DESPITE the notable disadvantage of a wide draw, Aries (2.30) has the class to claim the top prize of the day at Catterick in the £10,000 Showcase Handicap.
Mick Channon's filly so nearly pulled off a welcome 10-1 winning nap for us at Newmarket last week when finishing a close second to in a red-hot race. In terms of sheer competitiveness the Newmarket nursery was, I believe, light years ahead of this afternoon's race, which in theory should give Aries (2.30) the edge on her rivals in the seven furlong contest.
But a word of warning to backers thinking of really steaming in on Channon's two-year-old. On her penultimate outing at Chester, Aries lost her chance with a tardy start from which she never really recovered.
A repeat of those antics would surely once again put paid to her prospects, a situation jockey Chris Catlin will have to address by making certain his mount makes a lightning fast exit from the stalls. Kieren Fallon's bid to land yet another jockeys' championship receives a timely boost with a boat load of fancied rides at the course.
Thirsk-based handler David Barron clearly feels Fallon's strength-in-the-saddle will help Remains Of The Day (3.00) finally shed his maiden tag in the Cumbria Median Auction Maiden Stakes.
Kieren had "a getting to know you" session with Remains Of The Day at Newcastle last time out when he finished runner-up on the selection. That ride will have helped him understand exactly what tactics to adopt on Barron's three-year-old, who won't have to be a world-beater to open his account against a modest field.
In the Derbyshire Apprentice Classified Stakes, Loyal Tycoon (4.00) and Bella Chica might well dominate the finish of the £4,000 five furlong dash. Loyal Tycoon's trainer, Dandy Nicholls will most probably still be on cloud nine after scooping the immensely valuable Prix l'Abbaye with Continent at Longchamp at the weekend. Compared to Continent's winning purse Nicholls will have to settle for buttons should Loyal Tycoon do the business, none the less "a winner is a winner", and the four-year-old sprinter definitely has the form in the book to take the money.
Division 2 of the two mile Skyram Handicap sees James Hetherton's Initiative (5.00) return to the level after a successful spell over jumps.
Initiative's enthusiasm for the game appears to have been rekindled by his foray into the National Hunt scene and if he brings that sparkle back to the level the six-year-old looks the one to be on. On the sand at Southwell Dusty Dazzler (3.15) makes plenty of appeal in the Newark Novice Stakes. Bill Turner's filly was far from disgraced when running in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. The standard of racing at the all-weather Midlands' track is a far cry from that lofty sphere and I expect Dusty Dazzler to make short shrift of her 13 rivals.
Tim Easterby's team are in sensational form at present and the Great Habton handler has a great chance with Some Will (3.45).
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