THE STEP up to the 10 furlongs of the Churchill Claiming Stakes should suit Sweet Supposin at Lingfield today the only meeting in Britain or Ireland to beat the clutches of the Arctic weather.
Chris Dwyer's entire horse has been tried unsuccessfully at shorter distances so far this season, but, with a slightly one paced fifth to Masnun over a mile last time, he showed he is on his way back.
Sweet Supposin, by Posen, landed a seven furlongs claimer at Wolverhampton last November, but he has since shown that races of less than a mile are exposing his deficiencies in the speed department.
Despite top weight in this claimer, he should be strong enough to repel all challengers.
Halbert seems much improved since joining Paul Burgoyne as a six year old especially since, in his most recent runs, he has been allowed to dominate his opponents for as long as possible.
He managed to keep tabs on Random in a six furlongs handicap and it was only in the final stages that, after a struggle, he went down by around one and a half lengths.
Off a 1lb lower mark and with Pat McCabe in the saddle relieving him of another 3lb, Halbert should go very close in the Comet Handicap.
Wild Strawberry looks set to take the Centurion Fillies' Handicap for Brooke Sanders.
