approvance

Winning form in listed races on the Flat is not always followed by a life at stud - as Approvance can testify.

Oliver Sherwood is enthusing over the recent arrival of APPROVANCE at Rhonehurst.

My nap meets Approvance on terms 7lb worse than weight-for-age and Jimmy Lenehan's tough six-year-old will be a hard nut to crack.

Geoge Duffield's mount, a half-length second to Porto Foricos in the renamed John Smith's Cup at York last Saturday, faces 12 rivals in the nine-furlong event, notably hat-trick seeking Approvance and Aidan O'Brien's Fairy Ridge.

Oliver Sherwood's horses are in excellent form, and he can fire in a Stratford treble with Drumlin (3.05), Sir d'Orton (4.50) and Approvance (5.25).

Manning popped the four-year-old out of the stalls in front and domianted the race, slipping clear early in the straight and running on to beat Heed My Warning by two and a half lengths, with Playacting third and Approvance fourth.

APPROVANCE was plunged on at all prices from 6-1 to 2-1 favourite for the Heineken Handicap and was always travelling like a winner.

Although Oliver Sherwood's Approvance has been pulled up in his two runs so far over jumps and has not been seen for more than a year, he is the one to be with in Stratford's Knight Frank Novices' Hurdle (8.55).

DROPPING in class after coming up against Second Empire at the Curragh last time, Approvance looks a good bet to lift the fifth day feature, the Harp Lager Ruby Stakes at Tralee today.

Baraguey, who got up close home to beat Pennekamp's former lead horse Approvance, was ridden by Weatherbys chairman Johnny Weatherby in a race in which all the riders had raised a minimum of pounds 1,000 in sponsorship for the Racing Welfare Charities Millennium Appeal.

Another interesting contender is Jimmy Lenehan's smart grey gelding Approvance, winner of two handicaps and a listed race from four outings this season.