GODOLPHIN looked set for another disappointing campaign earlier in the year but they can top their late-season resurgence by landing the feature totesport.com November Handicap at Doncaster.
The Town Moor fixture marks the end of the Turf Flat year and Baila Me is taken to bow out on a high in the mile-and-a-half heat.
This German-bred filly relishes ease in the ground and she is certainly a class act, having won a Group One contest in her native country last year.
Although the German Pattern form is perceived to be weaker than that of some other countries, a win at the highest level counts all the same.
Recruited by Godolphin over the winter, Baila Me did not reappear until notching a respectable second at Ayr in September before finding the switch to Group Two company far too much at Newmarket.
The Samum filly bounced back with a Listed success at Lingfield last time and, despite having to shoulder a heavy burden here, she looks a worthy favourite.
Frank Sheridan’s Icelandic relishes an easy surface and the seven-year-old is taken to make it back-to-back victories in the Best Odds Guaranteed At totesport.com Wentworth Stakes.
Despite being on the go throughout the summer, he very rarely got his favoured ground.
When he did, however, Icelandic was twice placed in Group Three company on his ventures to Ireland.
While they were meritorious runs, Listed races are his level and a bold bid is on the cards.
Alan King’s massive string are slowly beginning to hit form and Bakbenscher looks another to add to his tally in the totetentofollow Rising Stars Novices’ Chase at Wincanton.
It may seem a stiff ask running in a Grade Two event on his fencing debut but this imposing six-year-old has always looked a chaser.
He is in receipt of weight from those who have already won over fences, which should negate any advantage they have over him with experience.
Bakbenscher also ran well for a long way in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow and should be monitored closely in Somerset.
The Badger Ales Trophy is a race Paul Nicholls loves to win and The Tother One can use the Listed affair as an ideal stepping stone towards the Hennessy.
The headline horse at Sandown is undoubtedly Crack Away Jack, who can make a winning bow in the Mick Core 50th Birthday Beginners’ Chase, while Telegonus can follow up his September win at Uttoxeter in the Graeme Todd Haulage And Friends Handicap Hurdle at Kelso.
Bench Warrent always looked the type to come into his own over fences and can get his chase career off to a winning start at Market Rasen on Sunday.
Charlie Mann’s charge was far from disgraced over hurdles but just looked to lack the necessary edge required for that speedy sphere.
The six-year-old was a debut point-to-point winner in Ireland but failed to build on that effort when placed in three of his first four starts on these shores.
He finally got his head in front at the Lincolnshire venue last February, although he made hard work of beating the useful Wychwoods Legend by half a length.
Stepped up to three miles for his last two starts, Bench Warrent did not win but certainly proved he has the stamina for a trip and that should stand him in good stead for the Victor Lucas Memorial Novices’ Chase.
Sir Tantallus Hawk won three on the bounce last season before coming unstuck when upped in company at the Grand National meeting.
Alan Swinbank’s five-yearold impressed in wins at Catterick, Kelso and Newcastle before being sent for a Grade Two event at Aintree.
Sir Tantallus Hawk raced prominently in the early stages of the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle but was found wanting when the pace upped a notch and eventually pulled up.
A win in the Felinfoel Brewery Handicap Hurdle at Ffos Las can help him get back on track.
■ Colm Murphy is to give Big Zeb his seasonal debut in the Ladbrokes.com Fortria Chase at Navan tomorrow, despite having misgivings about the likely testing conditions.
The smart two-mile chaser is fit enough to do himself justice on what will be his first appearance since he was second to Master Minded in the Kerrygold Champion Chase at Punchestown in April.
‘‘There’s not much else for him. He won’t be in love with the ground but it’s a case of starting him off somewhere,’’ said the County Wexford trainer.
‘‘He’s ready for a run. He’s as fit as we can have him for his first run. With a clear round he should run well.’’ The eight-year-old faces four rivals headed by last year’s winner Watson Lake from Noel Meade’s stable.
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