SABHAN could be the joker in the pack at Yarmouth. Trained at Thirkleby, near Thirsk, by Geoff Harker, the Marju colt looks cherry-ripe for the Christine Shaw Birthday Nursery over a mile.
His most recent effort at Redcar is the chief cause for optimism after the juvenile galloped on strongly to take third in a 10- runner maiden.
Having previously floundered in a Newcastle quagmire, Sabhan was reinvigorated on a brisker surface.
Although no match for the first two home, Lawn Jamil and Silver Blaze, that Redcar affair had the feel of a decent race.
Harker’s inmate also showed the extra furlong was to his liking that day, so it is of little surprise to see connections step him up to a mile here.
This looks quite a trappy affair, with several unexposed sorts waiting in the wings, but Sabhan might not be badly treated off a mark of 60.
It may pay to keep close tabs on the progress of Ellies Image, who runs in the digibet.com Handicap.
Nothing was finishing quicker in a seven-furlong Newcastle handicap last month, when she came from the speed to take fifth spot.
And while she is 6lb higher than when last successful, the fouryear- old filly has been in top trim this term and is probably still on the upgrade.
Absa Lutte was an eyecatcher at Wolverhampton last time, and looks to have been unearthed a decent opportunity at Lingfield.
Michael Mullineaux’s veteran arrived with an encouraging late rattle to take fourth behind Little Jimmy Odsox at Dunstall Park, and is seemingly coming to hand again.
She is very difficult to win with - seven victories from 71 starts perhaps tells its own story - but Absa Lutte remains 3lb lower than when triumphant at Nottingham in May.
Four times a scorer on the Polytrack, albeit at Kempton, the eight-year-old mare is as capable over six furlongs as she is over five.
The return to the minimum distance will be of little consequence in what looks a weak Dormansland Handicap.
Shostakovich will have plenty of devotees in division one of the Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Handicap. Sylvester Kirk’s threeyear- old is a dab hand on the sand.
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