EXETER
Race 1 No3 CALL TO DUTY
Trainer: Emma Lavelle – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
CALL TO DUTY put in a much improved display when last seen at Stratford, and although that was over four months ago he’s ready for this first run of the season in which he can thwart Mirabad.
Race 2 No1 MAGICAL ESCAPE (Nap)
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: Ciaran Gethings
MAGICAL ESCAPE has undergone a breathing operation since winning his last two races over hurdles. He’s been well tutored for this switch to fences, and has the same jockey in his irons. The combination can carry on from where they left off.
Race 3 No4 MAVIS PIKE (Each Way)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
All runners from Grange Farm need respecting at present and that certainly applies to MAVIS PIKE, who upped her game to chase home Emily’s Choice when last seen at Wincanton and has done well for her summer at grass.
Race 7 No3 IN THE AIR
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Freddie Gordon
IN THE AIR made no mistake on a first outing for Henderson at Southwell last week when backed to the exclusion of anything else. The six-year-old has taken a new lease on life, and is strongly fancied to defy a 7lb penalty.
AYR
Race 1 No1 HORNSEA BAY
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Danny Tudhope
New Bay colt HORNSEA BAY has to concede 7lb to the promising Bambalam who he beat three lengths at levels over course and distance last month. On the book there shouldn’t be much between them, but the selection never looked like getting beat, and will have learned plenty from that first public outing.
Race 5 No5 PRAIRIE FALCON (Each Way)
Trainer: Michael Dods – Jockey: Clifford Lee
PRAIRIE FALCON has gone 13 outings since his last success, gained at this course two years ago. While having proved frustrating to follow, I’ve never tipped him before and won’t mind stepping in if this is the day he raises his game, as he’s perfectly capable of doing.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 4 No8 BEBSIDE
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Sean Kirrane
Iffraaj colt BEBSIDE improved for a step up to this mile and a quarter trip when second at Newcastle and on only a second outing on the all-weather. That showed he’s on the cusp of a breakthrough, he just needs to show that he acts as well on Polytrack.
Race 5 No3 EARL OF ROCHESTER (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Benoit De La Sayette
This should prove easy pickings for Dubawi colt EARL OF ROCHESTER, who was beaten into third in a blanket finish on debut at Newmarket. Not only will he be more fine tuned, but he’s also likely to relish stepping up to a mile and a quarter for his top connections.
SOUTHWELL
Race 1 No12 JUST TEN HIGH
Trainer: Dylan Cunha – Jockey: Rhys Clutterbuck
The switch to a handicap together with an added tongue tie and cheek pieces assisted JUST TEN HIGH, who looked good value for his margin of victory on all-weather debut at Chelmsford. He’s at the bottom of the weights in this compressed handicap, and should prove hard to beat.
Race 4 No1 INDIVAR
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: D Nolan
A first time tongue tie did the trick with INDIVAR, who was heavily backed and duly came home unchallenged at this course last week. It was just a second outing on sand for the Blue Point gelding who can shrug off a 6lb penalty.
Race 5 No6 TRIDENT (Nap)
Trainer: Roger Varian – Jockey: James Doyle
TRIDENT attracted support when beaten by Tabdeed on his Newcastle introduction. He is going to be more streetwise for this second run and should attract professional money if priced at odds against.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 3-9)
3, 1 x 9, 3 x 6 x 7, 2 x 2, 7 x 7, 2 x 6, 8, 9
R96