Soft ground is the order of the day at Nottingham but conditions are sure to be drying at Colwick Park and we have a fascinating mile maiden to open proceedings.
John Gosden saddles two and Occult looked as though he would appreciate the step up to a mile when third at Doncaster last month on debut but his stablemate Alkawn (2.10) cost 240,000 Guineas as a yearling and this son of Dubawi wouldn't have to be anything special to make a winning debut. The fact that he has already been gelded, however, would suggest he hasn't exactly had his mind on all things racing as a juvenile.
The form of Waady's (2.40) Sandown win has been franked and the Gosden runner could have been let in lightly off an opening mark of 83. There is plenty of pace in the race and jockey Paul Hanagan is drawn against the stands' rail but if he gets a run he might be too good for today's opposition which is led by the maiden Bapak Asmara who improved with each of his three juvenile starts.
The feature race is the Further Flights Stakes and Gosden's Forever Now (3.40) is a confident selection with Champion jockey Richard Hughes taking over in the saddle. The selection was beaten 5l in the St Leger at Doncaster back in September and always looked the type who might improve again as a 4-y-old. Blue Rambler represents the inform Charlie Appleby yard and this inmate was not knocked about on his British debut when third in a decent handicap last autumn.
Yet another Gosden horse who is open to significant improvement is Sacred Act (4.10) who looked very smart when landing his maiden over C&D last April and had only one subsequent start when a beaten favourite at Sandown later in the month. His subsequent absence from the track suggests something was amiss after his Sandown run but he obviously goes well fresh and can get back to winning ways.
Gosden doesn't have a runner in the 3-y-o Mile Handicap but Champagne Bob (4.40) finished third to the yards' Golden Horn on his penultimate start and this well-bred grey can score for Tom Dascombe who has his string well forward.
At Lingfield Bow And Arrow (4.00) is no star but there was much to like about his Kempton success back in August and I am prepared to forgive his comeback effort at Chelmsford where he was never travelling for Adam Kirby. James Doyle takes over this afternoon, William Buick riding at Nottingham, and this son of Iffraaj gets the vote in a very hot looking heat despite only six going to post.
The market should provide valuable clues to the mile-and-a-half maiden and Gosden, yes him again, has booked Frankie for his well-bred Cape Cross newcomer Marmion but Cape Rosie (4.30) also makes plenty of appeal on breeding and this daughter of Cape Cross is out of a mare who was placed in a listed race here for Sir Michael Stoute back in 2010.
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