PRESSING MATTERS maintained his progressive profile when he broke his maiden at the third time of asking. Giuliano Manfredini’s son of Oasis Dream finished fifth on his debut at Bath and improved to make the frame with a third-place effort at Windsor. It was a case of third time lucky at Wolverhampton last Saturday (Novemebr 29) when Jimmy Quinn drove him out to victory. Sent off the 7/4 favourite in the 7f maiden he soon took close order and grabbed the long-time leader Chic Shanique close to the furlong-pole. Quinn never let up on Pressing Matters who kept finding – as he needed to – to see off a couple of late challengers and score by a length. It was yet another winner for trainer Marco Botti who has enjoyed success on no less than 45 occasions in 2008. Three days earlier and Princely Hero had visited the winner’s enclosure after taking a 9f handicap at Wolverhampton. Formerly in Ireland with Dermot Weld, the four-year-old gelding was having his first start for Botti. Andrea Atzeni held him up at the rear but he made steady progress to lead inside the final furlong, going on to nail a win by half a length. |