A decent flat card at Nottingham this afternoon including a fascinating juvenile Mile maiden and I am looking forward to seeing Mengli Khan (3.05) back on the track after creating such a favourable impression on debut when third at Newmarket last month.
The colt cost 150,000 Guineas as a yearling and holds an entry in the Racing Post Trophy later in the month; trainer Hugo Palmer won a Group One at Longchamp and a Bumper at Huntingdon on Sunday and his career goes from strength-to-strength.
Of the newcomers the obvious starting point is Sir Michael Stoute's Across The Stars who cost the small matter of 600,000 Guineas as a yearling and is the half-brother to six winners. The ground is currently good to soft at Colwick Park and he wouldn't want too much rain. Ryan Moore takes the mount and it is fair to say that a market move would be worth noting.
Bathos is chasing a five-timer for Mark Johnston but he is 27lbs higher than when he started his winning spree and preference is for Dal Harraild (3.35) in a hot 1m 1f nursery with all six juveniles holding realistic claims and four of the half-dozen field last time out winners.
The selection will appreciate the step up to 9f having needed all of the mile to land his maiden at Haydock last time. He will get at least a mile and a quarter next term and is another who holds an entry in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster later in the month.
At Ludlow it is possible that first time out might be the time to catch the indolent Sybarite who is at least guaranteed to be staying on if he decides to put his best hoof forward. There are any number of doubtful stayers in the field but Firm Order (3.15) has won at this trip in the past, can go well fresh and can race off the same mark as when successful at Sandown back in December.
Trainer Paul Webber has won with two of his last four runners and in an open looking contest Firm Order gets the nod. Azure Fly represents the inform yard of Charlie Longsdon but his stamina has to be taken on trust even around this tight track.
The Novices' Handicap has been won by Evan Williams for the last couple of years and his Allez Vic must go close to the hat-trick although it was only a weak race (hurdle) he won at Uttoxeter back in February. Preference is for the Longsdon/Coleman combination courtesy of Hepijeu (4.25) who can take advantage of the 11lbs weight-for-age allowance he receives for being a 4-year-old.
Yes I Did (5.35) is a winning point-to-pointer who showed promise on debut at Southwell before running another sound race at Market Rasen back in the spring. She is entitled to improve again for another summer on her back and trainer Dan Skelton is beginning to hit top gear. Tullow Tonic will get further but might be the danger in a competitive Mares' Bumper to close the card.
At Towcester Barton Antix is likely to be all the rage for Neil Mulholland and running in the colours of the late Lady Clarke who died recently. Those famous colours will always be remembered for the Grand National success of Lord Gyllene back in 1997 and will always have a special place in my racing memories.
At Kempton there are a number of progressive 3-year-olds taking on older horses in the 1m 3f Handicap including Ainslie (7.55) who has a good draw, won well at Hamilton last time and shapes as though this step up in trip will suit. Godolphin's Sky Cape looks the obvious danger but he can do too much too soon and the hope is that he sets the race up for Champion Jockey elect Silvestre de Souza.
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