MISTER JOLSON can regain the winning thread in the Courage Best Handicap at Salisbury today. The Ron Hodges trained sprinter ran well on his latest start when a three quarters of a length second to the promising My Cadeaux over six furlongs at Windsor.
From two furlongs out and looked like winning approaching the final furlong but was held by the winner over the last 100 yards.
That effort by the Latest Model gelding showed that he was starting to recapture the useful form he had shown in the spring. Having run well on his second outing of the season, the seven year old confirmed that promise with an impressive display at Sandown.
Well backed at the Esher track, Mister Jolson made headway to lead a furlong out and ran on well to beat one of today's rivals, Sir Joey, by a comfortable two lengths.
Sir Joey re-opposes on 2lb worse terms now and Mister Jolson will have the added assistance of Willie Carson so the Sand own placings should be confirmed. Mister Jolson disappointed on his two starts after Sandown but last time he demonstrated that he was con the way back and can confirm this by taking this sprint.
The Paul Cole trained White Sea is provided with the ideal opportunity to open her account for the season in the City Bowl Fillies' Handicap.
Ridden by an inexperienced apprentice on her reappearance, White Sea appeared to be given a lot to do when a never nearer fourth of 13 to Roufontaine in a Chepstow handicap.
Still open to improvement, the daughter of Soviet Lad will have made the necessary progress since her seasonal debut to take today's 12 furlong event.
At Redcar, Michael Bell's Princely Affair is taken to win a competitive looking Newcastle United Handicap over one and a quarter miles.
On his most recent outing the son of Prince Sabo appreciated the drop in distance from 12 to 10 furlongs and was well ridden by apprentice Richard Mullen, when running on too strongly for Contrafire at Yarmouth.
Princely Affair is reunited with his young pilot today and the combination should prove to good for the opposition in the £3,500 added contest.
Good Hand can make a winning reappearance in the Sunderland Claiming Stakes. The event marks a considerable drop in class for the dyed in the wool stayer compared with his final start last season when the 10 year old kept on to finish a five length fifth to subsequent Chester Cup winner Merit over an extended two miles at Doncaster in November.
Bill Watts's stalwart should be fit enough to dispose of the opposition in what appears a moderate contest.
