Paul Hanagan won the weekend's feature Darley July Cup aboard the Charlie Hills trained Muhaarar at Newmarket, despite the colt failing to handling the track's idiosyncratic camber, and BetVictor make the 3-y-o the 5/2 favourite to seal a hat-trick of top-flight successes in the Sprint Cup at Haydock in September. Hanagan is Wetherby bound this afternoon to ride in the blue and white silks of boss Sheikh Hamdan and can score aboard Mark Johnston's Tawakkol (2.15) in the opener. The selection has been a beaten favourite in four of his five starts this term, including when second last time out at Beverley, however sets a fair standard and can continue the stable's excellent run of form.
William Muir's Hot Mustard will be fancied to follow-up his last time out success in the 9f Handicap and should be competitive from just a 3lb higher mark, however a chance is taken on Micky Hammond's unexposed Cape Wraith (3.45) dropping down in grade. The selection has tumbled down the weights this term, dropped 10lb by the handicapper for failing to fire in all three starts, however has showed glimpses of promise in his last two runs at Thirsk and Beverley and can reward each-way support under Graham Lee.
Monday means racing at Windsor where Jonathan Portman's Edge of Heaven (8.00) can complete the hat-trick under regular partner Richard Kingscote. The selection made a winning reappearance shedding the maiden tag at the belated seventh time of asking at Wolverhampton and translated that all-weather form to turf when bolting-up last time out at Leicester. The handicapper has had his say raising the Pastoral Pursuits filly 9lb for that success however providing she turns up in the same mood has to go close.
Northern-based jockey Philip Makin stole the show on John Smiths Cup day at York on Saturday, winning the feature aboard Rod Millman's Master Carpenter and completing a 4799/1 four-timer aboard Keith Dalgleish's Dark Defender in the closing nursery. Makin heads to Ayr this afternoon with an excellent book of five rides for Dalgleish and recent winner Invoke (4.35) his best chance of scoring in the feature handicap over an extended seven furlongs.
The selection has been a revelation since returning from an absence of over seven month, building on that third at Newcastle by scoring subsequently over the trip at both Carlisle and Haydock with relative ease. The daughter of Kodiac has been raised 3lb for the latter however remains in good form and should be able to score a third success of the season from the ideal draw in stall one.
Marco Botti's string remain in good nick and his Sciustree (7.40) can score on his debut out of maiden company in Wolverhampton's feature handicap over an extended seven furlongs. The well-bred colt hasn't been sighted since a narrow defeat at the all-weather venue in January, his third maiden over course and distance since debuting at the track in December. The form of the latter has worked out particularly impressive with the first and the third winning on their next starts and he can defy an opening mark of 71 with the assistance of cheek-pieces and Andrea Atzeni both on for the first time.
Atzeni is Dunstall Park bound this evening for the mount aboard Qatar Racing's Tasselled (8.40) in the finale. The well-bred filly ticks a plenty of boxes on pedigree and trainer Ralph Beckett looks to have found a winnable race for the well-bred filly to make a winning debut.
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