Simon Crisford has enjoyed a 26% strike-rate since joining the training ranks in the spring and Happy Call (2.40) can give the Newmarket-based handler a winner with his first runner at Thirsk in this afternoon’s opener. The well-bred son of Kodiac built on an excellent debut at York when a narrowly beaten favourite last month when collared close home at Ffos Las however should make it third time lucky under Graham Gibbons.
The Richard Fahey stable enjoyed five winners, under four different jockeys no less, on yet another fantastic weekend for the stable and Our Boy Jack (4.10) appears well-treated to give the yard further success in the afternoon’s feature handicap over the extended mile. The selection ran a blinder when chasing home Roger Varian’s well-backed favourite First Dream last month at Epsom, before disappointing here at the track when turned out just two days later. The forecast soft ground should suit and he can score for the first time since winning at the track last October.
There’s further action from Kempton Park where Khusoosy (2.55) looks set to land the feature ten furlong handicap under Paul Hanagan. The selection hasn’t been seen since scoring at the track under Hanagan over ten months ago when staying on strongly to score cosily in a competitive nursery over a mile. He remains unexposed after just four career starts and would be a confident selection to make a winning reappearance, should the market speak in his favour.
Monday naturally means racing at Windsor where Wheat Sheaf (6.35) is expected to finally get his head in front under regular partner George Baker. Roger Charlton’s well-bred colt has been backed into favourite on both starts this term, finishing fourth at Newbury on his seasonal reappearance before disappointing on ground softer than ideal last time out at Nottingham in May. The return to a sounder surface and the drop back to a mile should both be to his advantage and he should take all the beating.
Roger Varian’s Bella Lulu (7.05) landed an almighty plunge when hacking-up last time out at Doncaster and is a confident selection to follow-up in the Fillies’ Handicap. The well-bred daughter of Iffraaj has progressed on all three career starts and couldn’t have been more impressive when scoring under Adam Kirby on Two Moor six weeks ago. The step up in trip should bring further improvement and she should make light work of her opening mark of 81.
No one has benefitted from the retirement of Champion Jockey Richard Hughes more so than Sean Levey, capitalising on Hughes bowing out after Glorious Goodwood by riding plenty of winners for boss Richard Hannon. Levey notched doubles at Newmarket on both Friday and Saturday and continue his excellent run of form aboard Baltic Knight (7.25) in tonight’s feature at Chelmsford Park. The selection has scored at this level or higher in all three seasons and despite ye to score this term has held his form well since returning from a break in the spring. The 5-y-o finished fourth in competitive affairs at Haydock and York before finishing down the field in the Betfred Mile last month at Glorious Goodwood however boasts an excellent record on the all-weather and can maintain his 100% record under Levey at the expense of likely favourite Algaith under Paul Hanagan.
Pallasator disappointed for the Sir Mark Prescott stable at the weekend and it would be no surprise to see him sent over eight flights of hurdles sooner rather than later, however Singoalla (8.55) should return the stable back to the winners’ enclosure in the finale. The well-bred filly failed to sparkle in three all-weathers maiden towards the back end of the last season however should prove much better than those efforts and can make a winning handicap debut under regular partner Luke Morris.
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