Pace, or the lack of it, is most often the deciding denominator when it comes to races over ground and Warfarer and Mark Khan took full toll of a sedate early pace in the Michaelmas Handicap (Listed) at Greyville yesterday, the Lezeanne Forbes-trained gelding getting home a length clear of the opposition with two short-heads separating the next three home.

With front-running Run Rhino Run a scratching, there was always doubt about the pace and so it proved as Celtic Captain was a reluctant leader from New Fort. The cheek pieces did not appear to have any noticeable effect on favourite American Landing who was one-paced throughout and tracked by Roy Had Enough.

By the time Anton Marcus realised that he was following the wrong horse, it was too late as Khan had skipped clear on Warfarer who was the one runner that was over his ideal trip.

Sabina’s Dynasty finished her race off strongly but just failed to catch Roy Had Enough while the three-year-old Marchingontogether, was a creditable fourth given that he was way out at the weights.

Warfarer (Candiese Marnewick)

Can You Feel It, bred and owned by Michael Leaf, was the biggest certainty to look through a bridal and she didn’t let her supporters down. Gareth van Zyl’s filly was probably the highest rated maiden in the country before yesterday and Warren Kennedy took no prisoners. He bounced his mount to the front from the break and once in the straight let her run along in his hands. Can You Feel It was easily 10 lengths clear before being geared down to win by five at the prohibitive odds of 1-8.

Wendy Whitehead scored a back-to-back double with Hard To Play showing a tremendous turn of foot to land the Pinnacles Stakes and Rocking Ruby finishing too strongly for the opposition in the next.

The luckless Dawn Calling picked up the lead some 300m out with the balance of the field off the bit, all except Hard To Play. Once Stuart Randolph released the brake, Hard To Play sailed past the filly as if he had jumped in at the furlong pole.

Randolph and Whitehead teamed up again in the next with Rocking Ruby getting the better of Victory Trip with Shwanky driving home from last in the straight to snatch third.

Backing first timers against seasoned opposition is always risky. Experience counts for much, be it man or beast, and the cash went out the window in the card opener as the heavily backed first timer Coldhardcash raced all at sea.

In a race laced with speed it was always going to be difficult and with a strong tailwind to help them home the filly Miss J and the visiting Pearl Of Siberia kept at it up the straight with Miss J getting her nose in front where is mattered.

Coldhardcash will live to fight another day and judged on this effort, a mile may be more should be within his compass.

The sixth race field was reduced to just five runners after a false start. Good Emperor reared up just as the gates were released and the starter called a false start. However, Noble Duke, That’s Life and Seventh Sun galloped the course in spite of their rider’s efforts to restrain them and Good Emperor was found to have injured himself in the gate and was also taken out.

After the re-start, Warren Kennedy set Royalsecuritypower alight from the jump and kept Kom Naidoo’s gelding running all the way to the line in spite of the best efforts from his rivals. The remarkable eight-year-old took his winning tally to nine from 68 starts.

Paul Gadsby opened and closed the meeting with Arrow’s Mark getting home under a smart ride from apprentice Luke Ferraris who scored his 28^th winner of this season, surpassing the 26 he notched last season.

By Andrew Harrison

Joey Ramsden could be the answer to punters’ prayers at Durbanville tomorrow and certainly his Still I Rise looks the one they all have to beat in the Betting World Handicap.

This Australian-bred filly lost a fatal amount of ground at the start over 1 000m here early in the month and made up all bar a short head. That performance suggests she will be suited by this extra furlong, she races off the same mark and has a plum draw. At yesterday’s 33-10 she really appeals.

Joey Ramsden

She had the Brett Crawford-trained Honey Suite (3-1) over two lengths behind and renews rivalry on the same terms. Township Melody is favourite at 22-10 and is having her first run since Durban in early August. There is no denying the claims of this Snaith-Fourie representative but it is Still I Rise who has the plus factors.

Ramsden can also win the first with Consul Of War even though this gelding is an apparent no-no as he is having his second run after a rest since injury (he hurt himself behind and was off for over ten months). He is also a four-year-old taking on three-year-olds and most of those get beaten.

But his third to the smart Frank Lloyd Wright here in early August suggests he may still be as good as he was early last season and he is well drawn – still a vital factor on this course despite last year’s well-documented improvements.

Senatla disputes favouritism at 33-10 with Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount and made a reasonable debut at the end of August but he needs to find a fair bit – he was beaten six lengths. Retro Effect (9-2) showed plenty of promise first time but his second run (here) was nothing like as good (his rider reported that he took no interest) and he is drawn in the bush. Carlton Heights (11-2) ran well from a nine draw last time but he starts even wider while Snaith’s Swift Surprise (8-1) would have to live up to his name to score from gate 14.

Keagan de Melo can make his journey pay off by winning race two on Cantata. Glen Kotzen’s filly has two good runs to her name and the most recent was from a bad draw. The 7-2 shot looks like proving too good for the ten-drawn 19-10 favourite Madonna and 9-2 chance Captain’s Choice whose 16 gate is surely the kiss of death.

It might be tempting providence to suggest that Ramsden will have a third winner but Sparkeling Fire (4-1) is top-rated in the Interbet.co.za Maiden and her form is consistently good.

By Michael Clower

The WSB Grand Series leg 1 and leg 2, both to be run over 1475m on the Turffontein Inside track tomorrow, should finally happen as the forecast is sunny for today and minimal rain tomorrow.

A potential match race between the two winners will take place in December.

The original Grand Heritage favourite Mardi Gras has a harder task than he would have had in a 28 horse field down the straight as he has drawn wide and looks to have ended up in the stronger of the two heats. Furthermore, his chief rivals have generally drawn well. However, he has class, a good turn of foot and as a four-year-old son of Oratorio who is improving and is having his third run after gelding he looks to be ahead of the handicapper off a 90 merit rating. He is thus tipped to win but Gavin Lerena will have his work cut out from draw eleven.

Tsitsikamma Dance (JC Photographics)

Tsitsikamma Dance had some useful Cape Town form and won his Highveld debut nicely over 1400m. He is likely to have come on from that run and now has blinkers on from a nice draw of four. Zouaves is another classy runner in the field and he has landed a plum draw of three over an ideal trip. Daffiq caught the eye running on well last time over 1450m and is well drawn in six and over an ideal trip. This is his third run after a layoff and as he was at one stage well regarded by former trainer Mike de Kock he has a shout off a mere 82 merit rating. Full Of Attitude won well over 1450m last time and is drawn in pole but he does have a five point merit rating raise to overcome. Danza is distance suited and Mujallad can’t be ignored despite a wide draw. They are selected in the order mentioned.

In the first leg Rings And Things is selected as the best bet on the card in her third run after a layoff. This classy Querrari filly finished just two lengths behind the subsequent Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge winner Undercover Agent in the CTS Mile and yet is merit rated just 85. This is an ideal trip and she has a good draw of five. Soldier On looks to be a progressive sort and has a plum draw of two, although he would prefer a mile.

Divine Odyssey is a progressive sort who is well drawn over a suitable trip and he has the advantage of Gavin Lerena aboard. Purple Diamond has a tongue tie and blinkers on and has the ability to go close from a good draw over a suitable trip. Chepardo ran a good preparation race over 1450m here from a tricky draw and he should have come on from the run so can earn despite another unfavourable draw. Hakeem is distance suited and has dropped to a competitive mark but has a tough draw.

In the WSB Grand Heritage Series Consolation race Big Mistake could be the one to beat. He ran second last time to the classy filly Mighty High and now has his third run after a layoff. It is also his third run on the Highveld and his third run as a gelding so he should be cherry ripe to deliver over a step up in trip to 1475m which he should relish as he was making good late progress in his only career attempt at 1400m. The dangers could be the progressive filly Gimme Hope Joanna, who only has 50kg to carry, and the promising Flying Winger, who is coming off a pleasing comeback effort from a nine month layoff. Catkin is drawn in pole and despite being seven-years-old remains consistent and this is an ideal trip. Regal Graduation has some class and is also distance suited but has a tough draw. Whosethebossnow hasn’t run for ten months but has ability and a good draw over a trip which he should enjoy running fresh. Three others to consider are Jubilee Line, despite him carrying 1,5kg overweight, Strawberry Pavlova and Penny Royal.

The features form the first three legs of a Pick 6 which should have a sizeable pool and both Rings And Things and Mardi Gras are tipped to be bankers.

By David Thiselton

Punters face a decidedly tricky card at Greyville this evening but as a stock market saying goes, ‘where there is adversity, there is opportunity’. Given the difficulty the rewards for getting it ‘right’ should be greater – that’s the theory anyway – as there don’t appear to be any stand-out runners on the card so it will boil down to doing your homework and a slice of luck.

The best race to go ‘short’ in could come in the opening leg of the Pick 6 where the two Ashburton-trained runners Starlight and Seek Moon Magic could fit the bill.

Starlight has her third run after a break and has been improving all the time. Duncan Howells has booked star apprentice Luke Ferraris, full value for his 1.5kg claim, and the step up in trip should suit.

Stelvio (Candiese Marnewick)

Louis Goosen has entered Seek Moon Magic for the Gr3 Starling Stakes to be run at Turffontein on November 3 and she will need a bold showing if she is the earn a place in that field, or at least have a chance if she gets a run.

Goosen was bullish of his filly’s chances on debut but she was all at sea from the jump and only got going late. She has a tricky draw to over come here but has obviously shown good work at home.

After a relatively lean spell and a break for AHS vaccinations, Dean Kannemeyer is slowly starting to rev up his runners and Miss Smarty Pants could get the better of stable companion Cape Infanta in the Affirming Life Handicap.

Miss Smarty Pants comes off a short break but also has some decent Cape form to back her claims where she has only once been out of the money in ten outings and has yet to run a bad race.

Cape Infanta may just have needed her last run, her first in blinkers, and has done well on the poly. She has a good draw and a handy weight to add to her attraction. Others to consider are Stelvio, Heart Of A Legend and Barinois.

Net Work Jet looks to be the right one in the Spar KZN Maiden but of some concern is that his last two starts, where he was much improved, were on turf. Prior to that his two outings on the poly were well below current efforts. The balance are well exposed except for the lightly raced Captain Irish who makes his poly debut and steps up in trip. He was not far back last run and meets a weak field so could prove the biggest threat to the selection. There should be very little between fellow strugglers Lucius Fox and Belfry, a neck between them when they last met.

In the Palliative Care Handicap, Chestnuts Charm comes with some useful Cape form to back her claims and could prove better than rated.

Monte Christo does have his problems but appears to have come well for his new stable who have given him three barrier trials in his last four trips to a racecourse, winning his only start for the yard. The handily weighted Archilles took on much stronger last run and was far from disgraced. Prior to that he was decidedly unlucky at his penultimate start, a race he should have won but for traffic, and he can have a change of fortune here. Of the balance, Marshall That, who gets a rating drop and a 2.5kg claimer aboard, is over his best course and distance and is a must inclusion in all exotics.

Johan Janse van Vuuren and Anton Marcus have been a formidable combination in recent weeks and Robberg Express, a well supported winner on debut, can follow up in the Greyville Convention Centre Handicap, as he looks fairly useful.

In opposition, the grey Wendylle, who made all when shedding his maiden under Marcus, has a light weight and has a chance of following up while Cumulus is back from a short break and does look better than his current form shows.

By Andrew Harrison

She is a European star, but can she earn her stripes in the United States?

That is the history-making challenge Enable was set on Tuesday, when it was revealed she will bid to become the first horse to follow a Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) victory with success at the Breeders’ Cup.

Enable was cut to a best-priced 8-13 (from 8-11) for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) after it was announced she would compete at Churchill Downs on November 3, but the contest has proven an Arc winners’ graveyard, with seven horses defeated since Dancing Brave, like Enable owned by Khalid Abdullah, was the first to try to follow victory in Paris with another in the Turf.

Enable (Supplied)

In all, eight Arc winners have been downed at the Breeders’ Cup, with Sakheerunner-up in the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

“The way Enable’s season has panned out, this race is a logical progression,” said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Abdullah. “She’s come out of the Arc fine, she seems to have recovered and taken it well. From that point of view we have to be very pleased with her.

“No Arc winner has won the Turf, but we’re looking for positives. Most of them to try had a hard, tough season by the time they got to the Breeders’ Cup.”

Emphasising the difference between Enable’s and Dancing Brave’s campaigns, Grimthorpe remarked: “Dancing Brave had a Guineas preparation and he was going there having run not just a lifetime best, but a world best in the Arc, so it was just a bridge too far for him.”

Dancing Brave remains the world’s highest-rated horse since the inauguration of the International Classifications in 1977, receiving a figure of 141 for his sensational 1986 Arc victory. Enable is officially rated 125 after displaying all the attributes that make her the leading lady in Europe when she landed a second Arc earlier this month at Longchamp in a thrilling finish that will also go down as one of the best in the race’s storied history.

Whether the John Gosden-trained 4-year-old will attempt to become the first horse to win three Arcs is a decision that will be made after the Breeders’ Cup.

While the daughter of Nathaniel had a hard race in the Arc in beating fast-finishing Sea Of Class by a short neck, it was just her second run of the year and she was described as only 85% fit by Gosden.

She had been sidelined after her 2017 Arc victory until September, when she made an impressive winning return on the all-weather at Kempton.

Gosden’s previous Arc winner Golden Horn was beaten at odds of 4-6 in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Turf, and the trainer has yet to win the race, but Enable’s jockey Frankie Dettori has an excellent record.

He has won it four times, most recently in 2010 on Dangerous Midge, one of his two Turf successes at Churchill.

A transatlantic flight will be a new challenge for Enable, though she is used to travelling via her exploits in the Arc and when winning the Darley Irish Oaks (G1) at The Curragh last year.

“Air travel is an added dimension but she’s a good-natured filly when it comes to that sort of thing,” Grimthorpe added.

Abdullah’s Expert Eye, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, is also under consideration for the Breeders’ Cup, and Grimthorpe revealed the 3-year-old will miss Saturday’s QIPCO British Champions Day meeting at Ascot.

Expert Eye was a 9-1 shot for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) but could run in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T), for which he is 6-1 second favorite.

“He could be a possibility for the Breeders’ Cup,” said Grimthorpe. “He won’t run on Saturday as the ground is too soft.”

– Bloodhorse.com

Keagan de Melo rides at Durbanville for the first time in his career on Saturday when he has mounts in six of the eight races – five for Glen Kotzen and In The Jungle for Piet Steyn in the Tabonline.co.za Handicap.

“Glen asked me to come down for the day,” said De Melo yesterday. He went into yesterday’s Greyville meeting with 15 winners this term and is noted for being a particularly stylish jockey – “I haven’t set out to be that but it’s just the way I have been brought up to ride.”

He steps in for in-form retained stable jockey Ryan Munger who is not riding on Saturday but who is third on the national log with 40 winners. Cantata (race two) and Merkaba (race seven) are De Melo’s best chances according to World Sports Betting who had Cantata as 7-2 second favourite and Merkaba as 7-2 joint favourite when the firm posted up its prices yesterday.

Greg Cheyne, fifth with 33 winners after landing the first four at Fairview on Tuesday, rides in every race except the sixth. The Justin Snaith-Richard Fourie combination has the favourite or joint favourite in half the races.

Fourie, who won the 2006 Cape Classic on Jay Peg, will ride the lightly-weighted Clipper Captain in Saturday week’s Kenilworth Grade 3 and Snaith has also accepted with Seventh Sea (Robert Khathi) and Clouded Hill. In the Western Cape Fillies Championship on the same day Fourie partners Juniper Spring for Snaith. The filly is a full sister to last year’s winner Snowdance.

By Michael Clower

The Grade 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile, which is one of the most important stepping stones into the GBets Summer Cup and will be run at Turffontein Standside on November 3, has attracted an entry of 45 horses and the joint-highest rated among them is last year’s winner Hat Puntano.

Hat Puntano

This 118 merit-rated Mike Azzie-trained Argentinian-bred subsequently ran ninth in the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and was then laid off for nine months until a recent outing in the Grade 2 Jo’burg Spring Challenge over 1450m on the Turffontein Inside track where well beaten.

The other 118 merit-rated entry is the Robbie Sage-trained Coral Fever, winner of the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Challenge. He also made his reappearance in the Jo’burg Spring Challenge and ran a good 3,4 length sixth with topweight.

Liege, last year’s Summer Cup winner, is among 12 Charity Mile entries for Sean Tarry. Liege and Matador Man on 108 are the highest rated of Tarry’s entries.

The two horses at the top of the Summer Cup boards, Noble Secret and Cascapedia, are among ten entries for Mike de Kock. It is unusual for three-year-olds to run in the Charity Mile but De Kock has entered his two young stalwarts Soqrat and Alyaasaat. However, they are also entries in the traditional three-year-old race on the day, the Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m.

The only out of province entry is the Frank Robinson-trained Roy Had Enough who has won two Listed races over a mile.

By David Thiselton

One of racing’s true characters Lenny Taylor passed away suddenly on Tuesday reportedly from a heart attack.

Taylor was born into the racing game as his father was a breeder who also trained a bit. His first experience of the sport was at the Darling Gymkhana where, incredibly enough, he was riding in races when he was about five or six years old. He was unable to control a racehorse at that age so they used to lead him to the start and at the finish people would wave plastic bags at the horse to stop it.

Taylor started training in the Cape in 1971 and had some good horses like Horatius, who was a Grade 2 winner and finished second in the Cape Guineas to Bold Tropic and second in the Met to Foveros, Supreme Sovereign, who won the Grade 2 Clairwood Gold Vase, Bless My Soul, who finished second in the Queen’s Plate to Foveros, Free Enterprise, who did the Grade 2 Merchants and Grade I Cape Flying Championships double, Bold Messenger who won the EP Derby and Condorman who won the Winter Challenge at Kenilworth.

Taylor bought a number of value horses back then and Supreme Sovereign cost only R300 while Horatius cost just R1000.

Taylor left for Australia in 1994 and had about 40 winners out there.

He had a country-training license in Geelong.

One of his highlights was sending out a horse called Pride Of Pyrmont to run second in a Listed event on Melbourne Cup day. He also won a race at Moonee Valley with a horse called Regal Ruler from the very outside draw.

Taylor also trained standard-bred trotters in his time there.

He also spent a short time in New Zealand before returning to South Africa in 2003.

He renewed his training license in 2006 and trained from a Private Establishment in Mooi River that was formally used by Nick Robb.

He later managed a stud farm across the road, and helped in the preparation, breaking in and pretraining of another stud farm’s racing stock and helped transport horses to the races.

Taylor was a horseman through and through and his presence at the races in his cowboy hat will be missed by all in the racing fraternity.

By David Thiselton

Featured Image: Lenny, Marie, Nicole (SportingPost)

The weather forecast is good for tomorrow’s meeting on the Turffontein Inside track and there are some interesting horses turning out.

The first of them is Varsity Bourbon, a De Kock-trained Var colt who is bred in the purple and runs in race one over 1200m. He is out of Off To Dance, a National Emblem half-sister to the top racehorse and champion sire Captain Al. Off To Dance is also a half-sister to the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas and Grade 1 Majorca winner Shadow Dancing (Fort Wood), who is in turn the dam of the dual Grade 1 winner Thunder Dance. On the other hand Varsity Bourbon was not very expensively purchased at R400,000. The yard said, “He will have an each-way chance if he does not need the experience.” He has a tough draw of ten to overcome.

Shogun

The tip to win the race is Game Theory, a Byword colt who has had two decent starts to date. He is not the most imposing sort so it is open to question how much improvement he has in him and he also has a tough draw of 12 to overcome. However, trainer Alec Laird usually brings them on slowly but surely and he does not have a lot to beat. Enter The Dragon does have some scope but would likely prefer a touch further. However, he should be staying on well from draw three with the same 4kg claimer who rode him to a staying on second place finish over 1450m last time.

In the second race over 1200m there are two interesting first-timers. Summer Afternoon is by Trippi out of a Pivotal one-time winning daughter of the great Ipi Tombe. She is tipped to win as she should have speed and is drawn in pole and Sean Tarry has a good record with first-timers. The Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Veritas is a R3 million filly by Captain Al out of an unraced Galileo mare who is a half-sister to dual Listed winner Ezima, the dam of European Champion filly Taghrooda. She has a tough draw of seven out of ten to overcome, but does have Gavin Lerena up so should be right there. This pair do not have a lot to beat and the best of the raced runners could be the battling maiden Tidal Tussle, who is having her 17^th start.

In the third race Mighty And Magic enjoyed his first attempt at 2600m and Lyle Hewitson will know a bit more about how to tackle the trip with him this time so from pole position he is made the best bet on the card.

In the first leg of the Pick 6, also over 2600m, Kiss And Angel should relish the step up in trip being by Await The Dawn out of a Galileo mare and she has a plum draw. Ration My Passion is by Cape Blanco, who won five Group 1s from a mile-and-a-quarter to a mile-and-a-half, and is out of a half-sister to an Australian Derby winner so he should relish the step up in trip on pedigree too. They should get punters through the PA and for the Pick 6 Building Bridges can be included as he stayed on well over 2400m in his penultimate start and Strydom rides from a good draw.

The next leg of the Pick 6 is tricky and any one of the eight runners could win. However, Gottalottaluv has always struck as one with some class and he should be fit and ready and jumps from pole position under Strydom. Noceur is coming into his own so is the other one to include and Chariot Of Gold is a decent filly who will relish the step up in trip having run unplaced over 1600m on Saturday.

In the sixth race over 1600m Helios has always struck as a decent sort and sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight so could give Hewitson another winner. The Rising Legend has a fine turn of foot and will be staying on strongly from his usual last position. Orpheus can go close if repeating his fine last start over course and distance when a close second to Summer Cup favourite Noble Legend.

In the seventh race over 1450m Bockscar finished like a train the last time he tried this trip so has to be included, although Darkest Hour is tipped as he has been unlucky lately. King Of The Delta has improved and is interesting stepped up in trip as he has been staying on in his races over 1200m.

In the eighth over 1000m Wrecking Ball is the choice a she is talented but often just does not get home over the minimum trip. Her last three runs over further might have helped build her stamina and she could last home this time. Green Plains and Covered In Snow look to be the chief dangers.

In the last leg over 1200m the promising but temperamental filly Sally Called is taken to beat the Grade 1 winner Van Halen, who will likely need it. Green Haze, Xplosive Kiss and My Boy Caloi also warrant consideration.

By David Thiselton

Savea, a costly failure recently when sent out a short-priced favourite, can make amends when he runs in the second at Greyville today. Supported in to even money, Savea played up behind the gate and once loaded, showed pace before fading tamely behind outsider Big King.

Post-race he was reported to be hanging out and making a respiratory noise but even given the excuses, Savea can recoup some of his supporter’s losses.

Lightly raced, his form has been much improved since being gelded and from another good draw he should at least be concerned in the finish.

The danger could be Edge Of The Sun who was way out of his depth in a six-horse Progress Plate, where he finished a dozen lengths off winner Red Chestnut Road and stable companion Dawn Calling. Back in more suitable company he looks a likely threat to Savea.

Gunner

In the fifth, Gunner has come well since a reduction in his merit rating, winning his last two. He got a five-point raise for his most recent victory but Paul Gadsby has replaced non-claiming apprentice Eric Ngwane with 2.5kg claimer Khanya Sakayi so in theory Gunner races off the same mark as his recent victory. Gadsby has also dropped the gelding in class and although at the top of the handicap he looks decidedly well weighted and can go in again.

Apprentice Jabu Jacobs is battling for his first win and came within an ace of a maiden victory when Winter’s Coming was touched off by stable companion Q The Music over course and distance. That was a smart effort by Andre Nel’s runner and from a plum draw, Jacobs and Winter’s Coming can give Gunner a tough race.

Dean Kannemeyer’s stable is starting to turn the corner and The Sultan’s Bazaar is unbeaten in two starts on the poly. He does take a big jump in class here but with only 53kg to shoulder he is in line to keep his poly record intact.

Duncan Howells will have been way better than 10^th on the current National trainer’s log had he been able to convert all his second places – 21 so far for the current season – to go with his 12 wins. Queen’s Plain, who runs in the first leg of the Pick 6, was another statistic when she finished runner-up, beaten the width of a piece of paper in open company last time out, and Howells will be hoping she can break a frustrating run of form.

It won’t be easy in a competitive field where Sheik’s Storm and Mitra Music look pick of the balance. Sheik’s Storm has been knocking at the door for some time now and with a 2.5kg claimer aboard this time around, that relief from the saddle could be enough to see her home.

Mitra Music was a touch disappointing last outing but the stable has hit form and one can expect a better showing.

Frank Robinson has a knack of keeping older horses on the boil and his patience can pay off when nine-year-old Great Rumpus lines up in the first leg of the jackpot. He takes a five-point drop in the ratings and also a drop in class. Older horses also seem to find their best form on the poly track so Great Rumpus who steps out for the 64^th time in his career, looks to have a lot going for him.

Biggest threat could come from Mark Dixon’s runner Two Stroke who has not been too far back in some useful company of late. He has yet to run a bad race and should feature in a field of this calibre.

The sixth is a wide open fillies handicap where there are plenty of runners in with chances. However, when in doubt, go for the top weight and Karatage and Miziara could fit the bill. Anton Marcus stays with Karatage which is generally a good sign while 4kg claimer Xola Jacobs will be hunting his first win on the Howells-trained Miziara.

The final leg of the Pick 6 could rest between Sigismund and Paddingtons Luck. In his first run back after gelding, Sigismund found one too good for him in a sprint. Alistair Gordon’s runner should do better over this trip and is likely to start favourite again. Paddingtons Luck also found one too good for him last time out but obviously more was expected of him as he drops back to a mile and first-time blinkers. The pair are drawn alongside each other so it could be a case of cat and mouse from the jump.

By Andrew Harrison