08:09 24.04.2012

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David Simcock's consistent Sugar Hiccup is fancied to make a winning reappearance in Folkestone's featured T.Denne & Sons Handicap at 4.15 this afternoon.

The 4-y-o made steady progress switched to handicaps last term, finishing runner-up three times and winning readily over this trip at Warwick in August. He has joined a new yard that has made a flying start to the turf season and still appears well treated against more exposed rivals.

Main danger comes from topweight Mediterranean Sea. She has been kept busy all through the winter on the all-weather, landing a hat-trick on the deep Southwell surface and maintaining her form from higher ratings more recently. The forecast heavy ground will hold no terrors and proven race-fitness can count for plenty if this develops into a slog up the straight.

Wily Fox is another who comes here fit having been kept on the go over hurdles in the past few months. He won a Lingfield maiden over this trip in February 2011 and ran to a fair level in defeat since without suggesting he was well handicapped. Proven stamina is his strong suit and a positive ride from Micky Fenton would make him a contender.

Persian Herald has a career record of just 1 win from 19 starts and often compromises his chance by missing the break. He was well beaten on his turf reappearance but shaped better when second on his hurdling debut at Plumpton, and is another who has claims on his best efforts.

The Calling Curlew has been absent for 198 days and hails from a yard who has made a very slow start on the turf. He has shown promise in maidens and lowly handicaps last summer, but significant market support would be needed today to encourage support.

Perhaps Chain of Events may outrun his price on debut for Sarah Humphrey. He got back to winning ways at Newmarket last May over 1m2f and is now back around that mark after finishing the season out of form. His new yard has improved plenty over the sticks and a forward showing would be no suprise after seven months on the sidelines.

In summary, a wide open handicap where the betting will provide valuable clues as to the relative fitness of some of the principals. Sugar Hiccup appears the one open to most improvement and can assert late on under William Buick. At around 3-1 this morning he is worth a small win investment on a quiet Tuesday.

Folkestone has been abandoned this afternoon because of waterlogging.

Stephen's Tuesday Nap Bawaadi 2.50 Wolverhampton

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