Kelly Mitchley-trained Bonjour La Ville has been unlucky enough to face Alan Greeff’s Anotherdanceforme three times in a row and has lost all three.
This William Longsword filly whose name translated into English means “hello city”, did not show her best on a soft track last time out. It is likely to be soft again but she can bounce back to score.
Bonjour La Ville finished 8.10 lengths behind Anotherdanceforme last time out but was only 0.10 lengths behind that rival in her penultimate start and before and two lengths behind that rival on 24 January.
That suggests Mitchley’s filly will be hard to beat if showing her best form when she lines up in Race 1 at Fairview on Friday, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m.
The drop to 1000m will suit as that was the distance of her first two meetings with Greeff’s runner. The last one was over 1200m and it was in a feature race, the Listed East Cape Fillies Nursery.
Gavin Smith-trained Nothingelsematters has been very consistent this year and won a race in January over 2400m, beating Harold The Duke. He has finished runner-up three times since then off his merit rating of 71, so is clearly ready to score.
He takes his place in the final event of the afternoon, Race 8, a MR 68 Handicap over 2000m, and could close the meeting off in style. Craig Zackey takes the ride.
The Listed Glenair Trophy over 2800m is the highlight of this meeting and it could produce a competitive finish.
Greeff, to be expected, has a decent hand with Joy And Peace and Bournemouth, both arriving for this race in fine form.
Bournemouth has won his last two races under Richard Fourie but that rider has deserted him for star filly Joy and Peace.
Joy And Peace tries 2800m for the first time but did impress last year when winning the East Cape Derby over 2400m, so should have no problem at all over this longer distance.
However, Smith also has an interesting runner in Zatara Magic who has finished runner-up to Bournemouth in their last two starts. Those races were both at level weights so at the same weight differential, Bournemouth should retain the advantage.
However, Zatara Magic did have excuses in both of those starts and with Zackey up, needs to be included in all bets.
Clive Robinson
