Racing preview for Thursday, January 28

Pearl Acclaim is fancied to win at Chelmsford. Photo: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire

Confidence was high for a good run on Sunday following a seeming recent return to form, but the race just did not pan out in his favour.

Having just his fourth all-weather outing, Pearl Acclaim sat in behind in the early stages before coming widest of all into the straight.

While he stayed on admirably up the middle of the track, the winner Jebediah Shine had stolen an advantage and Pearl Acclaim was unable to recover lost ground.

Pearl Acclaim remains on a decent mark of 82 and it really should not be too long before he notches a second win for David Nicholls.

San Quentin has been in excellent heart for Dean Ivory and he can make it three on the bounce in the Betfred Racing Follow Us On Twitter Handicap.

The five-year-old may only have been winning at a modest level but a cosy success at Kempton at the beginning of the month was supplemented by an equally comfortable victory at Chelmsford just over a week later.

He has gone up a total of 12lb for those two wins but he did not look troubled by extra weight last time and could still have a little left in the locker.

Ice Royal did not enjoy the clearest of passages at Chelmsford earlier in the month but can make amends at Southwell. Jamie Osborne’s charge will be having a first try on Fibresand here but given he has shown ability on both Polytrack and Tapeta, the surface may not be too much of a worry.

Winner of a Wolverhampton maiden last October, Ice Royal has since shown up well in two handicaps off marks of 73 and 74, but must now defy an augmented mark of 76.

He looks well capable though as he only lost out by just over a length last time after seeing interference four furlongs out.

* Selections -

Fakenham: 1.25 Lake Chapala, 2.00 Girly Girl, 2.30 Aigle De La See, 3.05 Late Night Lily, 3.40 Jumpandtravel, 4.10 Hassadin.

Chelmsford: 5.00 Clement, 5.30 San Quentin, 6.05 Megara, 6.40 PEARL ACCLAIM (NAP), 7.10 Exceeding Power, 7.40 Byres Road, 8.10 Clock On Tom.

Southwell: 1.35 Giant Bradley, 2.10 Barbs Princess, 2.40 Rupert Boy, 3.15 Ice Royal, 3.50 Final, 4.20 Little Flo.

Warwick: 1.50 Fixe Le Kap, 2.20 Smart Exit, 2.55 Weststreet, 3.30 Mia’s Storm, 4.00 Richmond, 4.30 Shrewd Tactics.

Thurles: 1.05 Manuka, 1.40 Carrigmoorna Rock, 2.15 Smashing, 2.45 Arbre De Vie, 3.20 Exit Seven, 3.55 Tooreen.

Double: Pearl Acclaim and Aigle De La See.