Pixie Is The Pick As Leighs Gets On Track At Long Last

Apr 20 2008 By Gordon Brown

Great Leighs

HISTORY will be made today when Great Leighs becomes the first new racecourse to open in Britain since Taunton way back in 1927.

The floodlit all-weather track in Essex has been dogged by problems but is finally up and running 18 months later than scheduled.

I reckon the distinction of becoming the inaugural winner at Great Leighs will go to PIXIES BLUE (2.10), representing the in-form team of John Gosden and Jimmy Fortune.

This daughter of Hawk Wing hasn't been seen since last August but showed enough earlier to suggest she is well up to beating her rivals. VELVET HEIGHT (3.15) can bounce back to winning ways in the staying handicap. John Dunlop's top weight had a moderate time of it last term and this return to two miles should get him back into the groove.

At Stratford, YOUNG COLLIER (3.40) looks primed to give us a run for our money in the feature race as he has scope for improvement over fences.

Over at Leopardstown the Ballysax Stakes has provided an accurate Derby guide in recent years and I give UNWRITTEN RULE (4.5) a narrow vote over Alessandro Volta.