by Jack Milner
The ground turned soft prior to yesterday's card at Brighton and with more showers forecast this afternoon it should pay to focus on those with form on a sounder surface. Andrew Balding's St Saviour is respected for the maiden over an extended ten furlongs and sets a fair standard based on a brace of third-placed efforts in maidens at Windsor and Ripon earlier in the season however at the prices it could be worth taking a chance on Godolphin's well-bred colt Al Dabaran (4.00).
The son of Dubawi is bred to appreciate a bit of cut in the ground and was far from disgraced in his previous efforts at Pontefract and Kempton. The colt was backed into odds-on on debut at Ponty, before improving on that effort last time out when beaten just four lengths three weeks ago at Kempton, and can make it third time lucky under in-form jockey Harry Bentley.
Both of Rockie Road's career successes have come over today's course and distance as Mick Quinn's charge bids to give weight and a beating to his nine rivals in the mile handicap. The gelding is respected under Franny Norton however looks set to head the market and at a price it could be worth chancing William Muir's Improvized (4.30) who similarly boasts course and distance winning form. The daughter of Authorized scored on heavy ground last autumn when well-supported in the market and from an 8lb lower mark should be competitive under Martin Dwyer.
Under Siege (5.30) made it third time lucky in maiden company last time out at Hamilton and can follow-up on his debut in handicap company under Pat Cosgrave. David Simcock's gelding has improved on all three career stats, staying on strongly to win a competitive maiden over six furlongs, and can improve even further now stepped up in trip and handicapping.
The best bet on the card at Kempton looks to be James Fanshawe's Acquittal (5.45) under Hayley Turner in the finale. The well-bred filly has been partnered with Turner on all six of her career starts, putting her best foot forward in her most recent outings when finishing fourth over course and distance two starts ago and following-up with an excellent second last time out at Lingfield. The handicapper has put her up a pound for those efforts but nevertheless she remains well-treated and can get her head in front accordingly.
Leicester is the pick of today's action with eleven heading to post for a competitive renewal of the 6f Fillies' Nursery. Qatar Racing are represented by the well-bred pair of Guiltless and Musical Taste and whilst both are respected however they are both overlooked for Clive Cox's Our Joy (6.55) under Oisin Murphy. The speedily-bred daughter of Kodiac built on an impressive debut at Sandown when finishing down the field at Royal Ascot and, despite disappointing due to a poor draw last time out on the all-weather, remains unexposed and open to further improvement from an opening mark of 77.
Sir Michael Stoute's string enjoyed an across-the-card double on Saturday and with the yard gradually returning to form it could be worth siding with course and distance winner Moruadh (6.25) under Andrea Atzeni in the mile and a half handicap. The well-bred filly won a maiden at the track in June, pulling away nicely from a decent pair of fillies, before disappointing in muddling handicaps at Chester and Doncaster thereafter. The return to a larger field and a strong pace should suit and she can make full use of her 8lb weight-for-age allowance to score for the second time at the venue.
The Karl Burke yard landed a touch at Sandown over the weekend and with the stable continuing in good form thereafter, Kalle's Diamond beaten a length and a half in a G3 at Deauville, and Fatherly Friend (5.40) can score for the stable up at Carlisle. The selection attracted market support prior to last month's encouraging debut at Haydock and with the benefit of experience under her belt, can make it second time lucky under Ben Curtis.
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