APTLY named Tillerman (3.40) looks a steering job for Mick Kinane in this afternoon's Group 3 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury.
Kinane experienced the power of Tillerman when the pair scooped the £87,000 first prize for the Tote International Handicap at Ascot's King George Meeting in July.
Such was the ease of Tillerman's success all the jockey really had to do was point his mount in the right direction when the appropriate gaps opened.
Admittedly the selection is stepping up significantly in class today, but he's a giant of a thoroughbred who has always given the impression that he had the capability to succeed in superior company.
A pair of improving staying handicappers, St Helensfield (4.40) and Hannibal Lad clash in the later Levy Board Handicap.
On a course where forcing tactics regularly prevail the tip has to go to the former, a habitual front runner from Mark Johnston's in-form yard.
The closing six-furlong sprint is ripe for Fairy Prince (5.10) to get back on the winning trail.
Annabel King's sprinter was racing over an inadequate five furlongs when a close-up fourth to the speedy Pleasure Time at Nottingham earlier in the month.
The return to six furlongs on this slightly stiffer track appears an ideal choice for the gelding partnered by the useful apprentice Jonjo Fowle.
Becky Simmons, fresh from landing the spoils for the Northern Echo-sponsored Nursery at Redcar on Sunday, makes a quick reappearance in the opener at Chester.
She's a particularly rangy filly and my only reservation about giving her the nod would be a slight question mark over an ability to handle the tricky Roodeye circuit.
If Becky Simmons can negotiate the sharp turns there'll only be one winner since I for one think she is destined for far better things.
Shatin Venture (3.30) must have trainer Linda Perratt scratching her head because if looks were anything to go by he should be a world-beater.
Unfortunately the powerfully built colt hasn't put his magnificent physique to optimum use this term - a situation I hope will be remedied in the Mollington Handicap.
The RMC Nursery at Catterick's evening fixture has attracted six promising two-year-olds.
Three of the sextet, Sir Francis, Erracht, and Sharp Secret (6.45) all won with a ton in hand on their most recent outings.
The latter's lowly handicap mark has been helped by virtue of the fact that she has taken time to find her stride. The result means the filly finds herself undeniably extremely well-handicapped.
In search of a big-priced nap, Martha Reilly (6.55) might just spring a surprise off her featherweight in the two-mile Equanat Handicap at Sandown.
l JANUS tipped four of the six winners at Epsom yesterday via Johnson's Point (11-4), Finished Article (15-8), Al Muallim (5-1) and Spirit Of Tenby (11-2).
l DAVID Elsworth began his quest for his second thousand winners in positive fashion when Finished Article was brought with a well-timed run by Darryll Holland to land the Hill McGlynn Maiden Stakes at Epsom.
The Whitsbury trainer completed his first 1,000 at Salisbury the day before and Finished Article, who got up to pip long-time leader Musical Heath by a neck in the extended-mile event, gave his Australian-born owner Barry Davis a winner with his only horse in training in Britain.
Davis was on hand to greet the winner with Elsworth in attendance at Salisbury.
''I bred this one and his dam,'' said Davis, who lives in Florida.
A stewards inquiry was called following the success of Johnson's Point, who flew home in the final furlong under Ray Cochrane to land the Construction News European Breeders Fund Maiden Stakes.
However, although the winner was involved in scrimmaging approaching the furlong-marker he was deemed to be the sufferer rather than aggressor as the unplaced Barakana caused accidental interference.
The winner came home a neck ahead of the Pat Eddery-ridden Spy Master, who had looked to have nicked the race inside the final furlong before being swamped by the winner within sight of the finishing post.
''Ray was quite pleased with her,'' explained Hills' travelling head lad John Burrows.
''Our fortunes have been a bit hit and miss but hopefully we will have a good York and we also have plenty of runners over the weekend.''
Title-chasing Eddery gave up his rides halfway through the afternoon after complaining of feeling unwell and his loss was Michael Roberts' gain as the South African booted home Muschana (7-2) in the Drake & Scull Handicap Stakes
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