Spotlight

Twice a winner (1m/1m1f) in Ireland for Dermot Weld; improved a bit on just second start for new connections when beaten narrowly at Chester (7f, good) last week, always in the firing line; a 3lb rise should not prevent another bold bid.

Comment

Close second at Chester last week; 3lb rise should not prevent another bold bid

Quotes

Spotlight

On a 15-race losing run but he's well handicapped as a result and his stable is in fine form; almost certainly needed the run when seventh of 13 over C&D four weeks ago, fading; likely to build on that and more persuasive than most.

Comment

On a 15-race losing run but he's well handicapped; encouraging reappearance; interesting

Stable Tour

"He's a likeable sort of horse and is very straightforward. Formerly with Jack Channon, he ran well first time out for us at Newcastle and then won over 7f at Wolverhampton two weeks ago. There might be more to come from him and he's quite exciting. His form has been on the all-weather but he hasn't had many opportunities on turf. While the weather stays wet we'll probably stick on the all-weather for a bit but then go on the grass when we get a bit of decent ground. 17-04-24"

"A 7f specialist who won twice at Newbury last year, in July and August. He came from Jack Channon's in March last year and quickly settled in at Mowbray because he won at Wolverhampton after only a month here. He might go back to Newbury on Saturday. 09-04-25"

Spotlight

0-14 since winning debut; shaped quite nicely in the Spring Mile at Doncaster (1m, good to soft) on reappearance but never the slightest threat at Musselburgh next time; now tried in headgear.

Comment

0-14 since winning debut; never a threat on latest start and now tried in headgear

Stable Tour

"I don't see why she shouldn't run well. She won in a time half a second quicker than the colts' race at Beverley. It was a good time and a good race. Sometimes they run green first time out but she was very professional. 10-06-24"

Quotes

Spotlight

9yo who capitalised on some leniency from the handicapper to win at Musselburgh (7f, good) three weeks ago; goes well there but he's a C&D winner too and he should be in the thick of things again from just 2lb higher.

Comment

Down in weights before winning at Musselburgh; in the mix again from just 2lb higher

Stable Tour

"He really pleased me on his only start this season when beating stablemate Dulas at Haydock over seven furlongs. The form of that race is working out well and on a new mark of 96 he should have a nice weight in the Buckingham Palace. I'd like to think he has a very good chance. - 10-06-21"

Quotes

Spotlight

Notched two wins over this trip at Catterick last October and he has returned in fine form, making much of the running when a close third over C&D (good ground) last month; solid claims again from an unchanged mark.

Comment

Has returned in fine form, third over C&D last time; solid claims from unchanged mark

Quotes

Spotlight

Won a useful Chester seller for Andrew Balding last September; not at best in two runs for current yard, although the draw did him no favours back at Chester on latest; falling in the weights and not ruled out.

Comment

Poorly drawn when down the field at Chester last time; falling in weights; not ruled out

Quotes

Spotlight

Hasn't won for nearly two years but he's well handicapped now and he shaped much better than the result suggests when seventh of ten at Haydock (7f, good; badly hampered over 1f out) last Saturday; should go close if getting the rub of the green this time.

Comment

Much better than result suggests when seventh at Haydock; should go close with more luck

Stable Tour

"He ran really well in the Wokingham, where he finished fifth behind Unequal Love. We thought he was worth perservering with over 6f, but at Goodwood in the Stewards' Cup last time the track was probably on the quick side for him and he finished well down the field. He's by Harry Angel and probably a little bit of cut would do him good. It may also have come too quickly for him after the Wokingham - he had another run at Ascot in between too. He seems to be coming back to form now, though. He's entered in the Ayr Gold Cup but we might give him a run over 7f first, possibly at Thirsk on Friday. 28-08-24"

Quotes

Medical History

Spotlight

Promising reappearance after wind surgery when fourth at Newcastle (6f) but has taken two backward steps since; has his first run beyond sprint distances here and needs to bounce back after seven weeks off.

Comment

Two backward steps since reappearance; unproven beyond sprint distances

Stable Tour

"I thought the race at Newcastle last month would just take the freshness out of him, but he won very nicely and we're very hopeful he'll keep progressing at 6f this season. His owners like to be represented at the big festivals and I think he's the right kind of horse for that. 04-04-24"

Medical History

Spotlight

Two wins from just four attempts; comfortably beat four rivals in Carlisle novice (7f, good to firm) last August and she became upset in the preliminaries before running poorly on handicap debut here next time; retains potential and she's an interesting candidate after a layoff.

Comment

2-4; had excuse on handicap debut last September; retains potential on first run since

Stable Tour

"She's a progressive filly and we've been delighted with her first two runs. She won on her debut at Thirsk in June and then might have been a bit unlucky when beaten only a head at Doncaster, where she was still a bit green. There was a big discrepancy in the weights there as they rate the winner 94 and us 73, and I don't think he'd give us 21lb and beat us again. We feel there's more in there as she's been green on both occasions. With her current mark we're more than likely to go down the handicap route with her and we feel she'll get better with time. She's bred to do that as she's by a stallion whose stock generally improve. 23-07-25"

Spotlight

Successful twice (6f/7f) on AW during the winter but her mark edged up and she was only seventh at Newcastle on Good Friday; used to be just as effective on turf but she needs to bounce back and others appeal more.

Comment

Only seventh at Newcastle on Good Friday; needs to bounce back and others appeal more

Quotes

Medical History

Spotlight

Didn't build on successful debut for Karl Burke and he's been unplaced on all nine starts since; no immediate promise in two runs for current yard (wore cheekpieces on latest) and probably best watched for the time being.

Comment

Has become disappointing and probably best watched for the time being

Stable Tour

"He's a high-class horse. He'll have an entry in the Norfolk Stakes as well ? Steve Parkin [owner whose horses run under the Clipper Logistics banner] was keen to put him in, in case it's a weak race ? but for me the Coventry should be the race. His half-sister Dramatised won the Queen Mary there and the track should hold no fears for him. He looks very exciting. 10-06-24"

Spotlight

Signed off in Ireland with Listowel win (1m, heavy) last autumn; well held at long odds in four runs (7f-1m2f) for this yard; beginning to fall in the weights but probably best watched unless strong in the market.

Comment

Well held at long odds for this yard; probably best watched unless strong in the market

Quotes

Spotlight

Gained three 6f wins on the AW last spring but he went off the boil and refused to race in the Ayr Silver Cup on his final outing; hard to see him breaking his turf duck after eight months off.

Comment

Went off the boil last term; hard to see him breaking his turf duck after eight months off

Stable Tour

"He had a great all-weather campaign over the winter and he's been ticking over all summer waiting for soft ground. We've always thought a lot of him and he finally got it right when racking up a hat-trick in a decent handicap at Lingfield on Good Friday. His rating has shot up to 90, which looks lofty enough, but I still think he can be competitive. We're targeting him at the Ayr Silver Cup if there's soft ground. There'll be other turf races for him before another winter campaign. He's best over 6f and he loves the track at Southwell, with its bend and long straight. 04-09-25"