Sam King is back with two selections for you on Monday…
The dry weather continues to wreak havoc on field sizes in the National Hunt sphere, so it looks best to concentrate on the two all-weather fixtures.
John and Thady Gosden and Kieran Shoemark have a tasty 57% strike-rate when teaming up at Southwell and I'd like to think Zanzoun has more than enough ability to get off the mark in the Safer Gambling Tools At BetMGM EBF Maiden Fillies' (4.45) tonight.
The form of her debut runner-up effort over seven furlongs on the July Course at Newmarket has been well-advertised with the winner, Tabiti, going on to land the Group 3 Dick Poole Stakes at Salisbury before contesting the bet365 Fillies' Mile back at racings headquarters.
She travelled kindly that day and looked like a surefire winner next time out, so it was slightly disappointing to see her get beat when third at Yarmouth second-up. That said, the William Haggas-trained winner appears to be a useful recruit and racing without cover, she pulled too hard on her first outing over the mile.
Although there's little doubt she should get the mile in time, dropping back to seven furlongs looks a definite positive and I'm expecting Kieran Shoemark to make plenty of use of her. The yard continues to operate at a 31% strike-rate over the last fourteen days and their well-bred daughter of Dubawi can add to the tally by getting off the mark this evening.
WIN – Zanzoun
Odds – 2/1
We head over to Wolverhampton for the second selection, and it would be disappointing if Manara cannot land the Stay Safe Players With BetMGM Nursery Handicap (4.30) for red-hot trainer Kevin Philippart De Foy.
With four winners from eight runners (50%) over the last fortnight, there is no trainer in better form than the Newmarket-based handler at present and Manara looks to have excellent claims under her penalty tonight.
She displayed distinct ability over six furlongs on two all-weather starts before trailing home last at Newmarket, each time shaping as though she was crying out for a stiffer test of stamina.
Stepping up to a mile for the first time off an opening mark of 54, the nicely-bred AMO racing-owned daughter of Camelot was well-backed to make a winning nursery debut at Chelmsford and those that had their money down rarely had a moment of worry.
Once switched to the middle of the track by the owner's retained rider David Egan she began to find her stride, staying on powerfully before asserting by a length and a quarter crossing the line.
Assuming this doesn't come too soon (latest win only four days ago), she should have little problem following up under the 6lb penalty from a kind draw in stall two.
WIN – Manara
Odds – Evs
