There's an excellent twilight card this evening from Newbury that features the pick of today's racing, where Richard Hannon's well-bred colt Fields of Fortune (4.40) should shed the maiden at the second time of asking under Tom Marquand. The son of Champs Elysees made a promising debut last month at Sandown, finishing second in a competitive looking 7f maiden, and should go one better stepped up in trip to a mile.
The yard must go close with Northern Thunder seeking the hat-trick after back-to-back wins at Chester and Kempton over both 5f and 6f respectively. The son of Dragon Pulse isn't sure to be suited by the return to the minimum trip however, and preference lies instead with Nayyar (5.10) for Charlie Hills and William Buick.
The colt made a winning debut earlier in the campaign at Chepstow and was then immediately fast-tracked to group company, finishing down the field in the G3 Molecomb Stakes at last month's Glorious Goodwood meeting. He looks to have been treated lightly by the handicapper, earning a mark of 81, and back in calmer waters can return to winning ways.
I was taken with the way Sir Michael Stoute's filly Fashion Design (5.45) stuck to the task of trying to keep up with the John Gosden's To Eternity, subsequently runner-up to Abingdon in the Listed Galtres Stakes last week at York, last time out at Wolverhampton and she looks to have been well-placed to shed the maiden tag in a warm renewal of the mile and a half fillies' maiden. The well-bred daughter of Montjeu built on her debut at Windsor, sticking on gamely upped in trip to a mile and a half just three weeks ago on the all-weather, and with further improvement likely should be there or thereabouts in first-time cheek-pieces.
The William Haggas yard did particularly well last week on the Knavesmire, Convivial winner Rivet given a quote of 25/1 with BetVictor for next year's Derby after bolting-up under Frankie Dettori on Friday. We may not see similar fireworks from stablemate Wrapped (6.20) but she looks likewise open to further improvement and should follow-up her recent maiden success under regular partner Pat Cosgrave. The chestnut filly has improved on all five of her career starts thus far and should improve now handicapping in first-time head-gear from an attractive mark of 77.
Henry Candy's Poole Belle (6.50) is another 3-y-o filly that looks to be going in the right direction and after making a winning debut in handicap company last time out at Salisbury should be able to follow-up from a 6lb higher mark. She had the beating of Ron Harris's well-backed Vincentti that day, who bolted-up on his next start, and is in the right hands to continue her improvement accordingly.
The pick of the afternoon action comes from Yarmouth, where the in-form Rae Guest yard should go close with Noble Act (4.00) under Jim Crowley. The pilot has been cut to 5/1 (from 10s) with BetVictor to be crowned Champion Jockey after an excellent week in the saddle and partners a filly who is up just 3lb for a cosy victory last time out at Leicester. She looks to have plenty more to offer and can get the better of the William Haggas gelding Lapilli, who must concede 7lb from the less-than-ideal draw in stall six.
Marcus Tregoning's Atalanta Bay (7.40) improved for his first outing for almost two years last month at Haydock, finishing third last time out at Chelmsford in the stayers' handicap over two miles, and should go even closer over course and distance from a pound lower mark. The mare has relatively few miles on the clock for a 6-y-o but has a 33% strike-rate on the all-weather and should go close under the resurgent Royston French.
For all the latest odds head to BetVictor.com and follow @BetVictorRacing on Twitter
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