Sedgefield 2.00
THE NAVIGATOR is already a triple C&D winner, having recorded his third such success in April and he is taken to make it four.
The gelding has continued to run well under both codes since that spring win, including a Carlisle success on the Flat. He returns to this sphere having run well back at the Cumbrian venue on the level last time, when sticking on gamely up the hill there over 1m.
Sedgefield 2.00
THE NAVIGATOR is already a triple C&D winner, having recorded his third such success in April and he is taken to make it four.
The gelding has continued to run well under both codes since that spring win, including a Carlisle success on the Flat. He returns to this sphere having run well back at the Cumbrian venue on the level last time, when sticking on gamely up the hill there over 1m.
He represents a yard going well and now back over this trip over timber, he looks capable of continuing his consistent recent form.
His chief rival could well turn out to be Gordon’s Jet, who has also won here. He too has won on the Flat this summer and he returns to hurdles fit and firing, so those looking for the forecast could do worse than add him to their slips.
Caramelised is perhaps the pick of the remainder but it’s The Navigator for the win.
Sedgefield 2.30
The defection of the likely favourite One Touch has left the way clear here for RAECIUS FELIX to add another course win to his CV.
The Rebecca Menzies-trained eight-year-old has produced two good recent efforts in 2m5f handicap chase at Cartmel, going down by just a head in the latter, last Saturday.
He gets in off the same mark here and if he can run to the same level of form as those two recent efforts then he will take a bit of beating in this field.
The French hurdle and chase winner Zuckerburg has yet to win for Jennie Candlish but if anyone can get him ticking then it is this trainer. However, she hasn’t perhaps quite found the key to him just yet, given that he ran well when second at Stratford but then couldn’t improve on that back at that venue last time out. If at his best, he’d be a big threat from this mark but there’s a bit for him to prove.
Onenightintown finally got off the mark at Market Rasen (2m5f) 19 days ago, when coming off a strong pace. He’s gone up 4lb now and that might just prove his undoing this time.
Sedgefield 3.00
A novices’ handicap hurdle that does not possess much in the way of depth and, although he’ll be a short price, LEOPOLDS ROCK still looks worth backing.
Phil Kirby’s six-year-old broke his duck over hurdles at Uttoxeter in June (2m, good) when just 1lb lower. Admittedly, he was a
beatenodds-on favourite from today’s mark at Perth last time (2m, good) but he did hang left on the run-in there and had he not done so the result might have been different.
The winner of that race, Misty Mani, has added another win since then, so bolstering the form. Leopolds Rock also now sports cheekpieces for the first time, which may just help him in those closing stages, should that be required.
A reproduction of either of those last two effrts should suffice and he is a confident choice in what looks a weak race. Those looking for forecast material should probably add My Poemto their betting slips.
Sedgefield 4.05
An open contest where THATBEATSBANAGHER might be able to bounce back from a below par run at Cartmel last time and score.
It’s an open race on paper, with last year’s winner Golden Chancer back for another go and now 8lb lower, as well as 2lb out of the handicap.
He can’t be ruled out, while last-time winner Battle Of Benurb would again have strong claims if we knew he would definitely get this longer trip.
Neither Paris Texas nor Balkotic can be written off either but the selection is proven over C&D, having won here in February, he handles any going and looks capable of making this current BHA mark of 96 into a winning one.
Haydock Park 3.40
Zabbie sets the standard in this 7f nursery and is understandably put in as the market leader. However, it does look to be an open contest and it looks worth chancing OSCAR’S SISTER on her nursery debut.
The Julie Camacho-trained filly has improved with each of her three runs to date and also has invaluable track experience, having finished second in a C&D fillies’ maiden (good to soft) last month.
The winner holds an entry in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile on Champions Day, while the third has also bolstered the form with an improved performance when placed again since.
A daughter of Dandy Man, Oscar’s Sister looks a value proposition at around 13/2 at the time of writing and she is taken to score.
Haydock 4.45
This 0-90 fillies’ handicap looks to be a good opportunity for PERSIST to record a second win for the season.
The daughter of Frankel did not win as a juvenile but opened her account in good style in a Ripon fillies’ maiden (1m, good) on her reappearance in May.
She wasn’t disgraced in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot next time, albeit a little below par but got back on track with an improved effort at Carlisle (1m1f, good to firm) next time.
She showed further improvement when sticking on to be second of four when stepped up to 1m2f at Nottingham (good to firm) last month.
Still on an upward curve, her initial mark looks to be a fair one and she can score again here, at the main expense of the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Terra Mitica.
