PREVIEW: Flying Scotsman Stakes (Listed)

16.25 Doncaster: Flying Scotsman Stakes (Listed) - Carry On Deryeck: Won maiden on debut in impressive style, not getting a run until very late and coming from an impossible position. Merit of that form in question though. Small 4-runner field didn't seem to suit when stepped up into Listed company, saw plenty of daylight too early. Nicely bred and trip should suit.

Nafaqa: Impressive on debut in Listed race at RA. Missed the break completely but did well to finish fourth in very competitive race. Form works out strongly. Off the mark in maiden subsequently. Had to work hard for it though. Ground potentially slight concern. Nicely bred.

Peacock: Very impressive debut winner, strong form. Showed plenty of speed and raw power that day. Reared and subsequently bumped at start lto when up in trip and class. Clearly impacted by that and eased in closing stages. Deserves another chance.

Sea Wolf: Tough, genuine type. Won well on debut, good performances in subsequent starts against good opposition. Won small race lto first time over 7f. Should be happy in todays conditions.

Toocoolforschool: Won second time out, was very green on first two starts, didn't see to know to be a racehorse, looking around all time time. More professional lto in Group 3 upped in trip at York. Very keen early on and just beaten on the line in the end.

White Lake: Won York maiden in impressive style. Big move on outside and produced lovely turn of foot to put race to bed. Form threw up subsequent winners already. Should get further in time but seems to have enough speed.

Risen Sun: Won Debutant maiden easily, travelling strongly. Might have had the edge against poor opposition, but couldn't have been more impressive. Open to improvement and step up in trip should suit though.

Verdict: White Like makes plenty of appeal after a mightly strong debut. He's short enough in the betting though and there are plenty in with the potential for improvement. Toocoolforschool went close in a Group 3 lto and has obvious claims. But with not much form to offer and loads of guesswork required, I tend to think there is value to find in the bigger prices. I do like Mark Johnston's filly Risen Sun. Unclear what she beat on debut but she looked extremely impressive and upped in trip, which should suit on pedigree is open to plenty of improvement. I used to be a huge fan of Paco Boy and his son Peacock could well be better than his latest run. He impressed me on debut, beating the subsequent Chesham Stakes winner easily. Probably lost the race on his second start at the gate, and deserves another chance.

Peacock @ 16/1 Bet365 – 1pt win

Risen Sun @ 10/1 Ladbrokes – 1pt win

Selections: Thursday 11th September 2014

16.25 Doncaster: Class 3 Handicap - Maven: Comes down to workable mark, won of 84 in the past and this year of 83 at Pontefract. Has form on soft ground but never won on anything worse than good, so drying ground a plus. However Doncaster form abysmal.

Yojojo: Very strong 2nd last week at Brighton when only narrowly denied. Can race off same mark and that gives her an obvious chance. Up in grade and in class here though, so this is a bit tougher. Has only won once over 10f but does get trip fine and finished close 2nd off 88 earlier this year.

Flippant: Not too many miles under the belt and nicely progressing. Was a decent 2yo and improved further this year. A winner of two races, only one let down when she didn't perform around Epsom. But made amends at Newbury last time out. More improvement to come of revised mark and unexposed over this sort of trip.

Hot Coffee: Lightly raced maiden winner over 6f. Tries 10f for the first time andd would need to step up her game given the fact that she was fair and square beaten last time out over 9f off a similar mark. On pedigree the trip doesn't look likely to be what she wants though.

Blue Waltz: Won maiden at the third time of asking lto, despite looking green and wandering around in the closing stages. Open to more improvement and opening mark looks fair. Not quite a flashy pedigree though and it remains to be seen how much better she can be eventually.

Principle Equation: Good runner-up last month at Ripon, on first attempt over 10f. Winner was too good but came well clear of rest of the field. Won maiden over 1m at Windsor before and could still improve. Has to do so however, in order to be in with a chance in this better class.

Limousine: Lightly raced, won 12f maiden at Kempton a fortnight ago, responding well to pressure within final furlong. Had her own way up on front throughout. Beaten on the line in 10f maiden before. Drop in trip seems strange as she is all stamina, with influence on sire side but even more so on the dam side. Opening mark is fair but she might lack the speed. 

Verdict: Yojojo has an obvious chance off her current mark, on the other hands this race is on paper a tougher one than the one she finished agonizingly close last time out and she might do struggle to give weight away to the three year olds. I'm mainly thinking of Flippant, who looks a lovely progressive filly, getting better with any start, without ever doing more than required. Still unexposed over the trip, she boosts a nice pedigree and should have the most potential to be better than her current mark. She looks clearly an attractive price to my eyes. --- Flippant @ 4/1 Coral - 2pts win

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18.30 Wolverhampton: Class 4 Handicap – Imaginary World: Won nicely over CD last month, when pulling easily clear despite meeting in-running throuble. Didn't perform subsequently over 1m back on turf. Judged on this most recent AW chance, she should go well here. However top weight in better class is though. Career best required. Talented apprentice's claim helps.

Al Manaal: Made all from the front at Goodwood last time out and was long in front, just got tired from half a furlong out. Good performance nonetheless and a repeat of that will see her going close here since she is certainly down to a very fair mark. A return to the AW is interesting too. There isn't too much pace in this race either, which means she should be able to get a rather easy time up on front and that will benefit her.

Aragosta: Very impressive winner at Kempton last time out. Excellent change of gear, when never too far off the pace. Won easily. Wasn't a strong maiden, but still the opening mark off 72 looks rather lenient. Quite decent pedigree as well. Full sister to excellent AW gelding Primaeval.

Swiss Kiss: Not so good on turf on latest start, however eye-catching success on Lingfield's polytrack over 1m. Impressive turn of foot over 2f out. Five pounds higher here but chance on the weights with WFA allowance and back on the AW is a big plus. Drop in trip should be too much of a problem.

Valen: Didn't show too many positive signs since maiden win in August last year. Bit better recently and slipping mark should help. But switch to All-Weather must bring out a good deal of improvement to have a chance here.

Madam Mirasol: Impressive winner in August, followed up with fine runner-up effort when cominf from impossible position. Further up in the mark and new career best required, taking quite some step up in class too.

Lilly Junior: Maiden winner at the sixth time of asking at Ripon last month over 1m. Decent Handicap performance at Yarouth in July as well. Seems useful enough but drop in trip seems strange and opening mark is stiff enough for what this filly has shown so far.

Bint Dandy: Dundalk maiden winner for Paul Deegan. First start for new yard in the Uk now. Mark is down but hard to know what to expect.

Verdict: Couple of horses with chances to well. Favourite Aragosta is rightly heading the market. Nice pedigree, excellent recent win and a fair opening mark. However she didn't beat much that day and has to face some tough opposition here. Imaginary World was strong on her penultimate outing and judged on has a fair chance, but a career best is required. Plenty of appeal makes Lingfield winner Swiss Kiss. Back on the AW will suit and with the weight for age allowance she should go really well. I like her at around 8/1 quite allot. Al Manaal is another really interesting contender. Most recent performance of a reduced mark was really good. She has a fair chance to follow up on that with a success, given that she won earlier this year of higher. 10/1 seems generous.

Swiss Kiss @ 8/1 Bet365 – 2pts win

Al Manaal @ 10/1 Ladbrokes – 2pts win

Selections - Wednesday 10th September 2014

20.15 Kempton: Conditions Stakes, Class 4: Very interesting little race here with plenty of really nice prospects in the line-up. When I was looking through it last night, without having prices, I was wondering how the market would look like this morning. Seeing the prices this morning, I am certainly a bit baffled. A quick check-in with any runner in this field first though: 

Mr Quicksilver: Expensive newcomer, cost €300k as a yearling and lovely bred with Group winning form on sire and dam side. Also a full brother to a French 2.000 Guineas and has some big race entries. Will have to be ready and live up to pedigree in order to win this against tough opposition.

Restorer: Impressive winner on debut at Ffos Las. Quickened nicely and won hands and heels by 3 lengths. More required here, but should be competitive. Dam was All-Weather winner.

Sharp Sailor: Was a €140k yearling, made half of that when sold a 2yo Fine pedigree and related to good horses. Won in excellent fashion on second career outing at Lingfield lto, producing some impressive change of gear. Form works out already. More to come.

St Lawrence Gap: Shocking debut. Need to improve dramatically to be in with a chance.

Local Time: Well bred, step up in trip no problem, i nfact should relish the additional furlong on pedigree. Won in super impressive style maiden here at kempton lto, going clear easily in closing stages. Form strong and works out well with couple of subsequent winners, including one who went on to perform with loads of credit in Group company. Receives weight from the boys here. 

Verdict: Local Time seems to set a very high standard given his strong win here at Kempton lto. He's bound to improve and looks a nice prospect. However his sires record with 2yo over 1m isn't particularly impressive and it might well be that Local Time turns out to be a better 3yo and find this test today tough. On that basis the price is too short given the strong field she has to beat today. Sharp Sailor makes plenty of appeal on paper and form too. More to come from him too. Bit the forgotten horse seems to be the newcomer Mr Quicksilver. Drifting currently in the betting and we don't know what he is like, but he boosts such a strong pedigree and is related to plenty of good horses, that he must be of interest here. Connections wouldn't start him in such a strong racing if he wouldn't have shown anything at home. That goes along with his entries for big sales races next month. So I'll be taking him a chance on him. --- Mr Quicksilver @ 9/1 VC

21.15 Kempton: Class 6 Handicap - Very poor race and you can pick holes into the forms of any of the more fancied horses. That gives longshot Settle For Red a chance to find back to form. He is down to a very interesting handicap mark after a couple of disappointing efforts since racing in the UK. In fact he is down to his last winning mark of 59, when he won a Handicap at Dundalk. He subsequently followed up with another decent performance of six pounds higher. Since May he is care of Jeremy Gask who didn't find the key to unlock the potential of this horse yet, but as outlined, after three poor runs, the mark is down to something workable and it is interesting to see the visor on for the first, which bring out one or two pounds of improvement. On that evidence I give him a chance to well in this field. --- Settle For Red @ 16/1 VC - 2pts win

NAP Of The Day - Monday 8th September 2014

15.30 Brighton: Class 5 Handicap, 7f - Siouxperhero: Scored hat-trick in July, up in thr weights and found out for class in better race lto. This more realistic however record over 7f poor. Up against off top weight here.
Footstepsintherain: Better on All-Weather so far and no win on turf. Tumbling down the weights and best seasonal performance of career lowest mark over 7f at Leicester lto. Staying on nicely late finishing best of all from off the pace. Ground should suit and Brighton could well suit too.
Waseem Faris: Trip is a worry but slipping down the weights to a very workable mark. Step up in trip will have to rejuvenate him though.
Bayleyf: Convincing success from the front over CD last time out. Remains very competitive under penalty. Might not have his own way this time though.
Fiftyshadesofgray: Not disgraced in recent starts but also didn't set world alight. Only win came in maiden company. This is easier than most of races he did contest on. Cheek pieces will have to bring out improvement. Not impossible with weight for age allowance in favour.
Royal Connection: Last poor run down to ground. Die well in recent weeks from more or less similar marks largely over 7f. Won over CD in July. Consistent and chance.
Shifting Star: Veteran who was in fine form in the last couple of weeks. On a high enough mark though and won't find this easy.

Verdict: Good chance for the 3yo on the weights, I'd prefer Royal Connection for the fact that he is consistent and is sure to be in the mix. But the filly is not a world beater and needs to improve from a mark that she found difficult to finally overcome. Most interesting is Footstepsintherain. He was improved last time out from a career lowest mark and stayed on really well while not being advantaged racing off the pace. He has an obvious chance off the same mark here, with Brighton likely to provide the right test for him. --- Footstepsintherain @ 6/1 Coral - 3pts win

Dundalk Selections - Sunday 7th September 2014

14.50 Dundalk: Spryt @ 9/2 Sportingbet - 3pts win

Should be between the Lyons trained favourite and Weld's horse. Dandyleekie looks like a horse suited by the drop in trip given the fact that he usually shows good early speed and is fading from 1f out. His most recent third behind subsequent G2 runner-up Lucida rates fine form. On the other hand you can pick easily holes into his form either. He never found anything once off the bridle and has to give an awful lot of weight away here today. An opening mark of 93 is quite stiff and it's not said he is up to it. Spryt was beaten in a tight finish on debut at Listowel was subsequently a bit disappointing, though quite badly hampered at Galway and eased at Gowran Park lto. He seems a lazy sort and maybe a visor works better than the blinkers did. He is actually not quite bred for 5f but showed decent early speed in all his starts and seems not staying 7f. Drop in trip and a quicker race should suit I suspect and now dropping into a Nursery he remains interesting of a potential lenient mark off 76. Obviosuly Sassy But Classy is also open to improvement of her opening mark, given that she ran consistently well in decent maidens. But I feel the Weld gelding is overpriced given this new trip and the low mark allocated.

16.30 Dundalk: Hoppsan @ 8/1 Bet365 - 2pts win

Plenty with a chance here but I do feel Hoppsan offer value for money. She finished a nice third behind Hilary at Bellewstown in a rough race where she didn't have all going for herself. Hilary contrary had the run of the race, went up five pounds for that success and is favourite today here. Hoppsan can race off the same mark and has not too many miles under her belt. On two previous starts at Dundalk she finished an unlucky 2nd, beaten a neck, off a same mark as she in currently. She won off 54 subsequently then. So it's fair to assume that she has a preference for the All-Weather and can be very competitive today on only her third Dundalk start off a very fair mark, given that she is also in excellent form and quite a consistent mare. Favourite Hilary has winning credentials despite her revised mark with a 7lb claimer in the saddle, while Art Scene goes well at this surface and warrants respect with Smullen in the saddle. Carla's Princess finished in the money in subsequent Dundalk starts and will be thereabouts, might need a bit assistance from the handicapper though, to finally break her maiden tag. well fancied Anner Queen is still a maiden as well but has some decent form to offer and can go well today too. Some others aren't out either, but I believe Hoppsan offers value here.

17.00 Dundalk: Cash Or Casualty @ 8/1 Bet365 - 3pts win

I do fancy the chance of the uncomplicated and well in-form Cash Or Casualty. He is slightly better over bit shorter, however has CD form and loves Dundalk in general. He dropped right down in the weights to an extremely sexy mark, considering that he ran well off around 20lb higher marks last year. His recent form reads very strong too. An excellent runner-up effort here over CD in a very competitive race that works out very well already. He confirmed his well being with a strong sixth in much higher class (60-90 Hc) at the Curragh when he wasn't that far beaten. Back at Dundalk now, of a mark off 65 from a good draw in a low grade Handicap - he rates a big chance. The additional 10lb claim of the apprentice on board will only add further to his strong chance to win this race. Major opportunity for Cash Or Casualty to find back to the winning ways.

Quick selections - Saturday 6th September

19.20 Wolverhampton: My Renaissance @ 40/1 Bet365 - 1pt win

My Renaissance seems well worth a nibble over the new trip. Still generally lightly raced he has enough stamina in his pedigree to suggest that the step up to 12f does suit quite well. He lost a bit his way after he did well in Handicaps at Kempton earlier this year when he won a Apprentice race and finished a fine second in a subsequent Handicap. So surely the new trip needs to rejuvenate him but I give him a chance to do so and to outran his price tag with a good 5lb claimer in the saddle as additional assistance.

20.20 Wolverhampton: Desert Law @ 13/2 Betfred - 3pts win

He might be slightly better over five furlongs, but has also form over six and on his Tapeta form from Meydan he must rate a huge chance in this race off his current mark. In Dubai he was rated a good 100 and finished close behind subsequent top class Group performers. Back in the UK, he done well in a Handicap at Windsor lto and now the switch to the Wolverhampton Tapeta should make him a very competitive contender in this competitive race. The Handicapper is giving him a bit off a chance, taking 1lb off for his most recent effort. Richard Hughes in the saddle is another little plus and therefore I believe Desert Strike has a fine chance to win this.

20.50 Wolverhampton: Be Royale @ 6/1 Betfred - 2pts win

The first two in the betting are certainly of interest but have to defy new marks, and that brings rested Be Royale into contention. The filly comes from a well in-form yard and therefore should be ready to go. Her last forms weren't bad at all but it is the return to the All-Weather that is really interesting. She won two out of four times here at Wolverhampton - still on the old polytrack - the last time in decicive fashion in November of 2013 and there are reasons to believe that she can still improve a bit, particularly being back up in trip again.

Wolverhampton fancies for Saturday night!

17.45 - Class 5 Handicap, 7f: Market leader Hardy Black is the selection of tipster Hugh Taylor and warrants plenty of respect on Handicap debut. An opening mark of 70 is fair for what he has achieved, however far from generous given the race he won back in January on the old Wolverhampton polytrack surface, was quite a poor one and through collateral form he has to improve further to be able to be better than this current mark. Scruffy Tramp makes more appeal on the basis of odds. The gelding seemed to find back to some sort of form recently at Kempton, when finishing well in fourth, not far beaten, and with a clear run he'd be finished much closer. Only his second start over 7f that day, he is expected to do better over this trip taking his pedigree into account. All his best forms came on the All-Weather, mainly as a 2yo when he was quite promising. Down to a really low mark, over this trip, with a good apprentice on board, he should go close. --- Scruffy Tramp @ 4/1 PP -3pts win

18.50 - Class 3 Handicap, 12f: A rather wide open race that doesn't contain too many obvious chances. The Godolphin favourite is a grand horse, did well to finish second at Sandown in his penultimate start when he didn't quite stay the 14f trip, but looked awkward in his most recent outing. He doesn't appear to be well handicapped and offers poor value on price basis. if Modernism would get an easy lead he might be able to balance out his stamina question marks. However pace should be on today and therefore he should be found out for staying ability. Cousin Khee likes it further, however goes well on all the different kinds of All-Weather surfaces. But I do really like the chance of Flying Power at 14's. He loves the All-Weather, is in fine form as he won a race on turf in good style recently. now back on his beloved polytrack, he has a good chance to go really well as he has won off higher marks in the past. --- Flying Power @ 14/1 - 2pts win 

21.20 - Class 6 Handicap, 9f: Speedy Rio makes a bit of appeal on Handicap debut here, stepping up in trip, which could well suit on pedigree. He didn't show anything in three maidens and has to start out off the weights here, but off 51 he is an interesting contender anyway, given that he is related to All-Weather winners on the dam side. Luke Morris and trainer LA Dace have a decent partnership, and usually do well at Wolverhampton. So all in all Speedy Rio could be a good deal better than what he showed so far and this is surely a poor enough field. --- Speedy Rio @ 16/1 Coral - 1pt win

PREVIEW: Superior Mile (Group 3)

14.40 Haydock: Superior Mile (Group 3) - Wonderful little Group race with a clear favourite, that is Captain Cat. A Group 3 winner over 1m, he was a bit unlucky at Goodwood in the G2 Celebration Mile recently and on that form has a major chance here today. However he has to give weight away and might not be ideally suited by the ground which should be rather on the easy side of good. Short Squeeze was a very impressive winner of a big York Handicap a fortnight ago and seems a horse ready to go into pattern class. Trip and ground are fine for him and he should go well. if he is quite good enough and really suited by the small field is another question. 

Richard Hannon's Emell was a fine 2nd in the Celebration mile recently and is a grand horse. If he can run to this last form, he'll be right there when it matters, but on balance there are doubts about his ability to perform against this excellent opposition. Penitent would probably prefer more rain, but he is a good horse as we all know, an he'll run his race. Hard to fancy Balty Boys here today, but it is very easy to really like Ocean Tempest. Rapidly improving this year, he won the Lincoln, two Listed races and a Handicap at Chester last week with an almighty performance, coming from behind, of a mark off 115, yet done it so easily. Clearly he is Group class. He is the highest rated horse in the race and deserves to win finally on Group level. This seems an ideal opportunity as he proved his tactical versatility in the past, which means, this small field won't pose any problems. --- Ocean Tempest @ 11/4 - 4pts win

Kempton Park Selections - Saturday 6th September

13.45 Kempton: Conditions Stakes - Not much form on offer in this race for two year old colts and geldings, though all four runners seem to be well bred enough to suggest they could turn out to be decent horses. Odds-on favourite Power Game poses and impressive entry for next years Epsom Derby and he is bred to excel over trips beyond a mile indeed. His strong finish on debut over 6f after missing the break and not getting a clear run in the home straight must go down as very strong form and he'll improve plenty for that experience, with the benefit of an additional furlong today. However his sire's record with 2yo over 7 furlongs isn't all that impressive and I feel he is vulnerable to speedier sorts. So for that reason I'll be taking him on. 

Bravo Zolo has equally impressive entries for big Group 1's. He did okay on debut, but seemed to lack the speed required over 7f. That says he didn't get beaten up in the closing stages and he is sure improve. Not enough for me to have an interest in him at current odds. Pedigree wise I do like Russian Reward who is related to some useful sorts and should relish the All-Weather. He was extremely green on his first start, but should have learned plenty. However the most interesting runner in this field is undoubtedly the Godolphin newcomer Strong Chemistry. A very expensive €620k yearling, he is obviously lovely bred and should have no problem for this trip whatsoever. It's a tough task on debut to race against some fine rivals, but he could easily be the best of this lot if he can fulfill what the pedigree promises and for that reason I take a chance on him for odds that offer value in my mind. --- Strong Chemistry @ 7/1 Sportingbet - 2pts win

14.55 Kempton: London Mile Handicap (Class 2) - A 16 runner Handicap over a mile around Kempton - it certainly screams competitiveness. Plenty of horses are in with a chance and you can make a good case for more than a handful of runners, but if it is about value, there is one horse that clearly caught my eye, and that is the ultra consistent George Cinq. The four old gelding is a course and distance winner and was back in April in a similar competitive Handicap here a very unlucky sixth, when not beaten far, but simply not getting a real shot on goal, they'd say in soccer. Well, that is a bit the story with this horse. He's trailing often, and needs to have things falling his way. Certainly he needs this bit of luck today in such a big field too. But a strong pace seems guaranteed, which is vital for George Cinq's chance, and he enjoys it to fly through the field, picking up one after another. So in terms of that, it could be frustrating today, but he might well be also spectacular to watch. 

He was a fine winner at Ascot in June, defying top weight under a confident ride, travelling like a dream. Almost similar story at Sandown subsequently,, however the rider a bit too, confident that day and George Cinq got touched off. Slightly up in trip in a very competitive Goodwood Handicap where he finished a strong 3rd off his current mark, is his latest form. And on balance he has a very good opportunity to run a big race of a mark off 88 with very useful 5lb claimer Louis Stewart in the saddle. ---- George Cinq @ 16/1 Bet365 - 1pt e/w

PREVIEW: September Stakes (Group 3)

14.20 Kempton: September Stakes (Group 3) - Against common belief, the renewal of the September Stakes clearly proved that All-Weather racing can be exciting. An excellent field of seven runners are going to post on Saturday to fight for a decent pot of money on Kempton's Polytrack surface. Godolphin has naturally a very strong hand in this race. They won it last year with Prince Bishop and the seven year old gelding will try to defend his crown, after a very fruitful time in Meydan earlier this year, which resulted in two impressive Group successes. On that evidence he has a very fine chance here, though he has to give an awful lot of weight away to his rivals, which makes this a difficult task. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor has another strong chance in the line-up with last years Cumberland Lodge Stakes winner Secret Number. The Raven's Pass son improved nicely throughout 2013, however had a setback earlier this year and for that reason has been off the track for almost a year now. Will he be sharp enough for this tough test on his seasonal reappearance?

Globetrotter Red Cadeaux is never to be underestimated. His performance in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury last month was impressive, and he is a consistent Group performer. He hasn't won for almost two years now and isn't getting any younger. It remains to be seen if this race is run to suit him. Fellow globetrotter Dandino is hitting a bit of form finally this season, as his recent runner-up effort in the American St. Leger clearly proved. He won the September Stakes back in 2012 and must enter calculations for sure. The William Haggas trained Batallion seemed to have lost his form completely since he made a winning seasonal debut. It's hard to see him being good enough to have a realistic chance in this excellent field. Winter Derby winner Robin Hoods Bay has a nice turn of foot and is a real All-Weather specialist, he might not be entirely suited by the 12f trip. 

Arguably the strongest form to offer has the third Godolphin runner, Cat O'mountain. He ran out a fine 3rd in the Dubai World Cup, following on a couple of excellent efforts over there. He clearly seems to relish syntchetic surfaces, as he has done equally well at Kempton as he did in Meydan. Unbeaten in four starts on the polytrack, he rates a big chance to land the September Stakes. According to trainer Charlie Appleby, this race was the target for Cat O'mountain for quite a while. So it would be easy to assume that the four year old will be primed on his first start back in Europe after the successful campaign in Dubai. The only real question mark to find about Cat O'mountain is concerning his ability to stay the trip. He won over trips up to 11f, but did only have one start over further up until now - a fine 3rd place in a Newmarket Handicap when he tired late after using loads of energy throughout the race before. On pedigree he can get the trip, but it is not entirely likely. On balance though, with his excellent All-Weather record in mind, he should have every chance to run a big race here and that makes him potentially the horse to beat. 

Verdict: Plenty of interesting horses in the line-up. The last two September Stakes winners have to enter calculations, while Robin Hoods Bay really loves the All-weather. Godolphin's Secret Number is potentially a class act if fit after a long break, but it is Charlie Appleby's Cat O'mountain who gets the nod. He has to prove his ability to stay the trip, but on form as well as his preference for synthetic surfaces he must have a very big chance to land the spoils. --- Cat O'mountain @ 3/1 Bet365 - 5pts win

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We had a lovely 8/1 SP winner with Charlotte's Day on Thursday at Wolverhampton. As expected, the filly was much improved on her first handicap start over the new trip, which suited her allot on pedigree. She attacked the lead aggressively from well over 3f out and drew clear in the closing stages to win by four lengths. The hot odds-on favourite was never seen.

NAP Of The Day - Thursday 4th September 2014

19.40 Wolverhampton: Charlotte's Day @ 13/2 William Hill - 3pts win

Hot favourite Authorized Too looks to have a big chance to follow on from his recent impressive success, but ten pounds up, different surface and an additional furlong are obstacles to overcome. Sir Mark Prescott's Charlotte's Day is a much bigger price and a very interesting runner on her first run after a long break and the fact that she is stepping up dramatically in trip. 

I believe she hasn't been campaigned over the right distance in her first four starts, all in maiden company, and therefore her opening mark is underestimating her true potential. She is nicely bred and on pedigree should improve a good deal for the new trip. Charlotte's Day is a full sister to the Big Thunder, a gelding who excelled as a 3yo for Prescott last year, who was a winner of races up to 14f of marks up to 93. That doesn't mean that Charlotte's Day will be able to reach those heights, but she showed promise in all her starts last year over short trips. Ground is a question mark, but if she is fine on the Tapeta surface, and if she can settle in the early parts, then she'll be a very big runner over this trip off her current mark.

Quick Selections: Wednesday 3rd September 2014

17.35 Lingfield: Shuriken @ 2/1 Bet365 - 5pts win

Poor maiden and the horses with form and a handicap mark allocated already, are far from world beaters. The favourite is solid enough, yet very much vulnerable against improving opposition. It seems unlikely that Invasor Luck is able to improve beyond his current mark, which he seems to be flattered by anyway. 

The one time raced filly Shuriken makes plenty of appeal on her second start though, now switching to the All-Weather, which should suit on pedigree. She is in receive of 5lb by most of her rivals in this 12f Handicap today, which emphasizes the strong chance she aready has here on pure form. She gave a strong impression on her debut at Newmarket when she got only beaten by a neck in a tight finish by an 82 rated animal leaving a 71 rated horse eight lengths behind her that day. She poses a quite decent pedigree and one would imagine that she will improve for the recent experience. With natural progress to expect here, Shuriken should be good enough to beat her four rivals today and get off the mark. 

20.10 Kempton: Mythical Madness @ 9/2 Bet365 - 3pts win

Competitive looking Handicap, though I really feel it's all about the three year olds as they receive so much weight and are highly rated. While four year old makes appeal on form and looks a very decent horse, she might find it too much to give weight away against talented younger rivals. Favourite Anglo Irish won nicely at Kempton last time out, pulling out more and more in the closing stages. A 3lb penalty shouldn't prevent him from running a big race. Rapidly progressing Sleeper makes appeal as bottom weight and is one a four-timer today, more is required here though and on paper it is Mythical Madness who makes most appeal for a price I consider too generous to refuse. The Dubawi colt should be very much suited by the switch to the All-Weather, considering the strong form of his sire on synthetics. While on pedigree, the step up to 12f might not look completely what this colt is bred for, his sire poses an impressive record over this course and distance. To put more emphasis on the notion that the new trip can bring out further improvement, Mythical Madness always looked in his races like a horses that is screaming for further. He ran with credit in his last two starts, following up on a nice maiden win, but those two times he got outpaced and looked flat footed once the pace kicked on in the closing stages, while he was staying on nicely. He seems talented enough and I imagine that he has still more to offer from his current mark.