Clive Cox has revealed that Heartache came back with pulled muscles after suffering a shock first defeat of her career in the Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte on Sunday.
The filly was a hot favourite to remain unbeaten in the Group Two race following a convincing victory in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, but could finish only third behind Karl Burke’s Unfortunately and Tom Dascombe’s runner-up Frozen Angel.
Heartache was far from disgraced, beaten just half a length, but Cox feels she is better than she showed on the day.
“Sadly, she’s just not 100%. I think she’s pulled a muscle over her back,” the trainer told At The Races. “Gerald [Mosse] was quite right in his summing up after the race. It was the first time he’s ridden the filly, but he felt we might find something in the next 24 hours and he was right.
“Our physio has been on the case already and she’s happy that we’ve got a handle on it. I hope she can reproduce a more Ascot-like performance next time. That said, fair play to the two colts that beat us. I thought they were two nice colts.”
Meanwhile, three of today’s four race meetings will take place on turf, but the all-weather card at Chelmsford City this evening is the most valuable card of the day by a long way with £84,000 on offer, almost twice as much as the most valuable turf card, at Ffos Las.
No apologies, then, for starting in Essex, where the feature event, a six-furlong handicap worth £25,000, has attracted 13 runners including Udontdou and Mazzini (7.00), who finished first and second in a race over track and trip in June.
Udontdou finished a length-and-three-quarters in front of Mazzini, who was giving the winner 2lb, though Richard Guest’s runner was probably value for a little more. Mazzini is now 5lb better off, however, and has also drawn well in stall five while Udontdou is on the wide outside. The market cannot separate them this morning – the pair are joint-favourites at 4-1 – but Mazzini ran well in a better race that did not unfold ideally at Newcastle last time and could have the edge this evening.
Important Mission (7.30) stopped the clock in a useful time when successful in a maiden at Newcastle last time out and the third horse home has won since. He should be able to defy an opening mark of 81 on the same card, while on the other evening card at Nottingham, Dirchill (7.20) is another handicap debutant who may have been let in lightly.
Manners Please (3.00) showed improvement on his belated return to action at Haydock recently and will take all the beating if he can match or improve on that at Ffos Las this afternoon, while The Daley Express (5.30) may appreciate the step up to six furlongs in the closing race on the same card. Footsteps Forever (2.45) and Traditional Dancer (3.45) make most appeal up at Musselburgh.
Greg Wood’s Tuesday tips
Ffos Las 2.00 Rhosneigr 2.30 Bumptious 3.00 Manners Please 3.30 Blankiedoodie 4.00 Sakhalin Star 4.30 Nabhan 5.00 Celerity 5.30 The Daley Express
Musselburgh 2.15 Symbolic Star 2.45 Footsteps Forever 3.15 Bronze Beau 3.45 Traditional Dancer 4.15 Major Crispies 4.45 Sebastian’s Wish 5.15 Our Place In Loule
Chelmsford City 6.00 Royal Peace 6.30 Stormbringer 7.00 Mazzini (nap) 7.30 Important Mission 8.00 Subhaan 8.30 Woofie 9.00 Etikaal
Nottingham 5.50 Arithmetic 6.20 Ginbar 6.50 Show Palace 7.20 Dirchill (nb) 7.50 Lamloom 8.20 Mordoree 8.50 Tingo In The Tale
