Pimpernel can land Group 3 glory for Godolphin

By Stephen, bettingexpert.com | Published 00:01 18.04.2012

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Pimpernel is selected to land a wide open Neill Gwyn for Mahmood Al Zarooni on the opening day of the Craven meeting at Newmarket.

The 3-y-o had been progressing nicely prior to a disappointment on the tapeta surface at Meydaan, and she is taken to bounce back to her best under Frankie Dettori. She ran seven times in a busy juvenile campaign, never out of the first three and landing four useful 2-y-o contests, the highlight coming on her final start in a valuable listed prize at Newbury. Race-fitness can prove crucial this afternoon, with several of her principal challengers reappearing after lenghthy absences.

Main danger may come from Sir Michael Stoute'S highly regarded Russelliana. The yard endured a very poor 2011 season, but this Medicean filly was a rare highlight, building on a winning Leicester debut with a second in the Cherry Hinton on the July Course. She did lose her action when flopping on her last start, and a 270 day absence since is a concern with the stable making a typically slow start.

Starscope defied obvous signs of greeness to make a winning start in a course and distance maiden last October, and fits into the "could be anything" category. The fitting of a hood for this reappearance is very concerning however, and she will need to improve dramatically on the bare form to challenge some proven rivals.

Regal Realm competed in high class last season, winning a maiden here before landing the Prestige Stakes at Goodwood. She does have a bit to prove after finishing down the field behind Pimpernel in the Rockfel over this course and distance, but the Noseda yard usually has them ready to fire early and a 193 break may be a positive.

Sunday Times is another who ended her season on a low note, but she may have found the run coming too soon that day, and a second in the Cheveley Park showed just what she can do. A positive move in the betting near the off would be a huge clue she was readied after 193 days.

Lily's Angel represents the Richard Fahey yard that won this contest last season and has made a superb start to the turf season. She seemed fully exposed however, and may lack the scope of some more lightly raced rivals, while Minidress appears very much the Godolphin second string on jockey bookings.

In summary a wide open renewal with some big reputations up against each other. Pimpernel is best forgiven some disappointments over the Winter and can assert late on with her telling turn of speed. At around 5-1 this morning she represents a fair sized each-way investment.

Stephen's Wednesday Nap Baileys Jubilee 2.25 Newmarket

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