CITY BANKER

The Epsom king heads Andy Ayres’ top-20 list of in-form stars to follow

Ryan Moore and City of Troy

WINDSOR May 20 (good-firm) 1m31y fillies and mares’ maiden (Class 2) Smart winner

CAT NINJA (John & Thady Gosden) is built like a brick outhouse and managed to outmuscle the smart runner-up Clove Hitch (easy winner since). She went on to run a belter under a penalty at Kempton and could make a nuisance of herself in Listed/Group races this summer.

FIGHT FOR YOU (John & Thady Gosden) is a small, sturdy filly who attracted steady support on this debut (10s to 15-2). She was too green to get involved at the business end, but showed enough to suggests she’ll nick a race or two.

5f handicap (Class 4) Fair form

MISS ATTITUDE (Jack Channon) wasn’t revved-up on this return from a 591-day break, but ran a tidy race to finish fifth from a ropey draw. She’s all speed and connections should have fun with her in fillies’ handicaps.

SANDOWN May 23 (soft, heavy in places) 1m handicap (Class 3) Useful form

MAGIC MEMORIES (Gary Moore) looked in cracking shape and was properly bet (8s to 9-2). He proceeded to run a personal best in second and followed that up by pinching a competitive Class 4 at Yarmouth. Connections are adamant this hard-nut has got something left in the locker, and it’s odds-on he’ll pay his way.

GOODWOOD May 25 (good, good-firm in places) 7f three-year-old handicap (Class 2) Rock solid form

QIRAT (Ralph Beckett) wasn’t right in his coat but floated to post and quickened well to win with a bit in hand. People close to the yard think he’s better than a handicapper, so don’t fall over if this fella is operating at a higher level by the autumn.

6f two-year-old fillies’ maiden (Class 4) Ordinary race for the track

RAVEENA (Jack Channon) was backed at fancy prices (25s to 11-1) and showed plenty of dash before weakening to finish mid-div. She looks the part, hails from a family that has done well for the Channons (dam won a couple of Group 3s at Goodwood) and could be above average.

1m3f three-year-old colts & geldings Listed (Class 1) Messy race

SPACE LEGEND (William Haggas, pictured below) was the clear paddock pick and looked a diabolically unlucky loser after getting stuck behind a no-hoper on the rail. He flew home to nab second spot and is a rock-solid candidate for the St Leger.

KEMPTON May 29 (standard to slow) 7f two-year-old novice (Class 4) Competitive event

HOTT SHOTT (Richard Hughes) looks like a leading man, so it’s no surprise he cost 130,000gns. Some shrewd faces smashed him in from 6s to 7-2, and the colt gave his fan club a run for their money by finishing third after showing plenty of early dash. He’ll improve for this leg-loosener and is nailed on to win races.

CAVALLO BAY (Charlie Appleby) is bred to be smart (dam won a Grade 1 in Canada) and looked top drawer in the paddock. Unfortunately, he was greener than Kermit when the stalls opened, and trundled home fifth under an educational ride from William Buick. There’s much more to come and he could be above average.

7f fillies’ handicap (Class 4) Smart form

LOU LOU’S GIFT (William Haggas) was well bet near the off (8s to 4-1) and caught the eye running on into third after being held up in rear. She’s bred to stay a mile, has physical scope and will win races.

EPSOM May 31 (good to soft) 1m2f handicap (Class 2) Messy race

DERRY LAD (Kevin Coleman) is a rugged looking fella who attracted plenty of support (10s to 15-2). He travelled strongly out in lane three and would have gagged up but for Hayley Turner losing her satnav halfway up the straight. He’s chucked-in at present and will win something decent.

EPSOM June 1 (good-soft) 1m4f Three-year-old colts and fillies (Group 1) (Class 1) Impressive winner

CITY OF TROY (Aidan O’Brien) has improved physically since flopping in the Guineas and looked happy as Larry on his way to post. He had the race won when Ryan Moore wriggled through a gap half-way up the straight and it’ll take something special to chin him the Eclipse.

Dual Identity, ridden by Neil Callan

GOODWOOD June 9 (good) 6f handicap (Class 4) Fair form

EMINENCY (Stuart Williams) cost current connections 100,000gns last autumn and is starting to blossom. He was unlucky to be beaten after starting his run slightly later than ideal and will win a race or two on lively ground this summer.

NEWBURY June 13 (good-firm) 7f handicap (Class 3) Competitive event 

METAVERSE (David Menuisier) settled much better for forcing tactics and was only nutted close home. He’s still filling a massive frame and could be a nice little earner in 7f handicaps this autumn.

6f110y two-year-old novice (Class 4) Fair form

ANNO DOMINI (Charlie Appleby) cost a wallet-wounding 525,000gns, but was worryingly easy to back on this debut (evens to 11-8). That didn’t stop this good looker overcoming early interference to win with something to spare, and he could be a Group horse in the making. INVITED (Richard Hannon) was his yard’s second string and looked a few press-ups short of peak fitness. Bearing that in mind, he ran a nailer to stick on for third spot and will go close next time.

SANDOWN June 15 (good-soft) 1m1f three-year-old handicap (Class 3) Messy race

INTO BATTLE (Ed Walker) has got muscles on his eyebrows and was heavily backed near the off (100-30 to 2-1). He would have won but for Saffie Osborne spending most of the home straight trying to find a non-existent run up the rail and compensation awaits.

David Menuisier

1m handicap (Class 2) Red-hot contest 

CLASSIC (Richard Hannon) has always looked the part and caught the eye slaloming through the pack to nick second spot. He’s got plenty of untapped potential and would be right at home in one of those helter-skelter handicaps at Glorious Goodwood.

DUAL IDENTITY (William Knight) has got a belting record at this track and went close despite being hemmed-in for much of the straight. He looks in tip-top shape and would be worth a couple of shekels each-way if lining up for the £100,000 Coral Challenge back at Sandown on July 6.

MASCAPONE (David Simcock) looked in tremendous nick and deserves a pat on the back for finishing fourth under a ‘Mission Impossible’ ride from Jamie Spencer. This fella makes fewer public appearances than Howard Hughes, but he’s more than capable of picking up a top-class handicap.

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